Tale of a Vaccine; Part One...

Hello my fellow readers, and welcome to our first blog post of 2021. This one is going to be shared in 2 parts, with our next one, being shared next month. The reason is that Brenda had her vaccination with Moderna on December 28th of last year. As you know this particular one is given 4 weeks apart. As of this writing, 2 vaccines have been approved, not by the FDA, but what is called EUA or Emergency Use Authorization. The ones for COVID-19 are Pifzer and Moderna, currently being administered in the United States. I'm only going to be sharing about our country, as we are not that versed on what is going on with how they distribute in other countries. We think it's important to have our facts, so we will only be sharing about Brenda's personal experience and how it is being administered.

Brenda thought that this would not be possible, until at least spring. She has been wearing her mask, practice social distancing in public, keeping her area clean at work, for months. Actually a mask mandate was implemented at her place of employment, months before it became a statewide mandate. Brenda works at a medical facility, so it would make sense to protect your fellow workers and of course, patients you might come in contact with.

Brenda does not work closely with patients, but she does work with many others in a close setting with about 25 individuals. They work primarily in cubicles, but you do have to walk around to confer with your coworkers or go to the break room. It's at these times, that they are wearing their masks. Their break room gets cleaned 3 times a day, with taking turns each week with the various departments. It has worked out well. Brenda mainly uses the break room to heat up her lunch and then eats at her desk, which as I mentioned before is cleaned daily. 

Now to the purpose of this tale. Brenda had a talk with her rheumatologist last August, when she had her six month visit with him. She asked if it would be in her best interest to even consider becoming vaccinated, when they would possibly become available. She even shared that the ones in the process, would require 2 doses, something that her rheumy was not aware of. Brenda had been doing her research for months, as she did when she contemplated starting a biologic back in 2001. 

Brenda was aware that manufacturing these vaccines involved a rigorous process, the same as biologics had to go through. This was not hurried. It was something that scientists have been working on for years. Brenda is a big believer in science. It was a scientist who discovered the TNF that allowed for the manufacturing of biologics. The first ones becoming FDA approved in 1998. She understands again, that these were not hurried and underwent clinical trials in several phases. 

Brenda and her rheumatologist came to the conclusion that receiving the vaccine would be better than contracting COVID-19. He wanted Brenda to once again have a Pneumovax vaccine, for extra protection, even though she had received this same one in 2001, when she began taking a biologic. He said it wouldn't protect her from getting COVID-19, but her outcome could be so much better in the event that she did. Brenda's biologic can cause her immune system to become compromised. What that means is that even though her biologic helps to keep her joints in remission, it can also cause her immune system to become weakened and more vulnerable to viruses, etc. 

It was a lot to consider, but a no brainer for Brenda. She was willing to take that risk, even though these vaccines have not been tested on those with inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Brenda decided she wanted to have the vaccine, when it became available. 

She got her chance much earlier than expected. On December 28th, she received a work email informing her department that if they were interested in receiving the Moderna vaccine, they would need to fill out some paperwork and possibly get vaccinated that afternoon. She decided to go ahead and fill out the necessary paperwork and would report to the place where they were administering them. As soon as she arrived, she was told that they were going to call her to come up. She was going to get vaccinated that day. Brenda had to fill out some more paperwork for her chart, where it would get scanned in. Brenda works in the Medical Records Department and this is what she does most of her day, scanning documents into the EMR or Electronic Medical Record. 

She got seated filled out the form and waited, not that long. The nurse called her back and this was going to happen. Brenda had indicated on the form that she had two autoimmune diseases, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Hypothyroidism. It was at that time, being she is taking a biologic, that it was determined, she would have to wait at least 30 minutes after, to make sure there were no adverse reactions. Brenda had no problem with this, as she told the nurse she had to do the same thing during her first injection with her biologic. 

Brenda rolled up the left sleeve of her blouse and the nurse told her to put her arm down to relax the muscle. You could see that happening. The nurse was getting reading to inject or that was what Brenda thought and she was already done. Brenda didn't feel a thing. She was told however, that her arm would be sore. She wasn't kidding. 

She went out to the waiting area and the others were spread out, but they could still visit. It made that half hour go quickly. When the time was up, she informed the receptionists that she was leaving. She had been given a card by the nurse that she is to bring with her for the 2nd dose, which will be on the 25th of this month. There is a 4 day window, for when this vaccination can be given, so there is a little wiggle room.

Brenda has already completed the paperwork for the 2nd dose and got her confirmation for the time she will be receiving it. It will be after work, as it was before. She is pretty sure she will have to stick around after, like before, so having it done at the end of her workday made sense. 

Brenda was asked by CreakyJoints if she would be willing to share her experience of getting vaccinated. She jumped at the chance. She wanted to share with those who were hesitant, what it was like for her. She experienced a mild headache, chills for a couple of nights, but covered up. It wasn't chattering or anything that severe. Her arm however, hurt for a couple of days. She had the vaccination on Monday afternoon and by Wednesday evening, she was able to lay on it. 

Here is that link...Brenda's Moderna Vaccination Story

We hope this has given you some HOPE, as it sure did for Brenda. Next month will be Part 2 of this continuing experience, which in Brenda's words, "Is how we get our life back."

This is T Man barking off.

Source for graphic unknown
One down