My COVID-19 Vaccination - Shot One

 

FLORIDA   
WEST COAST        
Opinion by:  
E. Eugene Webb PhD 

 I registered for my covid vaccination first shot, on February 23rd at about 4:00 PM as you can see from this copy of the email notice I received.

The registration process and the website were easy and straightforward. The site responded immediately and there was no problem filling out the information and when I clicked finished it quickly returned a form submitted notice.

Form name

CURRENT Manatee County COVID-19 Vaccine Standby Pool (65+) - 2/2/21

Date submitted

Feb 23, 2021, 04:04PM EST.

On March 5th, as I was driving over to the East Coast, I received a phone call from Manatee County Health indicating they had sent my appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination and it was ready for confirmation.

Since I was driving at the time, I had to wait until my next stop to check the message. When I check there was even more detail in the text message and a link to click to confirm the appointment. I clicked on the link, typed in the required number and hit send within just a few moments I received a confirmation shown below.

 

I headed down to Tom Bennett park about 20 minutes before my scheduled appointment time and much to my surprise as I turned into the Park there was no line, I drove up to the 1st check in tent and I was the second car back. There are about 3 check-in tent stops on your way to get the covid vaccination shot, and each one performs a record verification and recordkeeping check.

The entire process to get to the point of vaccination took just a little over 5 minutes. Everybody was cordial, helpful and genuinely interested and doing the tough job of making sure people get vaccinated.

I pulled up to the actual vaccination site and was greeted by a very pleasant nurse who informed me about the shot and the nature of the injection. I had a couple of questions which she answered very clearly and distinctly. I received my vaccination and moved onto the holding area.

The holding area is merely about four or five lanes of cars. They have you park in one lane and wait there for about 7 to 12 minutes while they make sure that there are no adverse reactions to the vaccine. It is all handled very well and there are a number of people circulating through the parked cars checking on you to make sure everything is OK.

Once you get through with the holding lane. They give you a vaccine ID card you are waved on and off you go.

So here is a rundown of my reaction to the first shot of the COVID-19 virus.

On March 5^th, following the vaccination my left arm where the vaccine was given was slightly tender to the touch no other issues. The night of March 5th I slept well but deliberately did not sleep on the left arm.

On March 6th, the left arm near the injection site was slightly more tender but there was no difficulty or discomfort in moving or using the arm to lift or pull. The night of March 6 I had some very mild discomfort with the arm during the night.

On March 7th, the left arm around the injection site had gotten just a bit more tender to the touch but still no difficulty using the arm whatsoever. Late in the day on the 7th I developed some mild sniffles, but given the current pollen count it is quite likely they were not attributable to the virus vaccination.

On March 8^th, as I write this, my left arm near the injection site is completely back to normal with no discomfort whatsoever.

I hope this will be of some help to you as you consider whether or not you want to get the vaccination. I also fully realized that not everybody will react the same way to the vaccination. In my case there were genuinely no adverse effects.

The availability of the vaccine to various groups and age ranges is changing quickly. While it may be a little confusing to you if you listen to the news reports, there are several sites that you can go to check on availability.

The commercial sites such as Publix CVS, Walgreens, and maybe your local primary care provider are beginning to get doses of the vaccine. If you check on these websites and find them full or not taking reservations, please check back if that is the source you want to use and keep in mind, they are limited by two factors; the number of doses of vaccine they receive, and their physical ability to accommodate customers wishing to be vaccinated.

If you register through the Manatee County site, you get a registration for the first shot and you get a registration for your second shot scheduled at the same time.

You will notice on the form above there will be a link that says print and complete your vaccine consent Form before you arrive. It is not an overly complicated form and only takes a few minutes to complete.

You will also need and official ID, and you should have your Health Insurance card(s) especially if you are using one of the retail sites (Walgreens, CVC, Publix).

When you arrive for your appointment, they will take your temperature and the form from you and file it. You will need the same form filled out for your second appointment.

So, when you print the form my suggestion is you print 2 copies so that you will have the second one to take with you for your second shot.

If you need assistance, please contact (941) 742-4300 or 311.

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.

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