Posted on 12/17/2020 2:31:22 PM PST by gas_dr
I was asked by several Freepers to post a thread once I have received my Pfizer Corona Virus Vaccine. As many of you know, I am a critical care physician in a large city environment. We have been having a surge for the last several weeks.
I received the Vaccine this morning at 7:56 AM. I was the third physician outside of the large academic center in town to receive the vaccine. Our hospital system had the vaccine released it first as we are the largest non-academic system in the city.
Prequel: I have been on experimental prophylaxis combination for health care workers since March. I have been taking part in a study sanctioned by an IRB and been administered a protocol of medications on a daily an weekly basis. In my practice, I currently have had well over 1500 encounters with CoVID patients in the hospital setting, have had responsibility for the surge CoVID unit in July, and now again this month. I have completed numerous airway interventions on CoVID patients and some how managed to never contract the virus.
My hospital system has genuinely taken exceptional care of its HCW and employees and I am lucky as we have never lacked for PPE, made significant reuses of PPE, and was actually provided a P100 mask fit for me by the hospital. All of my colleague received the same.
I was contacted by the system chief medical officer on Monday and the department chair on Tuesday that I was considered 1A in terms of priority as were roughly 18 of my physician colleagues. Critical care nurses and anyone in any of our critical care units were also contacted. I was told to arrive at 745 this AM.
EVENT: I arrived and underwent a very streamlined check in process, gave written informed consent that was not unusual in any way. Acknowledged that this was a vaccine being administered under EUA conditions. The media was out in force as this was the first private hospital as previously said that was inoculating its staff.
I was called third stepped up and underwent the most routine of injections. The vaccination was administered into my left deltoid, a quantity of approximately 0.3 cc on a 30 g needle. To say I felt nothing would be absolutely true. There was absolutely pain. I was asked to wait in an observed seating area for 20 minutes after my vaccine and then released.
Over the course of the day, I have developed very mild muscle pain in the left arm. It is not at all limiting in anyway. I have had no other symptoms. We were told that approximately 6% of patients develop very low grade symptoms.
I was given my CDC vaccination card and read every word of it. It states that this card is an record of administration, the lot number, date and time of vaccine was recorded. It says to please present this card to my primary care provider at my net appointment for addition to my medical record. There is absolutely nothing on this card that says or implies that I should maintain it on my person. as a record.
I was scheduled for follow up booster in 19 - 21 days. When I left, I cannot quantify the wave of relief and genuine happiness that I had. I was reflecting that in 7 days, I would not longer have to personally worry about this disease causing a tragic outcome in me personally. I also was overjoyed that the means in 7 - 10 days I will no longer be a threat to my family, my elderly parents, and I won't have to get any further CoVID tests.
Like as been said in the media and by President Trump and Pence. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and there is hope that this is the beginning of the end. I genuinely felt that and continue to feel it. As I have said before, this represents the Manhattan project of the 21st century. I am proud to be a recipient of this vaccine, and grateful for the President who made this happen in 10 months. They said it couldn't happen. They were wrong. I will continue to update how I feel, and the next round in early January
To all Freepers out there -- be well, stay safe and Merry Christmas.
Thank you for your kind words. And All the best to your daughter.
A delightful response! Thank you.
Thanks. She and I were talking about it today and at her age I’m concerned about everything.
Again, thank you.
Of course. And after vaccination — go out and live life. This year has been taken from us — probably didn’t have to happen this way — so reclaim your time and your life!
To quote Ronaldus Maximus — it would be a very American thing to do.
Are you saying that because you have been vaccinated and will not ‘catch covid19’ there is no chance you could be treating active covid cases and take virons home with you to unvaccinated family members?
Nice write up. Reads very much like a scientific report. Detailed. Clear.
I am saying that the chance is so remote as to not be worried about it. I am also saying that asymptomatic spread is not a thing. I think therefore it would be difficult to infect a love one without generating the viral illness.
So, yes, I suppose this is what I am saying.
Up yours, uh, I mean, thank you for this update.
But seriously folks, I’m leaning towards taking it, because of the people in my life who are at risk. And I’m not a flu shot person.
My two cents . . .
Thank you for this. I too have recently recovered from Covid and was pondering as to whether I should get the vaccine. Had heard about the antibodies lasting maybe only 3 to 4 months, but that T-cells can last for years. I am leaning toward not getting the vaccine at this point. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
That’s what I like about Free Republic: the opportunity to be exposed to articulate, well-reasoned alternative views.
Thank you for the excellent and succinct explanation. And thank you for sharing your personal experience, Attila.
Thanks and I realized I misspelled it after I sent it :-(
Say no more, squire, wink wink, nudge nudge!
Oh my, so comforting to know you’re human ... and probably end each day exhausted from your attention to your patients.
I had it yesterday. Almost no side effects. Less arm pain than with Shingrix or tetanus. No fever etc.
so happy to get on with this.
Sadly, I am under no illusion of my imperfections the linger around even at the end of a long day. Sadly, I still have charting to do. I might get to bed around 1 AM. Being on free republic is all at once my therapy, my escape, and worst of all, my procrastination
I hear that Shingrix is quite an experience.
I am an internist in a 350-400 bed hospital. Also see geriatric pts. I see pts on both the covid floor and covid icu. We run 30-50 covid pts in our hospital. Received shot yesterday. Only very mild arm soreness.
Immortalized cells...is that what was used? What’s the difference in terms of ethical concerns?
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