Have you gotten a COVID vaccine?

[Keli]

Very surprised that my DH isn’t being required to get the vaccine by his employer but he is not. But he already signed up to voluntarily take it when it becomes available to their ambulance service. Expect it soon.

Currently the health dept’s protocols for EMS in our area is if they test positive for Covid but have no fever/symptoms then come into work. If they have no fever but do have symptoms then come into work and their supervisors will decide if they take runs or not (have no idea what criteria the supervisors would follow to make that decision). If they have a fever then they are to call in sick and stay home. I think the idea is that with their protective gear they aren’t at a great risk to pass covid on to patients and the risk to all patients of having no EMS available is greater than the risk of catching Covid from one under the circumstances. I do not know whether his service is actually following this guideline, I’m aware of only a couple of his coworkers that have gotten Covid and both of them were sick and stayed home and quarantined.
Thankfully this hasn’t been an issue for us personally since neither DH, myself or any member of our nearby family have been sick or had a positive Covid test.

 

[JulieBeeRN]

This seems to assume all adults will get the vaccine. That’s probably not true. It’s being reported that only about 50% of hospital personnel are interested in getting vaccinated when they’re first eligible. National polls suggest similar numbers for the general public, if not, slightly lower.

If you want a vaccine ASAP then keep up with you state info as I think vaccines will quickly become available for whoever will get vaccinated.

Any folks who have been vaccinated have any idea how many of your co-workers will do the same?

Most of my nursing and physician coworkers will get the vaccine, excluding those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

 

[tippity]

Cousin is a nurse and many of her co workers are passing on this vaccine. I imagine a lot of doctors will hard pass as well. Just too new and too many unknowns that they don't feel it's safe to take it now.

Every time I read these comments, I am delighted! It means there will be more vaccines available for people who want the vaccine regardless of their risk.

 

[tippity]

I live in AZ and I volunteered to administer the vaccine. My first date of service is New years Eve. I can't think of a more appropriate way of celebrating the end of 2020.

 

[belle032]

I will hold off on the vaccine at first, not because I don't trust it, but because I'm 34 years old, not a frontline worker and have no underlying health conditions. I want others who need it more than I do to have the chance first. One of my brothers is 26, with Down Syndrome, has been through open heart surgery and testicular cancer, among other "normal" sicknesses. That's who I want to receive the vaccine before I even consider it.

DH on the other hand, doesn't trust it. Thankfully, he's young, works outdoors 90% of the time and is healthy.

 

[Birdie dog]

Update.
I just finished my class on administering the vaccine and my first day administering will be Monday. A few selected staff members (one of which is a co-worker who is the oldest RN in the ER) are getting vaccinated today. 8 hour clinics start tomorrow through next Wednesday. I'm waiting for my invite to sign up and hope to get the vaccine myself tomorrow. I've already asked my co-worker to text me after she gets her vaccine and let me know how it goes.
Our hospital currently has 2000 doses and tier 1 should all be able to be vaccinated if they desire.

 

[snappy]

Update.
I just finished my class on administering the vaccine and my first day administering will be Monday. A few selected staff members (one of which is a co-worker who is the oldest RN in the ER) are getting vaccinated today. 8 hour clinics start tomorrow through next Wednesday. I'm waiting for my invite to sign up and hope to get the vaccine myself tomorrow. I've already asked my co-worker to text me after she gets her vaccine and let me know how it goes.
Our hospital currently has 2000 doses and tier 1 should all be able to be vaccinated if they desire.

Hope you are able to get vaccinated tomorrow. God luck!

 

[RamblingMad]

Update.
I just finished my class on administering the vaccine and my first day administering will be Monday. A few selected staff members (one of which is a co-worker who is the oldest RN in the ER) are getting vaccinated today. 8 hour clinics start tomorrow through next Wednesday. I'm waiting for my invite to sign up and hope to get the vaccine myself tomorrow. I've already asked my co-worker to text me after she gets her vaccine and let me know how it goes.
Our hospital currently has 2000 doses and tier 1 should all be able to be vaccinated if they desire.

I heard the side effects from the vaccine pretty much knock you out for a day. Is this true?

 

[Alicefan]

The building blocks had already been worked on prior to this. This has been discussed in other threads as well if you want to know. It's not that they came up with a vaccine this year. They had already been working on one but financial, public interest and more meant it didn't go too too far.

A good but very brief description I found was:

"During the SARS1 (SARS-CoV-1) outbreak 18 years ago, researchers started looking at that virus, and other coronaviruses, and found a really promising vaccine target on the virus cell surface -- which is a protein called spike. That protein is what binds to human cells and leads to an infection. So about 10 years ago the science wheels started churning out strategies to vaccinate against SARS1. Unfortunately, funding dried up for SARS1 as that virus never made its way to the U.S., so a vaccine didn’t actually get developed. However, the research on the virus and ideas of how to vaccinate against it were already available."

"SARS2 (SARS-CoV-2, our current situation) uses almost the exact same version of that protein to infect cells and uses the exact same receptor on human cells. Due to these similarities, scientists were able to pick up where they left off, which sped up the process dramatically. Further, vaccination strategies have improved significantly in the last 10-plus years, particularly in the past couple of years with the mRNA technology that Moderna and Pfizer have utilized. All of these companies basically just took the DNA or RNA backbone of a vaccine that they had already built and plugged in the SARS2 spike protein’s genetic information."

Add in a global interest such that we really haven't seen with billions of dollars that frees up things and well it may still seem fast but there's at least reasons behind it.

