Last week I received my second vaccination for COVID-19 at the Mesa Convention Center. Thank you to all the firefighters, staff, and volunteers working this site. It was the best place for me to be vaccinated because I was surrounded by many of my husbands co-workers. I wanted to wait until after I had both doses to share and today is the day I am doing just that.

My first dose of Moderna was on March 28th. I went back on forth on getting the vaccine due to my health history. To be clear I am so thankful these vaccines exists and are so readily available in the United States.

In my 20s I had Guillian-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and there were early contraindications suggesting against the vaccine. Later the GBS/CIDP Foundation International and the CDC released statements saying persons who have previously had GBS may receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

If you or your loved one has had GBS I hope that my sharing this can encourage you if you happen to be on the fence about the vaccination.

SHOT #1

The parking was a breeze, I waited in a very short line to check in, and was quickly seated and administered the Moderna shot. For the room being as full as it was the process was efficient and everything was well organized.

Funny story. Fifteen minutes after the shot I wanted to say hi to several of my husband’s co-workers before leaving. Everyone had masks on and only seeing people’s eyes can be tricky. I was overly confident in knowing who people were and I was so wrong. I had conversations with people I had never met before but thought they were someone else. Oh well. Josh got a kick out of the story so I guess it wasn’t a total loss.

As far as side effects go I only had a sore arm for the first 48 hours. My arm was most sore 12 hours after the shot. And the evening after my shot I had a slight headache. Nothing severe. I drank a gallon of water the day before the vaccination and for multiple days after and convinced myself shot #2 would be the same with adequate hydration. And spoiler alert: it wasn’t.

SHOT #2

Twenty-eight days later back to the Mesa Convention Center I went. This time the parking lot was very empty, which I was not expecting. The line in the hallways was non-existent and I quickly was able to check in.

The sweet lady who checked me in told me that this was highly unusual, as they had been very full in the previous weeks. The site isn’t getting as many new appointments and the majority of those in the room were there, like me, for their second.

I waited my 15 minutes. Then, unlike after my first shot, did manage say hello to someone who was actual the person I thought they were. I actually didn’t leave my chair for another 15 minutes because we catched up on life. If they vaccination site been more full, like it had been the first time I went, there is no way this longer conversation could have happened. It is wild the difference in the amount of people there from my first to second shot.

Now lets talk side effects. Whomp. Whomp. The first twelve hours started out real good. No fever, chills, body aches, or fatigue and for the first 12 hours. Waking up feeling very hot at midnight, I took my temperature, and was met with the urgent triple beep and red screen. 101.2. My fever lasted until 2:30 p.m. and I was in bed all day. My body ached, my head hurt, and could barely keep my eyes open. But 48 hours later I was feeling much, much better. It has now been 72 hours and I am still feeling good.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This last year has been crazy.

I could probably leave it at that but I am just grateful to be able to spend more time the last several weeks with family as they have become fully vaccinated.

Setting up appointments for numerous family members to be vaccinated was at times very frustrating at the start of the year. The appointment website was not well designed initially when first launched and has since been corrected.

At this time having seen the numerous empty chairs at Convention Center I am hoping to the county health departments will be able to allocate the vaccines for popup sites in different communities.

Today I read that it will take 800+ days to vaccinate 60% of the world population. I feel very fortunate that I live in the United States. It is heartbreaking reading about what is happening in India and other countries around the world who don’t have access to the vaccine.

I will be sure to share an update when I am fully vaccinated and if I experience any other side effects.