COVID-19 vaccine
 

Now that the vaccine is being administered, your thoughts on the vaccine? Do you plan on receiving the vaccine? Do you have any concerns?

Yesterday I received my first of two Moderna vaccines. Today I have pain in my arm (7/10 on pain scale). I have fatigue, and I've been napping all day. Finally, I have stiffness in my legs. No fever, headache or loss of appetite.:eek:

I’m in Indiana. I scheduled my first one today for Jan. 28. I was on a “countdown” for about 40 minutes on my phone till it was my turn to register for a time. I’m so grateful...one benefit of growing old.

I was put on 2 lists--1 for teachers and 1 for golden oldies and I'm supposed to go get the first one I'm called for.

I live in Alabama and we have received very few doses of the vaccine and have administered even less. It's a real problem vis a vis the number who qualify under 1a. I'll be 75 on the 25th, have 2 qualifying medical conditions and I can't even get an appointment. Florida will vaccinate out of staters so am starting today to try to find a place in the Panhandle.

The county health departments in Florida all have different procedures so you may want to call the county you're interested in. Jefferson County(Monticello) was very easy for my husband and myself.
Publix pharmacies in the western Panhandle have a phone registration system.
Louisiana has pharmacies giving the covid 19 vaccine.

Florida health.gov has a list of covid19 vaccination sites with information for sites,registration,etc.

My BFF works in an assisted living home and just got part 1. She said her arm hurt for 24 hours afterward but might have been as much the non-skill of the shot giver as the shot itself. She’s also in a less populated county. It probably won’t trickle down to me till April or May, if then.

Floridahealth.gov

My husband and I are public school employees in Georgia (HS teacher, school librarian) and we are both looking forward to getting the vaccine. However, now that the state has opened up the vaccine to people 65+, we may be pushed down the list. My district sent out a survey to gauge interest amongst employees, but who knows when we will here more. A colleague's wife is set to get her 2nd dose soon and has heard from other nurses/folks in her practice that the reaction to the 2nd dose is stronger, like what the OP noted.

I'm in Ohio. My parents (age 80+ in non-congregate settings) are eligible next week. Mom is on the fence because she claims to react to everything. She is getting it whether she likes it or not. Dad is ready.

I will take it as soon as I am able. It will be a few months before I'm eligible due to my age, being retired and not high risk. Although there are so many anti-vaxxers that I might be able to get it sooner by default.

My niece is a HS teacher in Tennessee and just got her notification to get her vax.
In Ohio, HS teachers will begin eligibility next week with age 80+. Thankfully, we are prioritizing the teachers right now but many are refusing to get the vax.

My parents are 88 and 86, one a cancer survivor and one with an underlying heart condition, and because they are not in a congregate setting, they are part of 1B.
1B starts 1/18 in our state, with age 80+. One week later, 75-79 will be eligible.
I really with there had been a national plan instead of a disjointed state-by-state plan. But then we would get into a political discussion.

Many have reported that their arms were very sore. I just hope that's from the person giving the shot doing it assembly line style.
I can still remember as a little girl lining up (LONG line) to get the polio shot. Kids crying, screaming, etc. and the nurses were public health nurses, many of whom had been WWII Army nurses. I started to cry and the battle ax who gave me mine just looked at me with one of those "don't start with me kid" looks. My arm hurt for days. That was 65 years ago and it's burned into my brain! ��

Day 2 Update: Moderna vaccine

My arm is still sore, about a 3/10 on the pain scale. At least I can put my coat on today without much pain. I feel less fatigued today than yesterday but I still have slight stiffness in my legs. Hoping by Saturday to be back to 100% normal.

My dad told me that he and my mom had to stand in line at our neighborhood high school, in the rain, to receive the polio vaccine on a sugar cube. The line was a couple blocks long.

They gave us the Sabin vaccine on sugar cubes at school back around 1963. Many of us knew families who had had a child with polio.

Firefighter here - early 40s, good health. I just got the 1st dose of the Moderna vaccine today. The shot itself did not hurt at all. Thankfully, I did not have an immediate allergic reaction. No headache or brain fog. Just a tiny bit of tiredness that could be attributed to a poor night’s sleep. About 4-5 hours later, my shoulder is starting to get more sore. Not horrible sore; but, enough to be annoying when trying to move my arm around. My coworkers tell me that it will be worse tomorrow. I can come back tomorrow and report on day 2. LOL

AnchorAlum, I do not believe the arm soreness for the COVID vaccine has anything to do with aggressive handling by the medical staff. I happened to have our Chief Physician doing my shot today and he was quite gentle; but my arm is still sore. I am hearing the vast majority of people saying they had sore arms and so it seems unlikely that “everyone” had unskilled staff. Good news! You will not likely have a poor experience like you did as a child. Bad news...your arm will still probably be sore.

