QM Leaders Share Their Vaccine Stories

Kryssia (she/her/hers): MSU College of Human Medicine, 2nd-year Medical Student 

It is a privilege to have had the opportunity to receive this vaccine. There are many for whom this vaccine did not come soon enough. Many in our community (farmworkers, grocery store workers,  etc.) have put themselves in the line to keep this country going during this pandemic. I hope this vaccine reaches everyone ASAP!

I got the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on 1/12. The process included filling out a form where I put my name, contact information, and any allergies I may have.  They also provided me with more information about the vaccine and any side effects I could experience. My clinic was a drive-thru site, so I didn’t even have to get out of my car! After receiving the vaccine,  they asked us to wait in the car for 15 minutes to make sure everyone felt okay, the staff was very nice and caring. The only symptom I experienced was mild soreness in my left arm (where I got the vaccine) that lasted for about 24 hours.  I have experienced soreness before with the flu vaccine, so it was not personally uncomfortable, and it did not interfere with any of my daily responsibilities. I am scheduled to get the second dose of the vaccine on February 4th.

If you are feeling apprehensive and concerned about getting this vaccine, I want you to know that your feelings are valid. Finding easy to read information can be challenging, and there are so many opinions on this. I encourage you to ask questions and share your concerns, many of us are so happy to help in any way. 

UPDATE: 

It's been over two weeks since I received the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine (February 4th). Like many others, I was a little anxious about the second dose; I had heard that side effects could last a couple of days. The process of getting the second dose was easy, and just like the first dose, I got the vaccine on my left arm. In terms of side effects: I experienced soreness in my left arm for about 24 hours. In addition, I felt more tired than usual and also experienced body aches. I took two doses of ibuprofen (400mg 6 hours apart), and all symptoms went away. I was feeling 100% within 36 hours. 

I feel extremely privileged in having received both doses of the Pzifer vaccine. Covid-19 has exposed the many health disparities that affect our communities, and I've seen a few reports already discussing the vaccination racial/ethnic disparities being observed. 

Regardless of vaccination status, let's continue wearing a mask and taking all precautions so that we can continue to protect those in our community who can't or have not been able to get the vaccine yet.

Vera (they/them): MSU College of Human Medicine, 3rd-year Medical Student 

I’m fortunate that the emotional labor of arranging to get a vaccine was taken care of for me. The school and Sparrow Hospital dealt with arranging dates & times and organizing staff and resources to make it as painless (pun not intended) as possible! Sparrow also covered the vaccine’s cost for me as a medical student, which I am very grateful for.

The first dose gave me some left arm pain for a day and a half, but that’s all. A small price to pay for the peace of mind I will have knowing I’m more protected going forward.

I think it’s important for me to get this vaccine as a future physician and someone who will be interacting with and examining sick folks for the next 30+ years. Not only do I owe it to my family to protect them from anything I may potentially bring home, but I owe it to my patients not to act as a vector for disease between them.

Andrew (he/him/his): MSU College of Human Medicine, 4th-year Medical Student

To be frank, I had some reservations about the new COVID-19 vaccine. This unprecedented pandemic has caused much angst among many, so it is appropriate and valid to feel uncertain about a new vaccine. I also recognize that behind medicine’s celebrated facade is an unforgivable history of inequitable experimentation on people of color and the indigent, which continues to seed distrust. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a systemic problem that has existed before and is still prevalent today; vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected. When the opportunity to receive the Pfizer vaccine opened up, it was imperative to me, as someone who represents a vulnerable group, to show up, get vaccinated, and instill confidence in the science and process behind it. After reading the safety data published on the vaccine, I had no concerns over its safety and effectiveness.

I received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on January 5th at Sparrow Hospital. The staff were amicable and did an outstanding job of explaining the entire process. They cleaned my upper arm with an alcohol swab, allowed me time to anticipate the shot, and administered the vaccine into my arm. I was offered a granola bar and juice box, which I happily accepted. I was told to voluntarily wait around for at least fifteen minutes to monitor for any adverse reactions. They had healthcare providers nearby in the unlikely event that I had an adverse reaction. After fifteen minutes, I left the hospital. Over three days, I felt sore at the injection site, and that was my only symptom. I am scheduled to receive my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine on January 26th! I promise to check back in on the process!

UPDATE: 

I was pretty worried about what I would experience from my second Pfizer vaccination. From what I’ve gathered, folks tend to experience a stronger immune response in the form of flu-like symptoms. The vaccination process went smoothly as before. For the next day, I’ve experienced only mild arm pain at the injection site. I didn’t experience any muscle aches, headaches, or fatigue that others have reported. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to get this vaccine and I hope my story gives you the courage to get vaccinated yourself.

