Let's talk vaccines!

[WaileaNoRei]

Most of my family live in Pennsylvania and some stores are making masks mandatory again regardless of vaccination status. It seemed the mask mandates were slowly going away but they are being brought back in some places. My city is still pretty open but it’s only a matter of time until masks are once again required. A local grocery store is requiring masks only for employees, but customers don’t have to wear them. That doesn’t quite make sense to me, but they are optional for customers. I think Walmart is a company also requiring masks again, and is moving towards requiring the vaccine for all employees or they’ll be terminated.

Mask mandates are coming back because the disease is surging, and half the country (speaking of the US) is scared because of all the misinformation being spread by bad actors, politicizing a disease, or just selfish and refusing to get vaccinated (once again, because I feel antivaxxers love to equate the two, this does not refer to those who cannot get vaccinated due to health issues and other legitimate reasons, antivaxxers are harming those people, who need the herd immunity protection of a socially responsible populace).

yes, i agree. im going back to school this month, and every student has to be tested weekly despite being vaccinated or not. only making employees wear masks though and not customers ... like you said ... doesnt make much sense

it may not make logical sense but one is a workplace safety issue, which likely has liability implications. Plus employers generally can easily dictate dress rules for their employees (within reason of course, and masks are very reasonable) On the other hand, anti-maskers can be anti-social, aggressive, and often violent, so the store probably does not want to deal with that/ endanger employees. They also rely on their customers, and so if the customers are only going to come if they are allowed to completely disregard the safety of the people employed there, then the store is in a very difficult position. And some states with bad leaders are using the pandemic to score political points by making it impossible to enforce public health policy (like in Florida most prominently). So they make it hard for businesses to enforce mask rules.

People have to be tested every week because schools do not yet have a vaccine mandates - meaning they are not recording vaccination status, which means the policy doesn’t take into account this information.

I don’t mean to sound harsh, but I feel that throughout the pandemic there have been critiques of the policy based on the fact that it keeps changing, or because things take longer than originally stated, or we have to go back into restrictions, but it is literally because people are not doing their part. It’s not that masks, social distancing, and most of all vaccines don’t work. It’s that when half the population refuses to care about their safety or anyone else’s, none of those measures are going to be as effective.

Vaccines are extremely safe and effective. The thing is, people have to get vaccinated, otherwise we are stuck in this repeating cycle of other safety measures, which are also made less effective by people who refuse to act responsibly

I didn't take it because i'm terrified of needles, people got mad on me but is can't be helped i'm scared of these things since i was small.

I have had a needle phobia since I was quite young as well, and have even passed out and thrown up in the past from having blood drawn. I know the fear is real and difficult to handle. However you should still get the vaccine, it is both the safest thing for you and the most responsible thing for you to do for your society.

you can tell the person giving the shot that you have a phobia, and they will generally make accommodations to make you more comfortable and help provide additional monitoring in case you become light headed or faint.

but you should still get the vaccine, especially if you live somewhere with a lot of covid cases and have friends or family with any health conditions or vulnerabilities.

not going to say it will be nothing or that you won’t hate it and be scared, but it is still worth it.

 

[moo_nieu]

just got my second shot and changed my vote to fully vaccinated feels good

 

[kayleee]

I still have friends who are unvaccinated and it absolutely blows my mind. It’s not for lack of availability of the vaccine, they literally just don’t care and won’t get it done. It’s so frustrating when people around you that you care about make uneducated decisions, and ironically I’ve found the people who won’t get vaccinated are the ones who complained the most about the mask mandates/other restrictions. And now that the restrictions are coming back, I just want to tell them “you… do realize this is essentially your fault right?”

 

[-Lumi-]

I still have friends who are unvaccinated and it absolutely blows my mind. It’s not for lack of availability of the vaccine, they literally just don’t care and won’t get it done. It’s so frustrating when people around you that you care about make uneducated decisions, and ironically I’ve found the people who won’t get vaccinated are the ones who complained the most about the mask mandates/other restrictions. And now that the restrictions are coming back, I just want to tell them “you… do realize this is essentially your fault right?”

This is something that frustrates me, too.

