Stories from the Front Lines (✨COVID-19 Healthcare Workers only: posting rules imposed)

Yak1 · Dec 24, 2020

Walrus
Ah thanks. Did you get Moderna or Pfizer. When I signed up and made my appointment there was no mention of a second injection but I figure that will probably be addressed when I go to the hospital for the initial one. Good to hear you found it easier than the flu shot I got that early (work mandated) and did feel a little crappy for two days, not bad, I worked and everything just got real sweaty elevated temp.

Phizer. The Moderna one looks good as well. It’s two doses as well. I believe it’s 4 weeks apart (compared to 3 for Phizer).

Yak1 · Dec 24, 2020

JPE.88305
Got dose 1 of the Pfizer vaccine this past Monday; IM, the actual injection hurt way less than the annual flu shot, though within about 5 hours my arm was pretty sore, more so than the flu shot. Soreness continued all the next day, gone day 3. No other symptoms.
I personally know dozens of people that have had it, no one with anything more than sore arm for 1-2 days.
I have questions as anyone should RE mRNA vaccine tech as this is the first widespread use beyond early clinical trials, but all the research I’ve done has put my mind at ease and I’m fine with it. Obviously no super long term studies but the only thing I imagine might play a role is rare potential immune problems, which can happen with other kinds of vaccines as well (eg. Antibody dependent enhancement).

The tech looks pretty good. Will hopefully revolutionize vaccines in general. Imagine a flu vaccine that was actually 90 % effective.

JPE.88305 · Dec 24, 2020

No guarantee or scheduling on the second dose , I expect it will be on time tho

Yak1 · Dec 24, 2020

JPE.88305
No guarantee or scheduling on the second dose , I expect it will be on time tho

Yeah. We schedule the second appointment after the first appointment. Mine will be on a Friday that I’m not on call.

watch3s · Dec 24, 2020

As a respiratory therapist, my hospital offered us along with all essential frontline clinical staff first dibs. Im still split just cause I have reservations. I didnt get it yet, but half the doctors I work with have gotten it, including one physician who is nursing. Other medical professionals that are friends have lined up as well. No one has reported adverse effects currently, just pain in the arm.

Walrus · Dec 24, 2020

Thanks guys. I’m not a doctor or nurse or anything just a mental health counselor but since I do long term care homes and evals in hospitals I guess I get bumped up the list. Much respect to all the MD’s and nurses working in this mess. I was really thinking since I’m not direct traditional medical care when I signed to accept the vaccine it would be a couple months. It took 24hrs for the cdc to contact me to set up an appointment. Gotta admit it through me off a bit but a lot of the clients I work with have numerous co-morbidities it probably makes sense that I get it ASAP

Evitzee · Dec 24, 2020

The upcoming Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a one shot dose, looking for approval in January.

Yak1 · Dec 24, 2020

Walrus
Thanks guys. I’m not a doctor or nurse or anything just a mental health counselor but since I do long term care homes and evals in hospitals I guess I get bumped up the list. Much respect to all the MD’s and nurses working in this mess. I was really thinking since I’m not direct traditional medical care when I signed to accept the vaccine it would be a couple months. It took 24hrs for the cdc to contact me to set up an appointment. Gotta admit it through me off a bit but a lot of the clients I work with have numerous co-morbidities it probably makes sense that I get it ASAP

The sheer amount of virus in the community (depending on where you live) really does drive some decision making as far as risk/reward. 100% of my physician colleagues who have been offered it have taken it so far.

Yak1 · Dec 24, 2020

Ask, I’m an idiot for linking stuff. This Twitter thread has been the best quick explanation for the science. Someone smarter than me can really link it. I’ll put it in here as a screenshot.

Walrus · Dec 24, 2020

Yak1
The sheer amount of virus in the community (depending on where you live) really does drive some decision making as far as risk/reward. 100% of my physician colleagues who have been offered it have taken it so far.

Do you have the option of refusing it. In my area hospitals are mandating it. My company mandated the flu shot and although I didn’t hear yet I am sure they will mandate the covid vaccine. I did a little investigating and found the flu vaccine mandate had no teeth. The company wrote it down, sent it out, but did nothing to those who didn’t get it. I’m not sure what they are doing with the wording on the covid vaccine. If people refuse due to religious or health reasons I imagine that could become a touchy subject legally.

