This is going to make me unpopular with the people I am usually in line with. I am reading “FACT SHEET FOR RECIPIENTS AND CAREGIVERS” with me being the caregiver, not having had the much sought after jab myself. One main reason I haven’t had it is I am not eligible. I am not a front line worker, I am not old enough… Let’s pause here because I enjoy saying that. I am not old enough. Not even for the next wave of shots beginning next week in my state. Now there is another reason, Anaphylaxis. Yup, IF and when I do get the precious jab, I will have to go to a “special center” to have it done. I picked the appointment time for His Nibs carefully. I couldn’t pick from the evening block because I have issues driving after dark. On the other hand, I’m not a morning person. I may usually be up between 5 and 7:30 a.m. most days, but I don’t become civil, or somewhat civil, until at least 10 a.m. after consuming several large mugs of coffee and having read at least two newspapers beginning to end. So I picked the last appointment of the morning block. I had read that some caregivers got in through the back door and got the vaccine. There are always no shows for appointments and rather than return the vaccine, some lucky unscheduled person gets it. I saw the nurse’s eyes light up when she realized I was not scheduled. But I looked at her and uttered one word, “Anaphalaxis.” Her reply, “Oh, you’ll have to get it at a special center.” My ass I will. Don’t get me wrong, I am NOT an anti-vaccer. I got all my shots as a kid and I saw to it both my kids did. I get my flu shot every year. Not that it does me much good. I usually get the flu anyway and it progresses to pneumonia and I end up in hospital. So often that I have long since lost count. But I am kind of funny about the vaccines I put in my body. I like them tested, not something rushed out in a panic. I would like to feel pretty confident that people don’t suddenly start suffering liver failure, or any other organ failure, six months after getting the jab. The COVID-19 vaccine has no long term data. And reading the fact sheet has been very enlightening. You can find it here to download: https://www.modernatx.com/covid19vaccine-eua/recipients/
And here are just some of the phrases that jumped out at me:
- The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine may not protect everyone
- The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine is an unapproved vaccine that may prevent COVID-19
- There is no FDA-approved vaccine to prevent COVID-19
- The duration of protection against COVID-19 is currently unknown
- Serious and unexpected side effects may occur
- The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine is still being studied in clinical trials
- The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine has not undergone the same type of review as an FDA-approved or cleared product
Gee, kinda makes you feel like a lab rat. And I am not inclined to be anybody’s lab rat. Well not unless they are paying for my service. I’ve had Covid. So I felt fairly comfortable with my antibodies for a couple of months. While the Covid itself was mild, I seem to be what they are calling a “long-hauler”. The aftermath is far worse, for me, than the disease itself was. And His Nibs had Covid, ended up in the hospital for it, was sent home far too quickly, like so many others, where he suffered a stroke and ended up back in the hospital then in rehab. We are one household consisting of two people with two very different attitudes toward this particular vaccine. I’m not saying that I won’t eventually relent and go to a “special center”. But I am pleased that due to the complete inefficiency of our government in rolling out this untested vaccine, let me say this again because I enjoy it, I am too young to get it just yet. So I have the luxury of observing how all you lab rats do 😉
Kate Eileen Shannon 