Mine is always sore after a flu shot - and I get 3 allergy shots a month so have the same issue there - most likely from flinching because I HATE shots!

My mother and I were discussing the other day that some years the flu shot gives us a sore arm, some years not. One year I got a tetanus booster that made my arm hurt so much I could hardly move it. Last year I got a tetanus booster that caused nothing more than a little tenderness at the injection site. I just follow my doctor's usual guidance, and try to move my vaccinated arm a bit more than usual.

Half of my state moved into Phase 1B this week, and my teacher friends are already being contacted with appointment dates and times. Due to some pre-existing health issues, I'm eligible to be vaccinated in the latter half of Phase 1C, and I've already pre-registered. But I doubt I'll be getting my first dose until late February at the earliest.

As soon as the polio shot was first released, Bank of America was a distribution site. We stood in a long line to get our shot. A classmate of mine was one of the last kids to get polio before they released the vaccine.

DaffyKD

I'm a teacher, but my county in Illinois isn't to 1b yet. They just yesterday released a form to fill out to hear more when they're to 1b. The county is also working with my school district to set up sites for staff once they're to that point.

My grandfather and mother were both scheduled for vaccines in their county next week - but grandpa is now in the hospital COVID positive and in heart failure, and mom is his primary caregiver, so no idea if she will still be able to get it. She's getting tested today. She was set to return next week to the classroom as a teaching assistant.

bevinpiphi, I'm so sorry about your grandfather. Will offer prayers for healing, and skill and strength for the overworked medical staff caring for him. Also prayers for your mother.

I'm in COVID Central USA (Arizona) and supposedly in group 1C (whatever that means, the definitions seem to be shifting). Registered but not optimistic that I'll get either vaccine any time soon.

Just read an article about Vaccine Diplomacy and why it is critical that the USA get on board with other major nations (are we still considered a major nation after the last four years, not to mention the last ten days?). You can google the term for more info if you're so inclined.

I think I had the polio vax in the late 60s at school and it was taken in plastic shot glasses and it was a clear, syrupy mixture.
I also remember getting the smallpox vaccine at school because I remember the school nurse walking through the classroom looking at our arms a few days (?) to look for the pox.

My in-laws (70+, Florida residents) got their first doses of the Moderna vaccine a few days ago. No side effects AFAIK.

I'm lining up for the shot as soon as I'm eligible. Hopefully my status as a cancer survivor will bump me up the list.

I'm worried that the covidiots will be out in droves as Mardi Gras approaches, despite the cancellation of parades and balls. But I doubt I'll be able to get the shot before MG.

Update Day 2 — Moderna Vaccine — When I posted yesterday, my shoulder was ok for about 5 hours, just a small amount of soreness. Then, all of a sudden, bam, like PKT4LIFE reported, I had a 7/10 on the discomfort/pain scale. I had a difficult time falling asleep due to the pain and so I started taking 1300mg of Tylenol every 8 hours. Today it's about 4 or 5/10 on the pain scale, but I can't raise my arm more than 90 degrees without significant discomfort. I was also a little tired today, but still no headache or muscle stiffness.

My coworker and her husband very recently had COVID. They were allowed to take the vaccine and were in line behind me yesterday. She reported to me that she has intense arm pain and her husband has a fever and massive body aches.

You will feel much better tomorrow. Day 3 for me, I was 90% better. Yes, that arm pain intensified hours after the injection, I took Aleve to help with the pain

Some of my employees developed swollen lymph glands and now, a few have a red, warm circular rash at the injection site.

Well, last night (late Day 2, after I posted) was horrible. My arm pain was so bad I cried. The 1300mg of Tylenol worked ok the first two doses, but was was not effective last night. This morning, Day 3, I cannot lift my arm above my waist. My shoulder unit is non-op and the deltoid in particular is still painful to move. I drove home from work with one hand. I tried to shower and sort of managed it.....but cried again. For today's round of pain meds, I decided to try 600 mg of ibuprofen and it seems to be working better than the Tylenol. Right now, I have a cold pack on my arm/shoulder. I hope this lifts overnight or I might have to dial in to my medical provider urgent care tomorrow. :(

My husband had his first dose of the Moderna vaccine 3 days ago and has had absolutely no discomfort of any sort. I'm so sorry for those of you who are having pain afterward -- I just wanted others to know that this after effect isn't universal.

My pediatrician sister said she's had parents ask her to do their child's vaccines instead of her nurse, and she responds with, "Trust me, you want the nurse. She does this all the time and I don't."

