Covid-19 Vaccination

Jan 11, 2014
11,441
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
then go camping for a month and either return for the second shot OR try to get it where we are camping.
Not sure how CA is handling it, in NY when I was given an appointment for the second shot the day I received the first shot. Actually before it was administered. Second shot will be February 25.
 
Feb 21, 2013
4,638
Hunter 46 Point Richmond, CA
Camping delayed since first and second shot scheduled for Feb 11 and March 4, respectively, in San Francisco.
 
Nov 22, 2011
1,192
Ericson 26-2 San Pedro, CA
Not sure how CA is handling it, in NY when I was given an appointment for the second shot the day I received the first shot. Actually before it was administered. Second shot will be February 25.
Speaking only for myself and as a resident in L.A. County: I got my first shot a week ago today, and when I scheduled the first shot online they also set an appointment for exactly three weeks later for the booster. (I got the Pfizer vaccine.) In L.A. County, at any rate, they have been giving the shots to people 65 and over for at least the last few weeks, maybe a bit more. (That's how I qualified.)

The online appointment system was swamped, and so it was a matter of frequently checking back until there was an opening. The site I used (in Downey, CA) was entirely done as a drive through; I did not even have to get out of my car for it. The process went smoothly and quickly. But as I said, getting the appointment itself was tricky.

A good friend of mine got his first shot at Dodger's Stadium maybe a week before I got mine. Again, getting the appointment required perseverance, but the vaccination process itself was very smooth. At Dodger's Stadium they are administering Moderna with four weeks between shots. I didn't ask him whether he was assigned his second appointment at the same time he got his first one or whether he has to make the second appointment separately.

Edit: I just re-read the email another friend of mine sent me, who also got it at Dodger's stadium. Regarding the booster shot, he said, "We will receive an automatically generated appointment for the second dose via email." That's different from the site I used, which scheduled the second appointment at the same time it scheduled the first.
 
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Ward H

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Nov 7, 2011
3,651
Catalina 30 Mk II Barnegat, NJ
First Covid-19 Shot Feb 4th (Pfizer). Went to a NJ Megasite. Nothing but a sore arm afterward.
As Dave said above, they scheduled my second shot before giving me my first. Second shot scheduled for Feb 25th, 9am.
 
Jan 11, 2014
11,441
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
We got lucky with our appointments. I happened to be sitting at the computer when I got a text that a local pharmacy was opening up appointments. Jumped right on that.

Got the Moderna shot, only side effect was a 2 hour period when I felt like I was getting a cold and then it went away. If you have a choice, get the shot in your non-dominant arm. Mine was a sore for about a day and a half.
 
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Bob S

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Sep 27, 2007
1,774
Beneteau 393 New Bedford, MA
We, Massachusetts, have been lagging way behind in vaccinating. I've been going crazy trying to find an appointment for my mom who is legally blind and 87. God bless her that she still lives independently. I'm 67 and will get it as soon as I become eligible. I've known a lot of people who have contracted the virus and until recent didn't know anyone that didn't survive it. I lost a coworker 74 yo on 1/31. He and his wife both got it. She is a medical mess and he was fit as a fiddle yet he ended up in the hospital on 12/23 and spent most of 6 weeks in the ICU before passing. She has recovered. Another coworker lost his mom at 84 from it two weeks earlier. Just can't figure it out!!!
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,674
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
No one has died from the vaccine yet. Can't say that for the virus.

My wife works for a Hospital and was basically forced to get it in order to keep her job. 1st shot she lost a day of work. Knocked flat out for 18 hours. 2nd shot took her out of commission for 4 straight days, as well as most of her entire department, who all had the shots on the same day. She looked like death and could not even lift her head for 48 straight hours and could barely even speak. The lump on her arm looked liked she was punched by Mike Tyson, was bright red and looked like a half deflated foot ball. She's not missed a single day of work since 1991 due to sick time. If COVID is worse than the vaccine, well, it's pretty freaking bad.

When she tried to report the AE's she was literally brushed off with "oh that's normal".. Missing 4 straight days of work is not normal for someone who's never missed a single day of work due to being sick.
 
Nov 22, 2011
1,192
Ericson 26-2 San Pedro, CA
My wife works for a Hospital and was basically forced to get it in order to keep her job. 1st shot she lost a day of work. Knocked flat out for 18 hours. 2nd shot took her out of commission for 4 straight days, as well as most of her entire department, who all had the shots on the same day. She looked like death and could not even lift her head for 48 straight hours and could barely even speak. The lump on her arm looked liked she was punched by Mike Tyson, was bright red and looked like a half deflated foot ball. She's not missed a single day of work since 1991 due to sick time. If COVID is worse than the vaccine, well, it's pretty freaking bad.

When she tried to report the AE's she was literally brushed off with "oh that's normal".. Missing 4 straight days of work is not normal for someone who's never missed a single day of work due to being sick.
Wow! So sorry to hear that. I pray that she's doing much better now.

