As talk of the vaccines become louder and louder throughout 2020. I was filled with skepticism, fear of the unknown, and to be honest uncertainty whether I would be any of the firsts to be in line when available to the general public. From March to December the amount of patients I saw as a rapid response nurse as their oxygen declined, the emergent transfers to the Covid19 ICUs, the tears of patients who worked in healthcare and understood exactly what the numbers we rattled off meant- that they were moments away from have a tube placed down their throat and praying life support would be enough while battling this virus. I have responded to many “code blues” to covid19 ICU rooms. I have had an elderly patient who was independent before admission ask me, “How long does this virus last? About two weeks?” I didn’t know how to tell him with his age and having to respond to multiple rapids because his oxygen wasn’t staying up on high amounts that he wasn’t likely to be the one lucky enough to rebound in 14 short days. After multiple rapids from that point roughly two weeks later a morphine drip was started as his family said their goodbyes via telephone screen.
The times in which I was cynical included the moments the numbers were a bit lower. Though I knew the fall and winter were imminent and as I had been following all thing COVID19 and society of Americans I was not naïve to think my neighbors, the patriots who love our country, would take heed and cautiously follow guidelines as the deaths began to rise. The country was told it would be gone by Easter, gone by summer, gone by the elections. After the election was over it would still be here we just wouldn’t hear of it as much. Today is January 9, 2021. My news is ravaged with hospitals scurrying to manage heavy patient loads, new highest death to dates, highest hospitalization dates, etc .
As I knew in the fall time would be getting closer I was aware I needed to be as informed as I possibly could to know whether the vaccine would be the best choice. I began reading through the clinical trials of Pfizer and Moderna. I reeducated myself what makes a medication or vaccination “safe,” how many people must be trialed for that determinant. It was found Pfizer used 43,000 people in their trials. While I continued researching more information every time I stepped into work more people would decline, more code blues and code strokes were called on the COVID19 patients. My fear everytime I put on a Max Air and suited up my first and last thought would be, “Is this the time I didn’t check the seal well enough and I will catch it?” and “Did I not wash my hands enough before I accidentally rubbed my eyes?” I also had thoughts while seeing these families communicating via facetime how I longed to see and hug my mom and dad. I refuse to see them unless it is an emergency for fear of unknowingly give them a virus that will kill them as they are in a high risk population. When will I ever touch them again?
Take a listen to Sam’s journey of COVID19 and our thoughts on the vaccine November 22, 2020.
All my research, all that I saw on a daily basis I concluded people are dying at excessive rates. This spread is not slowing. I believe in evidence-based research and it has checked the appropriate boxes deemed safe. Not being protected hoping the rest of my country will do the right thing hasn’t worked thus far. But I can do more. So, in December I was the 6th person in line at my hospital the first day vaccines were administered. I was so happy and so thankful for the opportunity I felt like I was flying.
Dose 1 of Pfizer Vaccine against Covid19
Day 1: Received the shot at 2:20pm. Worked the rest of the day. Arm tenderness that seemed to reach from my shoulder to elbow within a few hours.
Day2: I woke up with similar soreness, but seemed to be limited around injection site.
Day 3: Soreness gone.
But maybe I’m a zombie?!?!
21 days later I received my second dose of the Pfizer Vaccine.
Dose 2 of Pfizer Vaccine against Covid19
Day 1: Received the shot at 2:20pm. Worked the rest of the day. Arm tenderness didn’t seem to travel as far down my extremity as the last time. No real symptoms.
Day 2: I woke 12hrs later (almost exactly) from the time of the vaccine cold with chills and shivering. I could not get warm enough, I could not get comfortable. My skin also felt “prickly” like my nerves were on the outside of my body (similar to a moderate to bad sunburn). I took two Tylenol PM and woke about 6 hours later. I woke with a temperature of 101.5 with chills. Not feeling well with the same nerve pain. I took another dose of Tylenol and around 11:00 I felt well enough to go downstairs and chop fresh vegetables to make vegetable noodle soup for myself. I stay hydrated and took Tylenol every 6 hours during the day. The highest my temperature got was 102.5. It was a very uncomfortable day, but not unbearable. The last time I had symptoms was 5:00pm. I took Tylenol as I had, then took Tylenol PM a little early as I wanted to sleep before the symptoms hit.
Day 3: I woke around 9:30am back to myself. No symptoms, no fever, no aches. Just able to get up with energy. I cleaned the house, I cooked, and played a couple games with my husband before bed.
These side effects do not happen to every person that takes the vaccine, but they do happen. It is supposed to last only 24-48 hours. I will tell you based on my experience of working with patients who have COVID19, what I went through for 15hrs was nothing compared to what people who suffer from this disease deal with on a daily, sometimes monthly basis.
Talk to your doctor to see if it is right for you. If you can, I would highly recommend it. We are all in this together. I took the shot so that you can better be protected. Pass it on.
If you have any questions or have difficulty finding research to answer questions you may have. Feel free to send me an e-mail at 1stdonoharm.podcast@gmail.com or you can send me a DM on Facebook at Jami Fregeau, or instagram at First.Do.No.Harm.Podcast.