In Los Angeles, many distribution centers are giving out the COVID-19 vaccine. They are vaccinating all care home residents and healthcare personnel first. Frontline and essential workers get it next. The third vaccine receivers are those who are 80 years old and above. Next are people 75-79 years of age. The fifth to receive the vaccine are 70-74, and the sixth are 65-69 years old (we are currently in this stage). Sixth, high-risk adults under the age of 65 are able to get the vaccine. This age group will be allowed to start getting vaccinated on March 15th. The cycle continues by 5 years until ages 50+. The eleventh receivers in the COVID-19 vaccine distribution order are all people 16 years of age and older.
The COVID-19 vaccine is not approved for children under the age of 16. Recently, Pfizer and Moderna have begun a trial for a vaccine for children 12 and up. Joe Biden states that there will be enough vaccines for all adults who want to be vaccinated by the end of August.
After receiving the Covid vaccine people sometimes experience side effects for a couple of days. Symptoms may include chills, fever, tiredness, and more. There is a three week wait for the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. For the Moderna vaccine, people will get their second vaccine after a month of getting their first shot.
As of now, there are 3 main COVID-19 variants spreading across the world. The COVI vaccine was made for the first versions of the Coronavirus. Scientists are saying that the current Covid vaccine should still prevent the other variants but not as effectively as it would the earlier virus.
Many are wondering whether the COVID 19 vaccine is safe. Before the vaccine was given out, it undertook numerous trials to ensure that it was clear for distribution. It is now FDA approved. The FDA uses science and data to collect their information and make sure everything is safe. Although, as mentioned earlier, the vaccine is only approved for people age 16 and older.
When getting vaccinated everyone can have a different experience. Here are some responses from adults who have received the COVID-19 vaccine.
How was your experience getting the vaccine - was it organized, was there a line, etc.?
“It was very organized. Our clinics are drive-through. So everyone has an appointment time and stays in their cars. We have 10 lanes going from 8-5. We were vaccinating 1300 each day at the clinic.”
Michelle A. -Santa Barbra
“We are very lucky. We went to the Forum and were in and out in thirty minutes. Including waiting 15 minutes afterward.”
Gary S. - Los Angeles
“Signing up was very easy for me because our son did it!! Our experience at The Forum was great. We got there early and went right through, showed ID at two different places, got the injection then moved to another line to wait 15 minutes. We were actually gone before the time of our appointment. “
Lyn S. - Los Angeles
“Signing up was frustrating, time-consuming, very hard to figure out. I finally had an appointment offered to me by a hospital through a random process.”
Margie G. -Rockville, Maryland
What were the side effects if any?
“For the first dose, a sore arm at the vaccination site. For the 2nd dose a sore arm, headache, and fatigue.”
Michelle A. -Santa Barbara
“I had no side effects whatsoever.”
Gary S. - Los Angeles
“The only side effect I had was that my arm was sore the next day.”
Lyn S. - Los Angeles
Why do you think it’s important to get the Covid vaccine?
“It is important to get the vaccine to protect myself as an RN working with patients.
To protect my family members, if I am immune, there is less risk to the family I am in contact with. To be a dead-end host: the virus cannot make variants if in an immune host. I hope citizens will get vaccinated to protect themselves and their community. “
Michelle A. -Santa Barbara
“It’s very important that everyone get the shot so we can stop the spread of the pandemic.”
Gary S. - Los Angeles
Do you feel safer after having gotten the vaccine? After the new strain, do you feel it will still protect you?
“Yes, I am now immune 95%. If I do get it, it will be mild and no hospital. Most of the variants are not a problem. The South African variant appears to decrease vaccine effect 4 fold. However, vaccinated people still have good protection. They will not get as sick and are not needing hospitalization.”
Michelle A. -Santa Barbara
“I don’t feel safer yet but will probably feel better after the second one. I will still continue to wear a mask and social distance.”
Lyn S. - Los Angeles
I do not feel safer yet. I was told to wait 2-4 weeks after the second dosage, but even then could transmit the virus to others, so I don’t feel real safe. Also, some concerns about the newer variants of the virus, limiting my comfort.”
Margie G. -Rockville, Maryland
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