Thought of the Day - January 12 - Getting Vaccinated

As 2021 broke the excitement around the vaccine rollout has increased, and the question on everyone's mind is: When?

As mentioned last week, the BC CDC site spells it out very effectively: www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine. In addition, there is also a Canadian vaccine calculator: www.omnicalculator.com/health/vaccine-queue-ca. But to cut to the chase, for the majority of Canadians the answer is: Q3.

That said, a friend, who is involved with dementia care and directly visits care-homes, got vaccinated on Sunday January 10th. The appointment email said: "Please do not share your appointment information as it is confidential" - I can understand this as I am sure that it could stimulate "why not my turn" discussion on social media. Thus, I will keep the details a little vague.

With an endorsing email from your employer, it is easy to sign-up online, choosing a convenient location and time (ten-minute slots). When you arrive, they check your ID, give you a new mask to wear and ask you to sanitize your hands. You then review an info sheet and fill in a form with your detailed contact information. Then, to the vaccination room, where you are assigned to the next available nurse. Finally, there are some last screen questions (are you pregnant, breast feeding etc.).

The shot provided was a first dose of the Moderna vaccine (of note, Ottawa has chosen not to exercise the option to buy 16 million more doses of Moderna - as we don't need more: Thought of the Day - December 22 - Vaccine Wars -Snippets Redux ).

The shot itself feel less than a flu shot. As with any vaccine, after the shot you wait for 15 minutes. Then you are instructed to wipe down your seat before being released. Information provided included a note that you should plan to return in 28 days for the second shot -pending available vaccine supply.

Another colleague, who had the Pfizer vaccine, found it took over an hour. There is more information provided and additional screening questions; thus, the Moderna vaccine seems easier to administer.

The main symptom was a shoulder ache a few hours later. The advice was to ice and take pain medication. After an uncomfortable night, you wake up a bit stiff. This sore shoulder lasts for a couple of days.

These are all good signs that your body is fighting something, and hopefully building up immunity.

Cheers

Cliff