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By Jessica Singh ('22)
About a month ago, I was able to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. A family member of mine works for a pharmaceutical company and I had the opportunity to get vaccinated. Upon getting the first shot in the afternoon, I had no reaction to it. The following morning, I still did not react to it and continued to go about my day. During the late afternoon of this day is when I had my worst reaction to it. I felt fatigued, developed a headache, and the injection site was sore and warm. I ended up taking the rest of the day off to recover, but after doing so, I started to feel better. Two days after I took this first dose, I still a little bit felt sore, and by my third day after the vaccine, I was entirely better.
Three weeks later, I received the second dose and I had the same symptoms as the first dose. During my experience, the second dose did not hurt more or less than the first dose.
Junior Olivia LoPresti (‘22) also received her first dose of the vaccine, about a month ago, due to underlying health conditions.
“During the first day I felt fine,” she says. “I had gotten the shot in the morning and in the evening my arm started to feel sore and I had a lot of trouble sleeping because I couldn’t find a comfortable position without leaning on my injection site.”
On the second day, LoPresti started to feel better. “I started the morning off with a little bit of soreness but it quickly went away and I was fine for the rest of the day.” It took LoPresti three days until she felt 100% better. However, there was one side effect that lingered for a few days longer. “The only side effect I got was the soreness in my arm and when I worked out or bumped into it, it would occasionally hurt.” But besides these minor side effects, LoPresti had no issues with the vaccine. “I had COVID a couple months back,” she says, “and everybody had told me that with the first dose I would get more severe side effects because I had had it, but all I got was the soreness.”
A woman receives her COVID-19 vaccination. /The New York Times
More youth have access to the vaccine. /The New York Times.
Nicole Aherne (‘22) also received the vaccine recently due to her asthma. “After the first shot on the day I got it,” she said, “I felt completely fine with no headaches or reactions whatsoever.” On the second day, Aherne had “some mild soreness at the area of the vaccination site.” Aherne also said that the third day was similar to the second, but it also came “with some headaches.” It was only three days after receiving the first shot that she felt “100% back to normal with no symptoms,” and she advised everyone to get vaccinated as well.
“Overall I feel relieved. I am really happy and thankful that I was able to get the vaccine and I would advise that others get it as soon as they can,” said Aherne. “There is no doubt in my mind that this will benefit all of us in the future.”
These symptoms that we all experienced are not “new” to the world of vaccines. The common symptoms with taking the annual flu shot, according to the CDC, include soreness, redness, swelling at the injection site, low-grade headache, fever, muscle aches, nausea, and fatigue.
LoPresti, Aherne, and I had relatively positive experiences upon taking this vaccine, and while symptoms do vary from person to person, I hope everyone 16 years of age and older considers getting vaccinated. As Aherne said, “The quicker we all get it, the quicker we can all get back to a greater sense of normality.” And on the road to return to normalcy, the restrictions put in place are slowly, but surely, easing up.
One of the eased restrictions, announced by the CDC, is the recommendation for students to stay 3 feet apart in classrooms as opposed to the previous 6 feet. According to an article from CNN, multiple studies indicate very low levels of transmission of the virus in schools, and based on these studies, the CDC decided to lower the distancing procedures in school. The new 3 feet social distancing regulation will give the students, especially the younger students, a more “collaborative” feeling, as they can sit closer to their classmates and participate more in the class activities.
Governor Cuomo enforcing the usage of masks during the pandemic. / Chalkbeat New York
Another restriction that has been eased is the quarantine requirement for domestic travel. Previously, if arriving on a domestic flight, travelers had to quarantine for 14 days. This will change on April 1st. According to “NY.gov,” Governor Cuomo had announced that this quarantine would no longer be required, but it is still advised. Cuomo goes on to say that this is all great news, but it is not an “all-clear for New Yorkers to let their guard down.” According to the state’s website, continuous monitoring of any symptoms up to and through day 14 of either being exposed to the virus or returning from travel is a must.
Starting on the 2nd of April, according to Spectrum News, theatres and other similar venues will be allowed to reopen at a 33% maximum occupancy, which is approximately 100 people indoors or 200 people outdoors. If the particular venue requires attendees to be vaccinated or to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test, the attendance cap may be stretched to 150 indoors or 500 people outdoors. Additionally, beginning on April 5th, the 11 p.m. curfew placed on fitness centers, casinos, bowling alleys, and movie theatres will be lifted, however, this same curfew on restaurants and bars will remain in place for now.
Even with all of these efforts toward progress, it is likely that we will have to continue to wear masks in the coming year. According to CNN, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says Americans may still need to wear masks in 2022 to protect against COVID-19, even as the U.S. may reach a level of “normal” to a certain degree later this year.
Banner courtesy of The American Heart Association . Home page photo self-photographed by Nicole Aherne ('22), as she stands strong against COVID!
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