This isn't to say your hesitancy in the vaccine isn't valid, it is, and others share your concern. I just wanted to give you some information.

_______________
Back to the thread topic for me

Thank you for your help.

 

[godisney14]

As I read along I was actually shocked at just how many people are so trusting and want to go first. I wondered where all of the scared people like me were? I will be first to admit that I'm not to keen to be the first to put some new thing in my body when every day we see some new lawsuit on tv over "if you've ever taken X you may be entitled". I'm one of those that question most things and I stand by the fact that they have never in our history been able to find a vaccine or cure for the common cold but in 7 months they can come up with a vaccine for this? Forgive me but I'm just plain scared.

As mentioned, the methodology of developing this vaccine using mRNA was available from previous effort. But, it certainly helps that there is a global pandemic with financial backers and incentives to speed up the process. A lot of therapeutics for diseases never see the light of day because it doesn’t affect a greater population (as this COVID-19 does).
Your skepticism is not without warrant. We never had a major vaccine go through trials this quickly. Know that there are those with science and medical degrees that aren’t rushing to be first in line for the vaccine. And that’s okay. Peace of mind for these people and one more dose available for others that do want it now.

 

[JimMIA]

I heard the side effects from the vaccine pretty much knock you out for a day. Is this true?

What I have read is that a small percentage of vaccine recipients had some pretty uncomfortable moments for about 24 hours after the 2nd dose. Aches, pains, chills -- typical flu symptoms. But the symptoms passed quickly.

 

[Ariel484]

I heard the side effects from the vaccine pretty much knock you out for a day. Is this true?

To back up @JimMIA :

"The most commonly reported side effects, which typically lasted several days, were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, and fever. Of note, more people experienced these side effects after the second dose than after the first dose, so it is important for vaccination providers and recipients to expect that there may be some side effects after either dose, but even more so after the second dose."

https://www.fda.gov/emergency-prepa...019-covid-19/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine

 

[tippity]

one more dose available for others that do want it now.

Only problem is, the vaccine supply is limited. So by the time some decide to be vaccinated, the vaccines may not be available.

 

[RamblingMad]

Only problem is, the vaccine supply is limited. So by the time some decide to be vaccinated, the vaccines may not be available.

Mentally, I expect to get the vaccine some time in June next year. No idea what one I will get.

 

[Kitty 34]

No I have not gotten the vaccine, to answer OP's question. My support group told me to expect to get the vaccine in early summer.

One quick question........when you get your first dose is a second one set aside for you for when you have to get the 2nd one?

 

[BadPinkTink]

No I have not gotten the vaccine, to answer OP's question. My support group told me to expect to get the vaccine in early summer.

One quick question........when you get your first dose is a second one set aside for you for when you have to get the 2nd one?

In my country they announced today that when you get the first dose you get an appointment for the second dose. You will get a reminder by email, post or text message, which ever method of communication you prefer.

 

[JimMIA]

Only problem is, the vaccine supply is limited. So by the time some decide to be vaccinated, the vaccines may not be available.

I think the trend will actually be the opposite. Right now, supplies are very limited and tightly restricted to those who need the vaccine the most.

But right now, there is only one vaccine approved and only the first shipments of 100 million doses have been shipped. That's the Pfizer vaccine, and the government is negotiating to purchase another 100 million doses of this vaccine.

The Moderna vaccine has received a positive staff recommendation for emergency approval, which is the first step in the approval process. The next step is the advisory panel recommendation, and they meet this Thursday. If that is positive, the Moderna vaccine could be approved Friday, and begin distribution next week. The government has already purchased 200 million doses of this vaccine.

Together, the 300 million doses already purchased are enough to vaccinate 150 million people. The US population is roughly 330 million and about 2/3 of the population is over 18 years of age -- so about 220 million to vaccinate.

There are also several other vaccines in various stages of development and trials -- so by the time summer rolls around, there should be a lot more vaccine available.

 

[anniemae]

What I have read is that a small percentage of vaccine recipients had some pretty uncomfortable moments for about 24 hours after the 2nd dose. Aches, pains, chills -- typical flu symptoms. But the symptoms passed quickly.

I also heard the side effects usually happen after the 2nd dose. A dr. was on the news this morning saying it generally lasts 12-24 hours and its a good thing. It means your immune system is primed to fight off the virus.

 

[paradesintherain]

Speaking of the side effects, my work is recommending we receive the vaccine before having a few days off. They didn’t say side effects is why, but that’s my assumption.

 

[tippity]

Mentally, I expect to get the vaccine some time in June next year. No idea what one I will get.

I think the trend will actually be the opposite. Right now, supplies are very limited and tightly restricted to those who need the vaccine the most.

But right now, there is only one vaccine approved and only the first shipments of 100 million doses have been shipped. That's the Pfizer vaccine, and the government is negotiating to purchase another 100 million doses of this vaccine.

The Moderna vaccine has received a positive staff recommendation for emergency approval, which is the first step in the approval process. The next step is the advisory panel recommendation, and they meet this Thursday. If that is positive, the Moderna vaccine could be approved Friday, and begin distribution next week. The government has already purchased 200 million doses of this vaccine.

Together, the 300 million doses already purchased are enough to vaccinate 150 million people. The US population is roughly 330 million and about 2/3 of the population is over 18 years of age -- so about 220 million to vaccinate.

There are also several other vaccines in various stages of development and trials -- so by the time summer rolls around, there should be a lot more vaccine available.

Your post does not take into consideration that the US is not the only country needing the vaccine. The entire world is scrambling for vaccinations.

So IMO as the vaccines receive approval in other countries, the supply may dry up.