Got Both Shots!!
Exhausted…
But not sure if that is a reaction to the second shot, or relief that I have them both, or because I had to stand in a line that was almost one mile long (not kidding) in the sun on concrete for 3.5 hours.
Not kidding.
And there was a line that long for each of the two brands of vaccines. Thousands and thousands of people, all getting second shots at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Luckily I got there over an hour early and managed to get in the correct line, so I got my shot only two hours late from my appointment.
So happy and tired. In a couple of weeks I will be covered.
No matter the pain and annoyance, folks, when your time comes, get your shot or shots. If we all do it will be the only way we all get out of this.
Now I am taking the night off.
14 Comments
James
I expect to get my second shot in early March. Luckily, I’m in a part of Texas that has a big NASCAR racetrack, so they set up a drive thru vaccination center. 12 lanes of cars. Drive up. Show your QC code. Get your paperwork. Get your shot. Park for 15 minutes until they give you the all clear. Drive away. And never get out of your car.
Trying to stay safe and healthy until Spring, now. By March 21, I should be immune and able to safely, still wearing a mask to protect others, go do things again. Almost a year in isolation with almost no face to face human contact. I’m a major introvert but even *I’M* not *THAT* much of an introvert.
dwsmith
Nothing will change for me now, at all. Still staying in and wearing a mask if I do have to go out. After Kris gets her shots (or shot), the only thing that will change for us in the short term is maybe going out to a restaurant. At this point, sitting in a restaurant is far, far too deadly a risk to take and we both miss that. Long term, meaning three or four months, when the infection rates are down and a large percentage are vaccinated, we then will come out of our cave. But that is still four or five months away.
Amy
Congratulations, Dean!
I saw on Sir Patrick Stewart’s Twitter some footage of him in his car getting a jab in the arm through the rolled-down window. Very good of him and other prominent people to encourage others. And nice to see Captain Picard getting vaccinated, of course!
Mihnea Manduteanu
Great news, Dean. Happy to hear it and stay safe. Especially after what I’ve been through…Fucking thing got me and got me good, spent a week int he hospital on oxygen and it was touch and go for a bit. Nasty fucker this.
dwsmith
Ughh, yup, I am changing no behavior at all. Kris has not gotten her shots yet and no chance I want to bring this back to her. So we go on as we have been doing for a year. But still nice to be out of the way of everyone else, now.
Lee Allred
Welcome to the Second Shot Club, slowpoke! LOL
Kidding aside, as explained to me by the med peeps in long detail, if you haven’t had COVID, the second shot is usually harder on you than the first one. (If you’ve had COVID, the first one is usually harder.) I had very mild reactions to both shots. Sore muscles the next day; nothing a couple aspirin didn’t take care of.
dwsmith
So far just a sore shoulder on both. I think I was more tired from the four hours standing on concrete in the sun than from the shot.
Philip
The more vaccinated people, the quicker this international nightmare fades. I’ve been pretty depressed all week thinking of how we’re coming up on a year here in Pennsylvania from when the Governor first had to shut it all down. “Two weeks to stop the spread” turned into a year. It’s very good to see signs of light at the end of this hellish tunnel.
Bill Sinclair
Glad to hear you got your second shot. Thought your commentary interesting.
“I had to stand in a line that was almost one mile long (not kidding) in the sun on concrete for 3.5 hours”
It’s funny curious about the differing cultural attitudes to the giving and taking of vaccine jabs. I had a very interesting discussion with a highly regarded allergist and immunologist about this topic today, so when I read your commentary I thought to comment.
“Luckily I got there over an hour early and managed to get in the correct line, so I got my shot only two hours late from my appointment.”
In the UK when you attend a vaccination center you’ll see signs reading: ’Please do not arrive more than five minutes before the time of your appointment’. For most folk in the UK — even though famous for their queing abilities, and for being sticklers to punctuality — would never dream of lining up for 3.5 hours for a jab — the time they say is the time you turn up — even if they then have to spend up to an hour (no more) waiting.
In Spain (where I live) vaccine planners work on the assumption that 20% of folks will not turn up at all — 20% will turn up more than an hour late, 5% will turn up early or on the dot and expect and demand immediate attention, and the rest will turn up between 10 minutes and 40 minutes past their allotted time slot.
Similarly with voting. I recall reading an account of some folks in the U.S. lining up for 11 hours to cast their ballot in the 2020 election.
So, how does this relate to writing convincing, engaging fiction? Well, if you’ve ever listened to, say, an Afghan tribal elder (as I have) talk about events which happened 80 years before you were born as if it all happened a month ago, then you’ll begin to understand the relevance. A character’s concept of, and attitude to, the passing of time can be an important factor of story development. As I write this I began thinking of that Arthur Penn/Dustin Hoffman movie, ‘Little Big Man’ .
Mark Kuhn
Great news, Dean. The lines are long all over but that will soon be changing for the better. It’s a race against how fast Covid can mutate, but there’s hope now.
Thomas E
It’s really great to hear you’ve had both shots, Dean. Wish it could be me ( I’m not in any of the priority groups in the U.K.).
Weird to hear how differently they’re doing the immunisation in the US.
In the U.K. they try to minimise contact during the jab (so no long queues) since current preliminary research says there is no effect until two weeks after the first jab after which it rapidly goes up to around 60%. Then more after the second jab.
Meaning, you can catch COVID while getting the jab and so minimising contact is still best.
dwsmith
Oh, this was a different situation. First off, everyone, without exception, had on a mask, we were outside in the breeze and sun, and we were all six feet apart, which was part of why the lines got so long. On top of all that, everyone in the line already had one shot. Just about as safe a line as you could imagine. Long, but safe.
Stephannie Tallent
Got my second vaccine Thursday. Woke up a little tired Friday with a mildly sore arm, went in to work, and then around 11:30–BOOM! Fever, chills, wooziness, exhaustion. Luckily I was working at the clinic where I get to leave around 4-ish rather than 6-ish.
Tired but no fever today. 🙂
FWIW after my first, my arm was sore for about five days. No fever etc. About one week post I had the itchy inflamed lump reaction that took about six days to resolve.
Not planning on changing anything. Husband hasn’t gotten any vaccines yet. I’m masked at work, but a lot of people at the various clinics, though eligible, have chosen not to get vaccinated (!?).
dwsmith
Bummer, but does happen to a few. I got my second on Thursday as well and ended up just exhausted all day Friday. Don’t think I have ever had a four-nap day.