I’m not frustrated with people who can’t get the vaccine. I understand people have medical exemptions, may come from unsafe homes, or are simply in a country that has a different way of rolling out vaccines. Those people I have no issue with. I know that those people, if they could, would get the vaccine in a heartbeat and that’s the difference.

I’m frustrated with the people who can get vaccinated but are simply choosing not to. We had a big mass vaccination clinic for a while here that finally closed in August but they’re still hosting pop up clinics. All of our pharmacies in town (even the ones in grocery stores/Walmart) have the vaccine and while you do need to book an appointment for busier pharmacies you can absolutely walk into some other ones.

Here in Canada (or maybe specifically Ontario?) we’re risking having vaccines expire because people aren’t using them.

It’s so frustrating! My friend, and I love her to pieces, still hasn’t been vaccinated. She says it’s because she hasn’t found time, she wants to research it more (despite the fact that her boyfriend is a nurse and has offered to talk her through it), but... she just spent a week at her cottage. She just had a whole week off of work but couldn’t find time to get vaccinated. I even told her that I’m pretty sure her job has to give her a day or two off for the vaccine incase she has side effects.

I completely agree too, that I find the loudest opposers to the vaccine are also the same people who want masks to go away and “just want to get back to normal”. Like? This current delta wave we’re going through is entirely because so many people are choosing to not get vaccinated. Those are the people driving this wave and it’s really harming the people who can’t and it’s harming the rest of us because it’s affecting our hospitals, how businesses are able to run, and if we need to lockdown again it will fall on them, too.

 

[ChocoPie22]

I got both of my doses back in April!

 

[tomatospooks666]

does anyone here have tips on preparing for getting the vaccine, besides drink water ofc?

 

[kayleee]

does anyone here have tips on preparing for getting the vaccine, besides drink water ofc?

Honestly getting the shot isn’t bad at all, but if you’re someone who gets nervous/lightheaded about shots I would definitely recommend eating something before getting it. And I took some Advil right after to combat arm soreness so that might help

 

[tomatospooks666]

Honestly getting the shot isn’t bad at all, but if you’re someone who gets nervous/lightheaded about shots I would definitely recommend eating something before getting it. And I took some Advil right after to combat arm soreness so that might help

i'm pretty good about getting shots, so that should be fine. i remember once getting blood drawn and looking right at the needle and not feeling bothered one bit! i'll keep that in mind.

i'm particularly worried about nausea related things. that stuff kinda gives me anxiety attacks, do you know of any foods that'd be good to eat before/after that would be best?

 

[Violet Witch]

does anyone here have tips on preparing for getting the vaccine, besides drink water ofc?

I found the best way to calm my nerves was to continually remind myself that I probably wasn’t the only one feeling nervous on the day of my vaccine. At my first vaccine appointment there was a lady before me who was so terrified of needles that she even refused an epidural during both her labours. Yet she somehow mustered up the courage to get her vaccine with the help of a volunteer holding her hand throughout.

 

[-Lumi-]

i'm pretty good about getting shots, so that should be fine. i remember once getting blood drawn and looking right at the needle and not feeling bothered one bit! i'll keep that in mind.

i'm particularly worried about nausea related things. that stuff kinda gives me anxiety attacks, do you know of any foods that'd be good to eat before/after that would be best?

I was super nervous about nausea too. It also give me anxiety so I sympathize so much.

Before getting my shot I ate but I had foods that I would normal be okay eating with an upset tummy. Ie: toast, applesauce, crackers, etc. Vs going for something spicy or something I’d never had before.

I also picked up a Powerade/Gatorade for after my needle because it made me feel better (nerves wise, lol) having it because I drink those when I’m sick sometimes.

Taking those steps made me feel comfier about it. I had a sore arm and a bit of a headache but nausea wise I was okay. Good luck with your vaccination!

 

[WaileaNoRei]

i'm pretty good about getting shots, so that should be fine. i remember once getting blood drawn and looking right at the needle and not feeling bothered one bit! i'll keep that in mind.

i'm particularly worried about nausea related things. that stuff kinda gives me anxiety attacks, do you know of any foods that'd be good to eat before/after that would be best?

Like @-Lumi- mentioned Gatorade or something else with some sugar in it seems to help.

