With a second shot on Friday, I finished my vaccinations, and two weeks from now I’ll be protected, at least 94% covered. The arena in town is a mass vaccination site.
Four weeks ago, I received my first Moderna shot, following which I got COVID arm. A week AFTER the injection, the site became red, hot, itchy, and painful. Medical articles describe it lasting a week to ten days, but mine lasted three weeks. Other than that, there were no symptoms.
Two days ago, I returned to the arena for my second shot. I’d heard stories about some rough symptoms in reaction to the second. I was shocked when my mom had nothing to report but a sore arm. My doctor explained that the stronger the immune system is the greater the effect. Older people may have fewer issues because immune systems age along with the rest of us.
I felt tired the day of, but the next day I had extreme fatigue, joint pain, arm pain, headache, and body aches. There was a miserable hour or so of feeling nauseous. Today, my arm hurts worse; there is also redness, swelling and heat. I have trouble with vertigo due to fibromyalgia so, although I move to the bathroom like a pinball careening off the walls or furniture, I don’t know how much is due to vaccine vs. regular day vertigo. Joint pain continues, though lessened.
All in all, people moved smoothly through the vaccination site and the fairly minor side effects that may keep a person in bed for a few days are totally worth the peace of mind garnered. Tell you what, these symptoms are much more manageable than after shots in a bar and there is a benefit to COVID19 shots. Can’t wait to see my 82-year-old mom!
SurvivingSara 