At my university, nursing students administer vaccines during the flu clinic each fall and they do a great job. The best vaccine I ever got (didn't feel anything at all, not a poke) was from a nursing professor who stepped in to help when the line got really long once.

Man, you don't want a doctor to do your shots. Any of them. My father was a doctor and his always HURT.

His nurse said it was because he hardly ever gave any.

My parents have their appointments set up for next week. Hoping for minimal side effects.

I donated blood today and the nurse who was working had mild COVID a few months ago (no symptoms other than joint and muscle aches). She had her first shot last week and had no side effects. Doesn't know if it means she is lucky or if the symptoms were mild because she has the antibodies.

Day 4 -- Moderna -- Yesterday morning, I posted that I couldn't move my arm, struggled to take a shower, and cried again. I took the ibuprofen 600mg and lied down on my bed with my arm propped on a fluffy pillow. That did the trick - I fell asleep for a 3 hour nap. When I woke up this morning, my arm pain was reduced. Probably 3 or 4 out of 10 - I took a 600mg ibuprofen after waking up. So far today, it appears that my arm pain has finally gone! I am so relieved! There is a slight soreness in the injection site; but, nothing too remarkable.

I do not regret it. I will still go back for the second dose and take it like a champ.

I post my experience so that others can have realistic expectations. I saw a lot of people posting pictures on Facebook, proudly holding up their vaccination cards with big smiles on their faces. Some people are saying, "Oh, it's just a little soreness and a little headache, no big deal." I believe I read on the official materials that 16% of people will have side effects strong enough to prevent them from going about their daily activities. Apparently, I am one of the 16% and a good number of my immediate coworkers were too. It was painful and I would categorize the pain as "severe".

My coworker said that he had a sore arm only; but, his wife was in so much pain that she was on the floor, crying. Our other coworker (same fire station) and her husband were behind me in line for the vaccination. She and her husband were previously positive for covid. She had debilitating arm pain like I did and he told me that he had fever and body aches so bad that he ended up on the floor as well. One supervisor reported debilitating arm pain. Bummer. My best friend got the Moderna vaccine at her workplace (hospital group) and she had just a basic sore arm.

Again, I do not regret it and I am definitely doing the second shot. Just be prepared with ibuprofen or Tylenol and get your vaccine at a time when you're not planning to move houses or go on a road trip.

I'm a nurse. I am a very healthy 60 years young. I got my first dose before Christmas and my second dose 9 days ago. My arm was sore after the first one for 2 days (similar to a tetanus shot) and moderately more sore after the second one (couldn't sleep on it that side for one night.) Ibuprofen helped. No redness or swelling.

I had a low grade fever and felt like I had the flu for about 3 hours the day after the second shot. Flu like symptoms had resolved by the time I went to bed that night. Side effects after the series of 2 shingles shots that I got 2 years ago were much worse. (My arm was sore for well over a week and felt really lousy for over a day) Husband is a doc, also vaccinated, had similar sore arm but he had no systemic effects.

I will say that we both got Pfizer vaccine. ANECDOTALLY I have heard of more side effects from the Moderna vaccine. Also, interestingly, younger nurses seem to have had more reactions/side effects than those of us that are more. . . seasoned. LOL. I absolutely would take it again in a minute (either of them). I have my 90 year old mother on a list with her primary care doctor. I am politically conservative and have no medical reservations about it.

She speaks the truth. Both hubby and daughter are doctors. They never give shots. Let the nurse do it! :)

navane, sorry you had such a rough time of it. :(

Thank you all for being candid about your experiences. I hope that those of you who have suffered intense side effects soon find relief. And I hope those of us who are waiting can avoid COVID until we can get the vaccine.

How are you feeling today? We all hope you are feeling better today.

Question for our nurses? My shot was given high up on my arm, near the top of my shoulder, definitely higher than my small pox arm scar. Is this too high to receive the vaccine? I’ve never had a shot given this high up. In fact. I had to take my shirt off in a crowded room and sit topless. Not a good feeling. Lol

Wondering if this was too high of a injection site, which caused my pain and should of been lower on my arm

Aww, thank you very kindly for asking. I had minor soreness last night and this morning. Nothing the ibuprofen couldn't solve. Thankfully, this looks to be the end of it. I am grateful to be moving my arm again.

Got my first Pfizer shot today about 3:30. Took 2 tylenol when I got home about 20 minutes later and all is well at this point. Arm not sore, feel fine. I am tired but I could tell I was stressing some all day so chalk it up to that.

Our dentist, who's my age, just got his second shot last week and he wants everyone to know that you probably don't want to get the second shot in the same arm as the first shot.

A couple of health care providers recommended to take Tylenol right after you get the shot in order to keep any potential fever from raising.

I still don't know when I will get my vaccine. My guess is March or April.