Just over a week ago I received my second dose of the Moderna Covid vaccine, and I realize how fortunate I am to have received it already.
Each of the 50 states here in the U.S. sets its own guidelines as to who can receive the vaccine. Vaccine supplies are limited, and my state is administering to healthcare workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, adults aged 65 and older and their caregivers, and law enforcement, firefighters and other first responders. Even so, I know many people over the age of 65 who are having a very difficult time getting an appointment to receive their first dose, let alone their second dose.
In a way, I lucked out. I had a routine doctor appointment in January, and before the appointment I phoned to ask if they were administering the vaccine and if I could receive my first dose at the time of my appointment. They said they did have the vaccine but that I could not get it at my appointment time, and that they would put me on a waiting list. Within two days, they had called back and scheduled me for the first dose. Then on Friday February 12, I had the second dose.
And yes, I had side effects after that second dose: severe chills, headache, rather severe body aches, and fever. Those effects were the worst on the afternoon of the day I received my second dose and on the following day, but they tapered off after that.
My 92-year-old father and my sister who live about 30 miles away were able to receive their vaccines (Pfizer) at the county health department where they live, but only after my sister was pro-active about getting that scheduled.
Availability now seems to be getting better as more vaccination sites are being set up, but I know people in their 70s and 80s who still are having a difficult time getting appointments.
Unexpected in common hours 
Still trying for my 87 year old husband with 5 chronic illnesses. No joy. He has just come out of hospital, and we even asked there. I am 73, and in good health so not worrying about when I get mine.
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I hope you can get your husband vaccinated soon. I know it’s worrisome. I have a friend who is 83, and she just got her first dose. She takes care of her mother who is 105, and she doesn’t think she can get her mother vaccinated because her mother is homebound. I’ll be thinking of you and hoping you can get it worked out soon.
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None this week due to the bad weather up north.
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Maybe soon?
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Who knows.
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So glad you and your father got the shot. We still can’t get an appointment.
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It’s hard, isn’t it? Whenever I hear of a new vaccination site opening near here I let my friends know. I have a friend in her 70s who couldn’t get an appointment until May. I hope you get an appointment soon.
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Wonderful news, Deb. Here in South Africa the vaccine rollout has just started and targeting only health workers (and prominent politicians) at the moment.
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Oh yes. Prominent politicians here, too. I just didn’t mention them.
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I will be taking my second dose in March. I got very tired and it has been hard to just be motivated to take photos but I am forcing myself to do so. I am prepping for the 2nd because I hear the 2nd can have more side effects. We got a good role out a couple of weeks ago here in California. There is a list, Othena, that we were on for a good month. We ended up getting a heads up that a hospital had appointments to get the series. We took that instead. I think it just a matter of time.
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I had side effects from the second dose, but I know several people who had no side effects at all. It seems to be different with everyone. Today a health care worker told me she heard that people who have had Covid actually have worse side effects from the second dose.
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Well… I haven’t had COVID so I hope that helps me 🙂 Either way, at this point, I have no choice. It’s safer for me to get the vax. Cross fingers!
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