VAKSIN COVID-19 (PFIZER): What does it feel to be vaccinated?

 

THE FIRST DOSE

I received my first dose early march this year. I agreed to take the vaccine on accounts that my profession was risky in sorts of encountering many people a day. I thought about my immediate family too who I live with including my parents and my little ones.

Initially we do have questions and inquiries pertaining issues like pregnancy and lactating mother but from what I read and understand was that the COVID19 symptoms would be more severe in pregnant mother and have a higher percentage of being admitted to the ICU. Can read up online here: Center for Diseases Control and Prevention

So, rest assured. I think the only thing that contraindicated from receiving the vaccine was hypersensitivity or allergy. But you could always confide in with your doctors. Discuss anything that concerns you. 

Upon signing the consent for receiving the vaccine, they reminded that the vaccine will NOT prevent us from having COVID19 BUT it would only minimize the symptoms from the disease. 

It is important that we understand this, because we got misperceptions on the vaccine that it would allow us to be 'free' from COVID19. The actual understanding that we should have is that it helps our immunity to be able to compete with the virus if contracted. We might also have to remember that the virus undergoes mutation. So, the vaccine may help for the time being but may require upgrading in the future. 

The first dose actually was bearable. Alhamdulillah, I encountered no  side effects except that the left arm where i had been injected felt a little bit sore the day after. The staffs were very kind and explained that if any symptoms does occur, they advise to update the symptoms in Mysejahtera app. 

However, there are a colleague who experience nausea and vomiting after the first dose. The underlying reason behind was contributed by the fact that she has gastric problem and had not taken her meal yet that morning. So, a reminder to take care of yourself and take your meal before being vaccinated. 

THE SECOND DOSE

Just before my appointment came for the second dose, we had heard rumors, news, stories that come to us. 

"They say the second dose are stronger. The side effect appears in a lot of people"

It wasn't scary to know this. It just make us feel more ready to take on the next doses. Some prepared by taking their annual leave on the day they received the second dose.

The first batch of our colleagues taking it says these,

"10 hours after the second dose, you will start to feel shivering and feverish"

"your body still aching after 24 hours"

Maybe due to the feedbacks received by the first batch that the following day the staffs prepared the medication as a standby. Some taking it as a prophylaxis, some took it after they started to experience the side effects and some did not take it to experience the whole side effect thingy.

The latter was what i had done.

I had not taken the medication because i would want to experience the side effects that people had been talking previously. 

After the vaccination, the staffs will place us in a room for monitoring any side effects for 30 minutes. 

And the minutes after I had taken the vaccines, I felt light headedness, felt like the head is spinning and felt really sleepy. But, it was still bearable though. So, it is good that they let us rest for about 30 minutes before we headed back to work. My arms are still in good terms. No soreness and not painful as yet. 

The next day, my arm started to feel a bit sore at the injection site. This has been expected, though. But the light headedness and sleepiness continue. It is bearable as i am quite occupied early in the day but during lunch hour, we just got to have some nap. 

During the evening at nearly 7pm, my legs felt cold, my body become warms, and the headache continue. 

At this point of time, i took the painkiller to reduce the symptoms and alhamdulillah, everything are as far still manageable. So, dont worry too much, and register for the vaccination.