Scamperings

I got my first COVID-19 vaccine today, which is a relief.

I woke up with a sore muscle on the left side of my neck, something I strained in my sleep. I didn't take anything for it because I didn't want to mess with the immune response. I found some paper showing that acetaminophen didn't interfere with an influenza vaccine, but I try not to keep much around in the house because it's fairly dangerous as far as OTC drugs go, so all we had was a heavy-duty extended-release one. Too much uncertainty, better not.

I put on my Sunday finest mask and walked to the doctor's office, rather than biking (due to the neck thing). I had had a plan to spend the 15 minute observation period outdoors, but my plans to bring an "observer" fell through, so I did the indoor wait. I guess the more important thing is that they did agree to it after some fuss, which means that they don't really have an excuse to say no to the next person who asks.

A few funny things though... when I mentioned the issue to the person giving me the shot, he offered to let me sit in an empty room. I'm not clear whether I would have otherwise been left in the exam room where I got the shot or whether I would have been in the waiting room, but either way I ended up without an observer! I don't think anyone checked in on me. So that was weird and pointless. Also, when I left, there was someone standing around outside with the same little plastic timer I had been given -- and he didn't have an observer either! So many eye-rolls.

It was disconcerting how as soon as I stepped out of the building, I had a sense of accomplishment crossed with invincibility. Immunity won't really start kicking in until at least a week from now, so I'll have to be on guard against a false sense of security.

A few hours later I started to get a sore area around in the injection site in my right deltoid (which is nicely complementing the neck thing). Seems about like my previous flu shot in terms of discomfort. Hopefully that's all it comes to for the first dose. (This one's Moderna, for reference.)

I think that after two weeks I'll start relaxing my precautions a little -- probably just to the extent of going into shops, although still wearing my N95.

I braved a CVS to pick up a prescription for someone in isolation, and while I was there decided to get a flu shot. I had to tick some boxes and hand over my insurance card, then wait a couple minutes for the nurse to come out, but it only took a few minutes -- my total indoor exposure time (including the prescription pickup) was less than 15 minutes.

I thought I was lucky that the nurses were still there that late in the evening, but it turns out that location is open 24 hours/day, apparently including for flu shots. You can schedule in advance, including doing the paperwork online, which is great if you want to do it at like 23:30 when hardly anyone's there.

Good experience, recommended. Just remember to wear a short-sleeved shirt. :-P