Mauricio “Jimmy” (he/him/his): MSU College of Human Medicine, 4th-year Medical Student 

I feel privileged to be part of this wave of folks being vaccinated. I don’t take that lightly. Years of medical mistrust leads to folks being skeptical of the vaccine and asking many valid questions. Medicine did that, and it’s our job to build trust. Ask me questions. Let’s talk it through. Vaccines save lives! ...black and brown bodies have been experimented on for so long. Our communities have been “research subjects” and often never see the benefits of that extraction of data and knowledge. So when folks in our communities are hesitant, it’s important we don’t shut them down. Instead, ask why, ask where they are receiving information, ask what you can do to quell their fear, and do the work in redistributing institutional knowledge into our communities.

I received the Pfizer vaccine on January 5th on my left arm and will receive my second dose on January 26th (per CDC recommendations). I was sore at the injection site for 48hours. This side effect did not prevent me from completing my daily tasks and did not prevent me from using my arm. I went back to clinical duties the day after my vaccine. The side effects that many folks have experienced are common and similar to other vaccines. I plan to share about my second dose to help give folks a sense of what to expect. It is important for the public to recognize every person will have variability with side effects. 

Vaccinated or unvaccinated, it is still necessary for folks to continue wearing a mask when around others who are not part of their immediate household (indoors and outdoors). Keep washing your hands and maintaining 6 feet from folks when possible. We share so that folks feel encouraged to ask questions! 

UPDATE: 

I was apprehensive about the second dose given the variability folks had been experiencing side effects. I am happy to report that I had little to no side effects. Like the first does I had a sore arm for 24 hours. My shot was in the left arm like the first time. I did have some very mild muscle aches around 18 hours post vaccine. I took tylenol and rested and woke up feeling fabulous! A few of my classmates that received their vaccine on the same day had some mild but more prominent side effects like muscle aches, headache, and fatigue. This all resolved after about 24 hours to 48 hours. 

Reminder- while scientists and physicians are confident that the vaccine protection will also prevent transmission this has not yet been proven with substantial evidence to back it up. Researchers have evaluated and shown that if a person comes in contact with the virus after receiving both doses and 2 weeks have gone by we have a 95% protection against developing severe illness. That confidence is not yet clear when it comes to transmissibility of the virus from those who are vaccinated. We are a ways away from herd immunity so we must keep wearing a face mask (doubling up when possible). washing our hands frequently, and continuing to maintain distance from folks that are not part of our household. We have to remember that not everyone has had access to the vaccine, and specifically there continues to be a disparity in BIPOC communities around access to vaccines, vaccine information, and the burden of COVID-19 illness. By getting our vaccine when it is available to us, by staying informed we are actively supporting our communities.

Jen Anderson (she/her/hers): Senior Communications Officer, Delta Dental Foundation

More than anything else, my vaccination experience has been one of profound relief. As someone with multiple chronic health conditions, for whom a simple cold often means months of protracted bronchitis, I spent the last year profoundly isolated—something that was and continues to be a privilege.

So, when vaccines for Michiganders with high-risk conditions became available, I immediately signed up for an appointment at Walgreen’s. When I arrived, I filled out the requisite paperwork, handed over my ID, and that was that. The shot itself was nearly painless. Afterward, I spent the requisite 15-minute waiting period talking with the pharmacist about community health and health policy, and then I went home. My arm was sore for a few days following the shot—similar to just about every other vaccine I’ve received—and I had swollen lymph nodes for two weeks. (For what it’s worth, that’s a perfectly normal reaction—and a good sign my immune system was getting stuff done!)

I had my second dose four weeks later—same Walgreen’s, same pharmacist. My arm got stiff and sore about an hour after vaccination; eight hours after that, I developed secondary symptoms: a low-grade fever, vertigo, headache, body aches, and discomfort whenever my skin was touched. It was uncomfortable, but I’d also been prepared for it—I preemptively took a day off. I was gentle with myself that day, resting, hydrating, and taking acetaminophen as appropriate. By the next morning, I felt right as rain—if a little tired.  

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has been calling the COVID-19 vaccine a “shot of hope.” And it is. Three weeks post vaccination, and my entire outlook has changed. I’m less anxious. I’ve been able to see other fully vaccinated friends for the first time. I can more safely engage in the volunteer and outreach activities that mean so much to me.

But it’s still just the beginning.

We’re a long way from reaching herd immunity (70 to 80 percent of the population vaccinated). Many folks from systemically disadvantaged communities can’t find convenient vaccine appointments or take time off if they experience (completely normal) side effects. Worse, these are often the same folks who don’t have paid time off, health insurance, or the privilege of working from home. That’s why it’s so critical we all continue to do our part: keep wearing masks, encourage friends and family to get vaccinated, and maintain social distancing protocols.