Second shot!

Yesterday, I headed back to the parking structure at USC for my second dose of the Pfizer COVID vaccine. Again, I'm nervous! This time aside from logistics worries, I also have concerns about how my body will react in the day or so following the shot. 

As I got closer to the freeway exit, traffic slowed down considerably. I sat in the lane for awhile but it wasn't moving so I went to the next exit and drove around. Apparently the traffic was all people going to the COVID site. They had opened it up for walk-ins. I asked a couple of traffic cops how I should drive to get to the right line and they were super nice and helpful. 

It probably added about 30 minutes to park my car but once I was there, the actual line was really not bad. I had been drinking a lot of water all day yesterday and ate alot as I'd heard those were ways to avoid side effects. That meant that by the time I'd parked I needed to pee again. 🤦‍♀️ The line looked speedy enough that I decided to do the shot first and then find the porta-potties. 

Check in was super fast. I presented the QR code from Carbon Health and was directed to the next line. A few minutes later, I was lining up for table 14. Two more people later and I'm sitting in the chair, showing the worker my vaccine card. I took out my phone to take a picture and the lady doing the jabs told me to prop my phone on the sharps bin and take a video so I wouldn't miss it. 

She then asked me if I had kids, grandkids, nieces/nephews. I told her nieces/nephews and she said well you can tell them, "Aunty is a superhero. She got the serum that stopped the virus that went around the world." I got all teary-eyed. It was so meaningful to hear her say that after a challenging year in which I suffered so much less than so many other people. We are all superheros.

After my jab, I popped down to the porta-potties and then back for my 15 minute waiting period. Then back in my car and home. The whole process took about 2 hours even with the traffic.

I continued to eat substantial meals and drink a lot of water. I hung out with a few neighbours last night and felt good. Went to bed a little earlier than usual. Woke up with a sore arm today (similar to shot #1) but no other I'll effects. I'm continuing to drink water but I'm going to cut down on eating to my normal routine. 😁

Two weeks from now, May 7th, I will be fully immunized. I'm already planning some travel for this summer. 

First shot!

I received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Friday and the sense of relief is amazing.

In the weeks leading up to the state opening up vaccinations to people over 50 on April 1st, I had been getting more and more anxious to get the vaccine. I'd been seeing more people under 65 getting the vaccine and I had no issues with that. I have no idea what their criteria are and if they are finding ways around the rules, more power to them. Meanwhile, there are ads all over social media about how safe the vaccines are. I was getting infuriated at being advertised to for something I WANT and wasn't able to get. 

When the new eligibility was announced, those of us who fell into the new group weren't able to book on most sites until the day of eligibility, which just irritated my long term planning brain. 

Luckily, my friend Joyce let me know that Carbon Health, the company coordinating the city mass vaccine sites, opened bookings for the 50+ group a few days prior to April 1. I was able to snag an appointment on Friday at the USC site.

That morning, I had butterflies in my stomach, almost like I was going for a job interview! I wasn't concerned about the vaccine, I was stressed about making a mistake with my appointment, getting caught in traffic, missing something to prove I was eligible. None of that made any sense, it just shows how much importance I had invested in this vaccine.

The site was in a parking structure at USC. When I reached the site, there was traffic control and a sign that said 'vaccine site appointments only' and I got teary eyed. The site was very organized with many people directing car traffic, telling us where to park and then directing us to the line. I didn't have a long wait. The check in volunteer had an iPad to scan my QR code, ask some questions and then directed me to the line where the shots were being given. 

Once I sat in the chair, the process was so quick, I didn't have time to get a picture of the shot going in, so I got one of the bandage applied after.

 In two weeks, I will be 80% protected against COVID (go look up somewhere else what that actually means, I'm not an epidemiologist). In 3 weeks I will get the second dose. And then after May 7th I will be fully vaccinated. 

This morning I drove over to the nearest Krispy Kreme to get my free vaccine donut.

The next step is for all of my family and friends to become fully vaccinated so we can once again meet in person and give each other hugs.