If you don't mind my asking, which of the vaccines did she receive?
 
Sep 25, 2008
7,099
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
When she tried to report the AE's she was literally brushed off with "oh that's normal".. Missing 4 straight days of work is not normal for someone who's never missed a single day of work due to being sick.
Its an indication her immune system is awake and working as it should. Most adverse reactions occur in younger adults simply because their immune system is typically stronger. Regardless, it's for her (and your) own good.
 
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Nov 22, 2011
1,192
Ericson 26-2 San Pedro, CA
Moderna
Ok. Thanks. Your poor wife's experience with it was no fun. Hopefully that is now behind her.

There may be some comfort in what Don was saying, though. I have read that younger people with more vital immune systems sometimes have a greater reaction to it. Also, what you said about her second shot hitting her even worse is also consistent with that, since the first dose geared up her immune system. So I guess that fits with what your description of her as a very healthy individual, perhaps blessed with a robust immune system. Just anecdotally, my son has a young healthcare worker friend who got the vaccine and it was the second shot that really knocked her out: fever, vomiting, weakness, etc. This lasted for a few days before resolving itself. She's fine now but really went through it.

I had my first shot of the Pfizer vaccine last Monday with no side effects at all. (I'm 65.) My 92-year old dad also received his first dose of Pfizer and also had no side effects. We'll see how the second shot goes.

Take care.
 

Bob S

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Sep 27, 2007
1,774
Beneteau 393 New Bedford, MA
@dmax I saw her on the news. Great site, good for her. My daughter told me she heard the state is allowing an escort of a 75+ will be eligible to also get vaccinated. I’m looking into that.

Watching a seemingly healthy man die in 6 weeks was an eye opener. We get desensitized to it by seeing the numbers until it hits home. His daughter who I kept in touch with also works in the hospital he was treated in. She told me they were required to be vaccinated but because of the side effects they staggered the departments so not to have a whole department out at once. I plan on getting mine as soon as I am eligible.
 
Jan 11, 2014
11,441
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Both my wife and I have had the first Moderna shots. Both of us had a sore arm for about 24-36 hours. By comparison, it is about twice as long as a flu shot hurts.

About 6 hours after getting the vaccine, I started to feel like I was coming down with a cold and just feeling out of sorts. This lasted for about 2 hours and except for the sore arm there were no other issues.

From what I'm hearing side effects are pretty unpredictable, some people have them, some don't. I think the docs call it an idiopathic response.
 
Jan 11, 2014
11,441
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
“idiopathic" anaphylaxis, it means cause for the reaction isn't known.
idiopathic means unique to the individual. Not all reactions are anaphylactic. Anaphylaxis can be life threatening, however, it is easily and quickly treated with epinephrine and Benadryl. This is why they ask people to remain at the vaccination site for 15 minutes after getting the shot. Anaphylaxis comes on very quickly. When I learned I was allergic to bee stings the initial reaction began within 2 minutes, within 5 minutes I knew this was getting serious, and 15 minutes later the Urgent Care Doc was telling me (in not so many words) I was an idiot for not calling an ambulance from home. Symptoms will likely vary a bit from person to person, they began with excessive itching and swelling where I was stung, then a general sense of my body reacting violently to something, with my face turning red, swelling and hives forming. A few minutes later the swelling was occurring in my esophagus and breathing was becoming more difficult.

Been there, done that, have the epi-pens.

The kinds of reactions most people are describing are not anaphylaxis, my reaction to the vaccine felt more like my body was fighting off a cold or some other bug. So it was probably the immune system ramping up.
 
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Feb 21, 2013
4,638
Hunter 46 Point Richmond, CA
Let's see if my wife and I vaccinations occur tomorrow since our first vaccination appointment on Monday was cancelled.
 
Jan 11, 2014
11,441
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Let's see if my wife and I vaccinations occur tomorrow since our first vaccination appointment on Monday was cancelled.
My advice, get the shot in your non-dominant arm and don't plan on lifting weights for a couple of days.
 
Oct 22, 2014
21,110
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Dave I recognize you defend the vaccination of the US population.

Should we ask questions about this process, the popular reaction defines this as wrong.

The essence of scientific thinking is to ask critical questions.

The use of a specific term like “idiopathic-anaphylaxis” has a definition. If that definition is a medical statement then I would seek a medical groups definition.
Perhaps WebMD is a credible site to search for a definition.

But if your doctor calls it "idiopathic" anaphylaxis, it means cause for the reaction isn't known.

 
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Feb 21, 2013
4,638
Hunter 46 Point Richmond, CA
My advice, get the shot in your non-dominant arm and don't plan on lifting weights for a couple of days.
I will be happy if we get the shot without being denied one TODAY since we are 70 years old and were already had previous vaccination appointment canceled.
 
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