I Got My Pfizer Jab Today
The change awaits
Life before the vaccine
I am a lupus patient, termed clinically vulnerable. This past year has been full of feelings, fear, anger and isolation being at the top of the list. At times it felt like life was nothing more than covid count the death rate and the lockdowns.
It was a run between wishing for a lockdown when kids had to go to school in extreme pandemic conditions to hoping for some normalization when homeschooling crushed us.
On line grocery shopping was fine for the first couple of months but as time passed I wanted to go out and choose my own stuff but obviously, I didn't have a choice.
I shouldn't be complaining, I was better off than thousands of people who lost their livelihoods and thousands more who lost their lives.
I am grateful for what I have and just trying to portray a clear picture of what I didn't have.
Covid19 was spreading fast and changing forms and the only solution was a vaccine.
Vaccines have a history of saving lives. They protect us from diseases by preparing the body to recognize and fight the specific germs they target. Later when the body is exposed to these germs the immune system is well trained to destroy them thus preventing the severe effects of that particular illness.
As soon as the world came under the veil of harsh effects of rapidly spreading Covid19 germs, scientist and medical experts joined their heads together to create a vaccine for this disease.
The invitation and anticipation
On 2 December, regulators in the UK allowed emergency-use authorization to a vaccine from drug firms Pfizer and BioNTech thus making it the first country to take this step
The UK has become the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, paving the way for mass vaccination.~BBC
On 11 January, DHSC published a delivery plan setting out its strategy and targets. The plan had three phases, with the government committing to:
- Offer the vaccine to the top four priority groups, around 15m people in the UK, by mid-February
- Offer the vaccine to the remaining priority groups, around 17m people in the UK, by mid-April
- Offer the vaccine to all remaining adults in the UK by the autumn.
Since I was in the priority group I received a message at the start of February. The message stated that I was eligible for a Covid19 vaccination and I could book it through my GP.
By this time I had heard a lot about vaccine reactions, some authentic while mostly just rumours, and baseless social media's viral remedies. I was excited to receive the invite yet a little scared to book the appointment. It took me a couple of days before I decided to eventually book the appointment.
The vaccination day
Today I woke up to a reminder message of vaccination appointment for the clinically extremely vulnerable.
To be honest I was dead scared. I have an uncommon disease called Lupus with rare symptoms, it is also termed as an invisible illness because apparently you look normal but it affects your immune system in the most dreadful ways making your body fight against its own healthy organs.
I have had many complications because of this condition, and I was petrified of the side effects or rare after-effects I might get from the jab due to my condition.
The only thing that pushed me towards getting vaccinated was the thought of being relieved. I had to get done with it, for my self and my family. To finally bring some normalization into our lives.
I reached the covid vaccination centre where I saw people who could hardly walk, people who were double my age yet they weren't scared.
Most of them looked happy and relieved. This gave me my much-needed boost. The Covid vaccination centre staff was extremely polite, helpful and cooperative. I was vaccinated within minutes but I had to wait for 15 minutes to be clear of any immediate reaction.
These 15 minutes felt stretched, the clock slowly ticking before me. I was sure I would feel something. I was cold and shaking until the 15 minutes were over and I realized it was just me being scared, finally, I walked out of the covid centre in relief.