I do have a fear of getting shots and have experienced dizziness and nausea because of that (More often after getting blood drawn than injections) and fruit juice such as apple juice or orange juice seemed to help.

I also do think some mild flavored snacks help - I had whole wheat fig bars.

I also found that the 15 minute waiting period, even though it was so they could observe for bad side effects, was helpful for my own anxiety-driven tendency to feel light headed or nauseous. Since you have to sit for a while after, it gives you a chance to rest.

I didn’t have any trouble with nausea after the shot, though I did get a little bit of my usual light headedness, fwiw.

good luck, I hope you don’t end up needing any of our advice and have an easy time of it!

 

[tomatospooks666]

Like @-Lumi- mentioned Gatorade or something else with some sugar in it seems to help.

I do have a fear of getting shots and have experienced dizziness and nausea because of that (More often after getting blood drawn than injections) and fruit juice such as apple juice or orange juice seemed to help.

I also do think some mild flavored snacks help - I had whole wheat fig bars.

I also found that the 15 minute waiting period, even though it was so they could observe for bad side effects, was helpful for my own anxiety-driven tendency to feel light headed or nauseous. Since you have to sit for a while after, it gives you a chance to rest.

I didn’t have any trouble with nausea after the shot, though I did get a little bit of my usual light headedness, fwiw.

good luck, I hope you don’t end up needing any of our advice and have an easy time of it!

thanks. i'll try to keep that all in mind, and might bring my 2ds with mario kart to keep myself busy. thanks everyone, i hope i'll have an alright time with it, too!

 

[daringred_]

had my first dose all the way back at the start of june. finally getting my second on thursday. not gonna lie, i am a bit nervous. i'm not the biggest fan of needles, since i can feel those suckers right inside my arm, and i'm dreading the side effects on top of it. my parents didn't really have any, but they really roughed up my girlfriend. (admittedly, i don't know which brand of vaccine she had.) since i'm the unluckiest person alive, i get the funny feeling i'm going to get absolutely destroyed by the side effects, which is giving me a lot of anxiety since i have a phobia of being sick and therefore hate nausea + feeling ill. fingers crossed i only feel wiped out after getting it and not much else.

 

[-Lumi-]

had my first dose all the way back at the start of june. finally getting my second on thursday. not gonna lie, i am a bit nervous. i'm not the biggest fan of needles, since i can feel those suckers right inside my arm, and i'm dreading the side effects on top of it. my parents didn't really have any, but they really roughed up my girlfriend. (admittedly, i don't know which brand of vaccine she had.) since i'm the unluckiest person alive, i get the funny feeling i'm going to get absolutely destroyed by the side effects, which is giving me a lot of anxiety since i have a phobia of being sick and therefore hate nausea + feeling ill. fingers crossed i only feel wiped out after getting it and not much else.

Good luck with your vaccine!! I was really nervous about my second one but honestly I had an easier time with my second than my first. I was a lot more nervous about the second one for the reasons you mentioned but I found the side effects were gentler - my arm wasn’t sore for nearly as long and I don’t think I got a headache or anything from it honestly.

I hope it goes well

 

[Lavamaize]

I didn't take it because i'm terrified of needles, people got mad on me but is can't be helped i'm scared of these things since i was small.

Don't let that stop you! I know you can do it! In fact, for me the Covid-19 vaccine was one of the most painless shots/pricks I have ever gotten! I barely even felt it! In addition, if needles make you nervous, it might help if you just look away, take some deep breathes, and let the doctor/nurse administer the vaccine without counting down or telling you when exactly they will prick you! Often times people don't even notice it happened at all when they do administer it!

 

[BetsySundrop]

I just want to input my 2 cents, and if it helps someone, yay.

I think there are a lot of people who are nervous about long term side effects of the mRNA vaccines, which have never been studied long term in humans. It's a legit concern, and I don't think it helps to call them selfish or get angry.

There are also people already struggling with things in their lives, and while covid would be bad, they may feel that the side effects of the new vaccines are not a risk they are willing to take. And they may prefer to be careful, isolate as much as poss, take precautions etc...over a new tech vaccine.

