By Serrae Bell
Recently, more and more people have been receiving the vaccine for COVID-19. It has become more widestream, and will hopefully soon be available to the general public. Right now, it is available to healthcare workers, those 65 and older, essential employees, people who are disabled, and those who have conditions that could increase their risk of getting the coronavirus. Last week, I was lucky enough to get the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine myself. I, like some others I know, was able to volunteer at the workplace of a friend, who is a healthcare worker, which qualified me for the vaccination. I also got service hours in the process, and learned many new things about a field of work I had never considered before, so it was a win-win situation. My experience getting the vaccine was an overall good one. The staff was instantly welcoming and cheerful, and there wasn’t an endless amount of forms to fill out or boxes to check. My sister and I did hit a slight bump in the road because we didn’t have a parent there to give consent because we were minors, but the workers were patient and understanding, and a quick phone call to our mom solved the issue. It was smooth sailing from there. We did not have to wait long, and the actual administration of the shot only took about three seconds, and was only slightly painful. After that we were asked to sit in a different area for a fifteen minute observation period, and then we were free to go. You may have heard stories from people who got vaccinated about experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus, having a fever or fatigue, or not being able to move their arm all the way. While these are probably true, and I myself know people who have had bad experiences with it, mine was surprisingly easy. As we left the vaccination station (sorry, I couldn’t resist), we were reminded to keep our arms moving throughout the day to prevent pain in the next. This might be what saved me from feeling no more pain than what a normal shot would cause, but as for the other symptoms, it was probably just luck that I had none. I have heard, however, that the second shot is sometimes worse than the first, but I am hoping for the best. Going into the vaccine, it is important to know that no one’s body is the same, so some people may react to it differently. Remember that getting the COVID vaccine is not only for yourself, but for the safety of others as well. It has not yet been proven that those who have been vaccinated cannot still spread the virus, so wearing a mask is still essential. Getting vaccinated may be a monumental moment for you, but there are still millions of people to go. It does not mean that your life can instantly return to normal. It just means that we are all one step closer to returning to a normal life.
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