From the front lines of the Covid-19 skirmish I can report that I have been shot.
As a member of the over-65 club, I was eligible for my first Pfizer vaccination and was lucky enough to get an appointment for one this morning of the first day of inoculation in Kumamoto for those similarly qualified.
Eschewing the taxi coupons I had and expecting a possible crowded parking lot at the ear, nose, and throat clinic that was the vaccination site, I drove over 30 minutes early. My apprehensions were not justified. There were but a few cars already there, and when I walked into the clinic and saw about a dozen people seated and socially distanced I noticed that many of them appeared to be aging a whole lot better than me. That’s because most of them were in their 20s-40s and there with ear, nose, and throat problems waiting to see the doctor. There were only 3 other people appearing to be well into the 2nd half of their respective centuries waiting to get vaccinated. And only 2 more arrived while I was there. I had my temperature taken and presented the necessary paperwork—photo ID, vaccination “coupon”, and pre-vaccination medical history questionnaire—and was directed to take a seat and wait.
Patients were called in one by one as in any medical waiting room in a normal sequence except it appeared that the “vaxxers” like me were being admitted within the 15 minute time frames of our respective appointments. Mine was for 10-10:15am and I was called at 10:13 (my birth date). I was directed to an empty anteroom where I took a seat but then was immediately ushered into the doctor’s examination room, also empty except for him and 2 nurses.
The doctor, a graduate of the University of Michigan medical school in my home state, greeted me in fluent English, and asked if I had any questions in advance and if I understood what was happening. I did not, and I did, and we chatted briefly about Michigan before getting down to brass jabs. Following previous advice I wore a short sleeve shirt, and in about 10 seconds I was injected by the doctor. It was so fast and so painless I wasn’t aware that it had happened apart from alcohol being rubbed on a spot on my shoulder.
I was then escorted back to the waiting room and asked to stay for 15 minutes to observe if I suffered any reaction to the shot. I did not, and after 15 minutes a nurse returned and presented me with the follow-up paperwork necessary for presentation at the time of my 2nd shot and confirmed the date and time exactly 3 weeks hence. Then I was free to leave.
It’s now 5 hours since I received the injection and my shoulder feels a bit sore (I’d say naturally after having been stabbed by a relatively long but thin needle), but otherwise I’m feeling fine. My brother in the US, who was fully vaccinated in March, told me to expect this. There is no rash or swelling.
So everyone, the first thing I’ll say is that the program has begun but with very little fanfare or sense of urgency. At the clinic I went to I don’t believe they had more than 10 vaxxers scheduled, and they were not going to continue in the afternoon. Then again, citywide I understand there were only 4200 doses available for today and the next 3 days or so. From May 24 when the next time for inoculations begins, there are supposedly 10 times more doses to be distributed.
For those who might be nervous about getting the vaccination, if your experience is like mine, you have nothing to fear. It’s easier and faster and (so far) more comfortable than the flu shot you may have been getting every year. Good luck!