mandy ansari everything you need to know about the covid vaccine

In September, I started a new job at a school as a Human Resources administrator at a school. Since starting the job, I have been required to come into the office Monday through Friday, for ten hours a day. I don’t have to tell you why this is less than ideal but last week, I finally reaped the benefits of technically being an “essential worker” – I got my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine!

Right now, vaccine distribution is being rolled out based on categories established by federal and state guidance. As an “education worker” working onsite, I was a part of Phase 1B, which gave me access to sign up for my first dose of the vaccine starting January 11th, 2021.

I know most people don’t have access to the vaccine yet and my experience is unique to New York State but I wanted to share my experience with you all so you’re prepared for when it is your turn!

HOW TO MAKE YOUR VACCINATION APPOINTMENT

The first thing I did was fill out this form to verify my eligibility for the COVID vaccine.

Right now, in the state of New York, people 65 years or older are eligible and a handful of essential workers, for example, people working in healthcare, corrections or residential facilities, in-person schools.

If you are unsure if you qualify at this stage, you can check the list here (NY State).

Once I filled that out, I received the link to sign up for my appointment.

In NYC, you will have your options of all five boroughs but when I went to sign up the options were limited. There was only one appointment available for the entire city, which was about a week out from the time I was scheduling it. I quickly claimed it!

After I signed up, I was doing it for my coworker, and we didn’t see any appointments available. But after refreshing a few times, one or two appointments popped up. If vaccine appointments at a given location or date are full, continue to refresh check back as more appointment slots come up.

PLANNING YOUR APPOINTMENT

The vaccine appointment, from check-in to walking out of the building, will probably last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

If possible, plan on not doing anything for the rest of the day or at least the next few hours. Because if you get a little sleepy or dizzy after, you can take it easy. Even if you feel totally fine after, then you have a few hours to rest (because girl you deserve it, you’ve been in a pandemic for almost a year!). Win, win!

That being said, I ran back to the office after my appointment and was fine the rest of the day.

WHAT TO BRING TO THE APPOINTMENT

I had a folder dedicated to my vaccine appointment documentation, which included:

Proof of employment, such as an employee ID card, employer letter, or a recent pay stub – because my employment is what makes me eligible for employment.

Any confirmation pages or emails I got throughout the verification and scheduling process. I didn’t want to leave anything to chance so I printed off everything and brought it with me.

A photo ID/driver's license and proof of residency or work address

Covid 19 Vaccine Consent Form

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET THE VACCINE?

The vaccine is free to the people! According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention, “No one can be denied a vaccine if they are unable to pay the vaccine administration fee.”

WHAT TO WEAR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT

A face covering - you will not be permitted on-site at the testing location without one.

Loose-fitting sleeves or anything that gives them easy access to your upper arm (about a quarter of the way down from my shoulder).

THE APPOINTMENT

Within five steps of entering the building, I made my first of many stops at a table to check-in and present my proof of employment documentation.

After that checked out, I was escorted to another table, where they checked my temperature and verified the rest of my paperwork.

Then I went downstairs, to get my shot. The health professional administering my vaccine was so sweet. When I asked her if she would judge me for taking a “vaccine selfie” she said “I will help you take it!” – and she did!

She gave me all the disclaimers of possible side effects, which were all the general side effects of a vaccine: pain and tenderness around the site of injection, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, and fever. You can find the whole list of possible side effects from the CDC here.

Then she asked me which arm I wanted the injection. I chose left because I am right-handed and it’s likely that the arm that gets the shot will be sore after, just like any shot.

The shot itself didn’t hurt at all, it barely penetrated the skin. It was the softest of pricks. So, if you’re scared of the pain – don’t be, I could hardly feel it.

After I got the shot, I was escorted to a waiting area to sit for fifteen minutes just to make sure I was okay. I couldn’t go to the bathroom or get up at all. After my fifteen minutes were up, a staff member checked-in with me one last time, and I was good to go.

While I waited I got the vaccine card that tells me which COVID-19 vaccine I received (I received Moderna), the date I received it, and where I received it. This card is critical because when I go back for my second dose, it is imperative that my second dose is Moderna as well. I cannot stress this enough – you cannot mix manufacturers of the vaccine. One isn’t better than the other but it’s not a Panera “You Pick Two” situation.

POST-APPOINTMENT

After a few hours, my left arm started to get sore. The next day, my arm (just the upper part) was very sore. I could still do everything normally but lifting my arm made me wince. I took ibuprofen and iced it before bed and by day 3, the pain was almost completely gone.

It’s now three days post-vaccine and I can say that other than some arm tenderness, I did not experience any other side effects from the vaccine. My co-worker, who was much more skeptical of the vaccine than I was, had the same experience as me – just some arm tenderness.

During my fifteen-minute chill time, I was asked by a healthcare worker to download V-safe, an app developed by the CDC to check in with vaccine recipients following their COVID-19 vaccination.

V-safe uses text messaging and surveys to ask if I am experiencing any side effects. Each day I get a text asking me to fill out a quick survey about any side effects I might be feeling. Not only is this critical data for the CDC to know, if I report significant side effects, the CDC will follow up with me.

SECOND DOSE OF THE VACCINATION

I was automatically scheduled for my second dose 28 days after my first dose at the same time and same location. Note, for recipients of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, you can get your second dose 21 days after your first shot.

I received an email with the second appointment details, at which time I could change my appointment if necessary.

LIFE AFTER VACCINATION

While I feel a sense of safety, one dose of the vaccine (or even after my second) does not allow me to party like it’s like 2019. I still have to wear a mask like I normally would, I can’t gather in crowds, and I will continue to get tested weekly at work.

So, my life pretty much looks the same, but I feel so much better and I am looking forward to everyone getting the vaccine as soon as possible!