Had my first dose of Pfizer earlier today - although the injection was just a ever so slight sting, I'm.. something of a wuss when it comes to
needles, and while waiting the 15 minutes after for observation I started feeling faint and perspired heavily. It seems it
wasn't a reaction to the vaccine however, but just
shock from the needle itself, as I tend to have those exact symptoms after having any kind of injection, from blood extraction to vaccines. (And judging by others also just vaccinated sitting down near me, including one woman who was
shaking and eating glucose lollies, I wasn't alone feeling that way!).
20 or so minutes later I started feeling much better (having a sugary drink on hand helped a lot), and half an hour or so later I felt pretty much normal with no further symptoms, other than naturally slight tenderness on my arm around the injection point (the nursing staff at the vaccination centre naturally were very careful about allowing me to leave, only after they were satisfied that it wasn't a reaction/allergy to the vaccine). So I'm just waiting now for tomorrow to see if the
real fun begins, although I have paracetemol and ibruprofen at hand if needed, and am booked in for my second dose next month.
Given that a close friend of mine in the US recently came down with COVID (after refusing to take the vaccine to boot) and ended up in the hospital on oxygen for the better part of a month, and even now after recovering still finds himself short of breath at times, the pain/symptoms of the vaccine are
nothing compared to this monster. So I look on it as doing my part to help save the world (and protect not just myself but others too).
Yes I know that last sentence was a touch hyperbolic, but I still feel philosphical about being a part of helping to end this pandemic, especially after so much life has been lost already.