In my family, some are vaccinated with the new mRNA vaccines, some are not. Some had very few side effects. Some had awful side effects, and are worried that if they need boosters, the side effects will be worse and that would be very bad for them. Some have specific medical concerns, or legitimate fears of injecting an experimental (as far as long term goes) vaccine technology into themselves. I respect the right of each of them to make their own decisions.

Now for the hopeful part!!! For everyone who is hesitant over the new tech or long term side effects, there are some companies bringing vaccines into market soon that use already studied technology (similar to what the hepB vaccines have used for years, for ex).

One example is the Novavax company. Their vaccine is more effective against covid 19, including the variants so far, and has fewer side effects and uses a method that has proven safe long term. It should be out this fall, and is in final stages fda approval. This may encourage people who are hesitant to get vaccinated, as it addresses their very real fears. Yay!!!

I only wanted to mention this because some people may not be aware of it.

 

[Hopeless Opus]

i will be getting my vaccine soon. covid got brought home by one of my family members and now i've got it so i am Just About Done w/ this whole virus thing and being scared of the vaccine. if anyone has any recommendations on which vaccine to get (pfizer or moderna) lmk

 

[moo_nieu]

i will be getting my vaccine soon. covid got brought home by one of my family members and now i've got it so i am Just About Done w/ this whole virus thing and being scared of the vaccine. if anyone has any recommendations on which vaccine to get (pfizer or moderna) lmk

i got pfizer, but i think ive seen @Chris say they are pretty much the same thing. found the comment and pasted it below

For context, I'm a scientist and have handled COVID-19 mRNA. There are no significant differences between these two vaccines and you won't compromise your safety by mixing them.

so i guess you can pick whatever is available/most convenient location

 

[Red Cat]

I just want to input my 2 cents, and if it helps someone, yay.

I think there are a lot of people who are nervous about long term side effects of the mRNA vaccines, which have never been studied long term in humans. It's a legit concern, and I don't think it helps to call them selfish or get angry.

There are also people already struggling with things in their lives, and while covid would be bad, they may feel that the side effects of the new vaccines are not a risk they are willing to take. And they may prefer to be careful, isolate as much as poss, take precautions etc...over a new tech vaccine.

In my family, some are vaccinated with the new mRNA vaccines, some are not. Some had very few side effects. Some had awful side effects, and are worried that if they need boosters, the side effects will be worse and that would be very bad for them. Some have specific medical concerns, or legitimate fears of injecting an experimental (as far as long term goes) vaccine technology into themselves. I respect the right of each of them to make their own decisions.

Now for the hopeful part!!! For everyone who is hesitant over the new tech or long term side effects, there are some companies bringing vaccines into market soon that use already studied technology (similar to what the hepB vaccines have used for years, for ex).

One example is the Novavax company. Their vaccine is more effective against covid 19, including the variants so far, and has fewer side effects and uses a method that has proven safe long term. It should be out this fall, and is in final stages fda approval. This may encourage people who are hesitant to get vaccinated, as it addresses their very real fears. Yay!!!

I only wanted to mention this because some people may not be aware of it.

Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca are not mRNA, so there are already non-mRNA options out there if that's a concern for you. My mom got Johnson & Johnson and felt ill for a day and I got Pfizer and didn't have any side effects at all, so it's not automatic that mRNA vaccines have worse side effects than non-mRNA ones. It mostly depends on the person. Johnson & Johnson also has a much worse reputation than the two mRNA vaccines as far as effectiveness and side effects go. However, any vaccine is way better than no vaccine, so take whatever makes you feels comfortable. Just remember that covid has bad side effects too, and we don't fully understand the long-term damage that covid causes. You can try to play it safe until the Novavax vaccine hits the market, but unless you are living in a bomb shelter, you won't be completely safe from covid until then. I don't think Novavax will be that much more effective than Johnson & Johnson that it's worth taking that risk, but if you're absolutely dead set on getting the Novavax vaccine, at least that's better than refusing to get vaccinated at all.

 

[Hopeless Opus]

i got pfizer, but i think ive seen @Chris say they are pretty much the same thing. found the comment and pasted it below

so i guess you can pick whatever is available/most convenient location

thank u so much!