giving the shot a shot

For those in the United States, the COVID-19 vaccine has been out for some time. Because my state recently opened up the vaccine to everyone 16 and older, this makes me eligible.

I've admittedly been on the fence about getting the vaccine due to potential side effects. At the risk of sounding like an anti-vaxxer, there is a common concern that the COVID-19 vaccines are being rushed out the door. I'm not worried about the flu shot as it's been around for many decades. We know it's safe because it has stood the test of time. However, the same cannot be said for COVID-19 vaccines.

But a few things made me reconsider. I ultimately figured it's worth a shot — pardon the pun — after some convincing from my parents. For one, everyone has a duty to do their part to put an end to this crisis. I also haven't seen many reports of adverse events even though the U.S. has already given out over 200 million doses. We would know by now if the vaccine is harmful.

Perhaps the biggest reason is that these are mRNA vaccines that "teach" our cells to make a protein that triggers an immune response. It's my understanding that these vaccines don't contain live virus. Your cells then produce antibodies that act against pathogens. Of course, my medical school friends probably know a lot better than I do. The experts are free to correct me. :-)

In any case, my appointment was at a site run by El Camino Health. The queue was long as there were probably around a hundred people. I was also wait-listed and had to remain in line for a bit longer. However, the actual shot took only about five minutes. We were told to wait in an observation area to ensure there were no adverse reactions. About 20 minutes later, they let me go after seeing there were no problems.

I also had some funny moments while getting the vaccine. It turned there was a health worker also named Danny at the vaccination site. So when his co-workers called him into the office, both of us tried to enter before they stopped me. Of note is that there was another guy at the clinic who had the same name. He even had a very similar last name as mine. What are the chances?

For those curious, the vaccine I received was from Pfizer. One thing I've heard is that this one has less severe side effects. I do have a sore arm but nothing too terrible. Let's hope this is as bad as it gets.

It's still going to be some time before life returns to normal. We don't know if vaccinated people can still spread the virus, and no vaccine is 100% effective. So we're going to have to continue practicing social distancing for the foreseeable future. But one thing for sure is that this nightmare is almost over. I can finally see hope on the horizon. The light at the end of the tunnel.

Currently listening to: "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship