Even within my own family-and everyone age 12 and up in my nuclear, extended and blended family is fully vaccinated-one person who had no problem with the vaccine itself was injected with a defective syringe. The allergist who became my vaccine guardian angel devised a backup plan that kept me safe.Īll those doctors’ appointments taught me I’m by no means the only non-traditional patient around. (“Even if it kills me?” I asked, a tad melodramatically.) I never did manage to get the shot in the ideal setting. I never managed to talk to or even email directly with anyone at a nearby hospital to explain my situation, with one exception-and in that case a “vaccine tech” manning a phone line told me I had to take whatever shot their computer assigned me. and Maryland imposed one barrier after another. Should I get the second dose? Switch to a different vaccine? But other than routine “submission received” emails, neither I, nor my primary care physician, ever heard a peep from VAERS (which is being spammed by anti-vax submissions), Pfizer or V-safe.Įven after I finally had a safety plan-I would switch to the Johnson and Johnson shot, and receive it in spitting distance of a hospital Emergency Department-health systems in Washington D.C. (Allergy! Anaphylaxis! Racing pulse-even while doing yoga!) I was in search of some specific guidance after my reaction. As a health journalist, I know the lingo, the phrases that should trigger a response. I also used the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), run jointly by the CDC and Food and Drug Administration, and Pfizer’s portal. After my allergic reaction, I submitted information and updates to the CDC’s V-safe, an app for reporting vaccine side effects which says it reaches out to some patients in need. You may have to wait for a while, including up to 30 minutes after your vaccination.It’s also a story about how the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American health system more broadly is not set up in a crisis to deal with the non-cookie-cutter patients, including immune-compromised people with far more serious health issues than my own. Some clinics may be outdoors, so dress for the weather. This makes it easy to expose your upper arm. Taking pain meds beforehand may reduce the vaccine’s effectiveness. 5 But don’t take pain medication before getting your COVID-19 vaccine. Consider pain relief meds. Keep ibuprofen (like Advil) or acetaminophen (like Tylenol) on hand to help with body aches or a fever.If you have chills, a warm shower or heated blanket may feel nice.

If you have pain in your arm, you can use an ice pack for relief. Take care of yourself. Be good to your body the day or days that you get your vaccine.Get sleep. Studies have shown that sleep after vaccination strengthens your body’s immune response.3 You should also try to avoid alcohol the night before your vaccine appointment. Stay hydrated. This is especially important if you tend to feel lightheaded when getting a shot or your blood drawn.Before you get the vaccine, consider these steps to help prepare for any side effects:

Pfizer 2nd dose side effects timing