“COVID is the time for cleansing and introspection.” (Bert McCoy)
I would like to share with you my experience with the Pfizer Corona Vaccine. My wife and I, two healthy individuals who qualify for senior status, are apparently among the lucky ones in South Florida to obtain this injection. For to date, the vaccine distribution in Broward/Dade County has been reported to be plagued by (1) uncertainty of online signup glitches, (2) hordes of out of state “snowbird” registries (3) long queues at designated regional sites to obtain the “shot” in mobile fashion and (4) politicization of the vaccine distribution by a Republican Florida governor and legislature. So with respect to my home region heavily populated by medically challenged retirees of majority Democratic Party status, it’s reasonable to question the adequacy of the current supply vs demand process in the allocation of this valuable vaccine now.
In retrospect, the timing for us in getting the injection seemed critical for us with respect to our travel heavy lifestyle. For we needed to complete the Pfizer process as part of our upcoming plans to road trip west prior to our late February departure . For amid the confusion of numerous guidelines among U.S. states for compliance with current COVID restrictions, the “shots” would at least help us feel better prepared in the event that state border crossings became a problem. Given I’ve been spending more of my spare time visiting my mother at her independent living facility, it was also felt to be the right time to take the “shots” to lessen the chance that I would contract or spread the virus amid the medically vulnerable populace there.
So with no apprehension , Ruth and I welcomed the availability of the vaccine on our latest visit to mother last Saturday. My first impression in this regard when I brought her to the injection site that morning seemed to be the caring atmosphere conveyed by the medical staff at each table. For even though Ruth and I were not on the designated list that day to take the vaccine, we were calmly assured by nurses in the room that there would be an ample supply of vaccine available if we just waited out the day. In fact, one of them insisted to me that she saw her job duty as an expedient way to vaccinate as many persons as possible entering the room while her team was present that day. So after patiently waiting six hours for all of the residents of the facility to have opportunities to take this first shot of the entire vaccine process, we thankfully got the “green light” to proceed to the vaccination site for our initial inoculation.
As far as the vaccine itself, the procedure seemed painless and routine. For we filled out the registration papers for the scheduled injections in less than five minutes, and were also assured that any post injection reactions would be monitored in a thirty minute wait period at a designated room after the “shot” was administered. In fact, we enjoyed cheering up the advanced elderly crowd with our youthful vigor, sitting amid them then. Other than feeling a slight stiffness in my arm for less than twenty four hours after the procedure, I felt good as new and proud that I’ve done my duty to enhance my immune system needs at this critical time.
So I urge anyone who qualifies for this first wave of Corona inoculation to reflect deeply about your own situation and others you might encounter. At the very minimum, do not let fear, cynicism, and distrust stop you from getting the “shot.” For America desperately needs to move beyond destructive Corona uncertainty toward a revitalized sense of normality in the coming year. Stay well. USFMAN
Snippets of a Traveling Mind 
Never felt the shot and just had an sore upper arm but not enough to take a pain re.
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Sore arm is nothing. I’m glad we got the shot.
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Moderna. Painless vaccination, though I had a bit of a rough next day. But nothing terrible. Just happy that it’s been so effectively rolled out in this part of this state.
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Yes there is a slight delayed relaxation I agree.
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Thanks for sharing!
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Why wouldn’t we trust our government and their setup for the Covid 19 vaccination?
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Here, in Canada, there has been delay after delay. It’s shocking when the rest of the world seems to be having no difficulty getting millions of people vaccinated.
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Interesting that I read of your delays. Why is that so?
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Mismanagement on the part of our government. Every day the news says they’ve been delayed once again. I likely won’t be vaccinated until late fall or even 2022.
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Maybe because Democracy has been so beaten down in the last four years is one logical explanation.
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Glad that you suffered no side-effects. For me, I’ll have to be monitored for 12 hours or so, as I could have an allergic reaction.
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Shot 2 was even less bothersome physically. The difficult part was getting appointment in a timely fashion.
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You have to be very persistent and hope you get lucky in securing a vaccine it seems. Look for places that are giving out unused doses at the end of their distribution cycle.
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It is good that we now have the vaccine! I hope that we get rid of this pandemic situation pretty soon!
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I agree and I hope it’s readily available for those younger than me. Stay well.
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Your advice is very good. I am triple vaccinated. I’m from Canada and the vaccines are now readily available. Unfortunately there was a so called “Freedom” convoy of truckers in Canada that were mislead much like those who attacked the US capital building on January 6th. Here they protested vaccine passports and other restrictions on the unvaccinated. We should all be celebrating approaching the end of the pandemic but radicalized people who are afraid of vaccines have left a bitter taste in our mouths. They were mislead by social media the same way those who attacked the capital building were mislead. That is the new pandemic. Unfortunately this pandemic has no vaccine and never will. It will be the challenge of all reasoning and reasonable people in Canada and the USA to try to deal with this new pandemic of radicalization. How that is done I do not know.
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I am glad we connected on this important issue/
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