Yak1 · Dec 24, 2020

Walrus
Do you have the option of refusing it. In my area hospitals are mandating it. My company mandated the flu shot and although I didn’t hear yet I am sure they will mandate the covid vaccine. I did a little investigating and found the flu vaccine mandate had no teeth. The company wrote it down, sent it out, but did nothing to those who didn’t get it. I’m not sure what they are doing with the wording on the covid vaccine. If people refuse due to religious or health reasons I imagine that could become a touchy subject legally.

No mandate. We have to get the flu shot. This hasn’t arrived at that level. Right now every clinician who provided face to face care wants it.

sah · Dec 24, 2020

Got my Pfizer a week ago. Only side effect was feeling guilty others have to wait.

Yak1 · Dec 24, 2020

sah
Got my Pfizer a week ago. Only side effect was feeling guilty others have to wait.

Totally agree. On the other hand, for the first time in 9 months, I am 2 weeks away from not assuming that every patient encounter (about 70 per week) will lead to my family getting covid.

Walrus · Dec 24, 2020

sah
Got my Pfizer a week ago. Only side effect was feeling guilty others have to wait.

Actually Despite having a 5 or so days till I get it that thought crossed my mind as well. On the other hand I was asked if I’d be one of the first in the company to take it to ease some fears, including patients, who are scared to take it. So yeah I agreed. I’d feel better if I knew my mother who is residing in a assisted living place got hers first but she is in the next state over of which I have no control

wagudc · Dec 24, 2020

Sorry to hijack the thread as a non-healthcare worker, but I must say thank you to all who are working on the front lines and taking risks. You absolutely deserve this vaccine and the comfort it brings. Thank you all so very much!!!

mmpass · Dec 25, 2020

Got my first dose 6 days ago. No issues so far. Certainly thankful about that. Hopeful that we are soon to turn the corner.
The CDC estimated covid 19 disease burden updates are encouraging to me.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/burden.html
https://www.npr.org/sections/corona...vid-19-cases-could-be-approaching-100-million

These estimates seem much closer to reality than the daily reported test positives. 91 million infections by the end of September in the USA.
If that # was close to reality, the number of people infected has most likely doubled from October to now. The NPR article above was posted around Thanksgiving and was using earlier estimates closer to 50 million...that have been revised to 91 million.

If 180 million people have been infected in the US, and we can get to 265 million with natural immunity or vaccine...gets tough for the virus to circulate.
A very tough virus to deal with. So many people with the virus and no signs or symptoms.
Merry Christmas!

Toad · Dec 25, 2020

Received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine about a week ago. Echo the guilty feeling about being in the first tier to get it while other staff here still wait. Our hospital system has since run low on further shipments...
While we are mandated to get the influenza vaccine every year the covid vaccine is optional given its emergency use authorization here in the US. With the studies showing a fairly significant protection after a single dose, starting about a week after, we wonder if delaying the second dose until more get the first is reasonable. Unfortunately wavering from CDC / FDA recommendations is not easily done...
Thx to all who care and work with these patients.

Walrus · Dec 25, 2020

Oh you gentleman brought up an interesting point. Perhaps there are issues with mandating something like the covid vaccine which “only” has emergency approval. I wasnt thinking about that part. Like I said I’m not an MD or anything I work on the mental health side so yes we were “encouraged” to take it not mandated. The “guilty” part I just gotta let go I guess. If the powers that be decide my job description puts me in the category where it makes sense I take it to help stop the spread I should just roll with it. I certainly do hope it’s not going to be an issue getting the vaccine to everyone who needs it.

JwRosenthal · Dec 25, 2020

You can look at it from another perspective- since you are a provider to at-risk groups, by you getting the vaccine, you minimize the risk of being an a-symptomatic carrier and spreading it unknowingly. You are doing it more for them than for yourself.

M'Bob · Dec 25, 2020

To any of my fellow healthcare workers, who work in direct contact with patients: are you intending on switching from your N95 to a regular surgical mask after the set of vaccinations? I thought I might do that due the terribly restrictive nature and discomfort of many hours in the respirator.