Coronavirus thread

[prémont]

Congratulations.

Thats good to hear my friend.

+1

Thanks to all of you.

[DavidW]

I got mine in early October (second dose in late October), which made for a calm and peaceful winter, no nerves.

So you participated in the clinical trials?  Did they tell you after the fact whether you received the vaccine or a placebo?

[Florestan]

Last day of quarantine for me and my wife today. We're fine, whatever mild symptoms we had are all but gone.

The interesting thing is that I talked to my doctor about the very bad symptoms* I had in 2020 around this same time of the year and about the fact that back then I thought that I might have had Covid-19 before it was even reported in Romania. He told me that it's quite possible I really had it and that's the reason why this year I had only mild symptoms: I might have developped antibodies back then.

*High fever 38/39, extreme fatigue, extremely sore throat, I could barely talk because of cough and I barely eat --- all that for a whole week. Can't remember about smell and taste but back then I wasn't very attentive to this aspect.

[DavidW]

I thought that the antibodies were only supposed to last a few months?  Many people only suffer mild symptoms are are completely asymptomatic.

[Mandryka]

Last day of quarantine for me and my wife today. We're fine, whatever mild symptoms we had are all but gone.

The interesting thing is that I talked to my doctor about the very bad symptoms* I had in 2020 around this same time of the year and about the fact that back then I thought that I might have had Covid-19 before it was even reported in Romania. He told me that it's quite possible I really had it and that's the reason why this year I had only mild symptoms: I might have developped antibodies back then.

*High fever 38/39, extreme fatigue, extremely sore throat, I could barely talk because of cough and I barely eat --- all that for a whole week. Can't remember about smell and taste but back then I wasn't very attentive to this aspect.

How does quarantine work in Romania, Andrei? Do you get paid by the state if you're not earning because you can't get to work? How do you manage to get the groceries? Did your kids have to stay away from school?

[Florestan]

How does quarantine work in Romania, Andrei? Do you get paid by the state? How do you manage to get the groceries? Did your kids have to stay away from school?

Yes, we got full paid sick leave (actually our revenues these two weeks were larger than the normal wage as Covid-related paid sick leave is tax-exempted  ) and our son had to stay at home with us. In order to go back to school he needs a negative test. We're going to test him tomorrow and I anticipate much screaming and moaning.

We did all our shoppings online and had them delivered to our door.

[Mandryka]

Yes, we got full paid sick leave (actually our revenues these two weeks were larger than the normal wage as Covid-related paid sick leave is tax-exempted  )

That's good!

[springrite]

So you participated in the clinical trials?  Did they tell you after the fact whether you received the vaccine or a placebo?

It was after the clinical trials but before it was approved for going into the market. So I got it just before everybody else.

[DavidW]

It was after the clinical trials but before it was approved for going into the market. So I got it just before everybody else.

Wow you must have friends in high places!

[springrite]

Wow you must have friends in high places!

Well, counseling to save a marriage and family, without knowing at the time that she worked for Sinovac.

[DavidW]

Well, counseling to save a marriage and family, without knowing at the time that she worked for Sinovac.

Sounds like karma.

[BasilValentine]

I'm scheduled for the first jab of the Moderna vaccine at a local drug store on Thursday. Feels strange to be so excited about a shot.

[DavidW]

I'm scheduled for the first jab of the Moderna vaccine at a local drug store on Thursday. Feels strange to be so excited about a shot.

Be prepared to have a sore arm for 2-3 days.  Also pencil in sufficient time because they will hold you for 10-15 minutes to make sure that you don't have any adverse reactions.  Hope it goes smoothly!

[Mandryka]

I'm scheduled for the first jab of the Moderna vaccine at a local drug store on Thursday. Feels strange to be so excited about a shot.

Yes it is an emotional thing, I suppose the stress of all of this takes its toll inevitably, and this is like a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel.

[T. D.]

Effective tomorrow (10 Mar), I (63 y.o.) am finally in the current group of NY State residents (60+, down from 65) eligible to get a first dose (they don't say which vaccine)! There's a lot of pent-up demand:  tomorrow's appointments at the County-run site were fully booked within 25 minutes of the announcement. I'm hoping to get an appointment through a semi-local family-run (not chain) pharmacy, but doubt that I'll get scheduled for at least two weeks. The County and chain irons remain in the fire.

I figured all along that the best I could hope for was dose 1 by the end of March, so this is in line with expectations.

[ritter]

In Spain, where vaccination is progressing very slowly, there's a strange phenomenon going on: the initial adverse reaction to the vaccines seem only to affect those people who can take time off work due to those reactions. OTOH, retired people (the bulk of the vaccinated population so far) appear not to suffer any adverse reactions at all. 

[prémont]

In Spain, where vaccination is progressing very slowly, there's a strange phenomenon going on: the initial adverse reaction to the vaccines seem only to affect those people who can take time off work due to those reactions. OTOH, retired people (the bulk of the vaccinated population so far) appear not to suffer any adverse reactions at all. 

The reactions are not adverse reactions in the strict sense, but a sign of a reactive immune system. The immune system of younger people is more alert - therefore more reactions to the vaccine. Retired people are usually older and have a more inert immune system - therefore less reactions. We are told, that the reactions after the second jab may be stronger, probably because the immune system reacts more this time as it recalls it has been activated before by the first jab.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Be prepared to have a sore arm for 2-3 days.  Also pencil in sufficient time because they will hold you for 10-15 minutes to make sure that you don't have any adverse reactions.  Hope it goes smoothly!

I spoke to a neighbor a few days ago who had also reported having a sore arm for a few days...interesting.  Another friend said that she felt very tired for about two days.

PD

[Szykneij]

The reactions are not adverse reactions in the strict sense, but a sign of a reactive immune system. The immune system of younger people is more alert - therefore more reactions to the vaccine. Retired people are usually older and have a more inert immune system - therefore less reactions. We are told, that the reactions after the second jab may be stronger, probably because the immune system reacts more this time as it recalls it has been activated before by the first jab.

Thanks for that information. I had my first Moderna shot last week with no adverse reaction at all (not even a sore arm). I was a little concerned because I believe some after effects are an indication the vaccine is working. Good to know my advanced years might be responsible for something positive! 

[Stürmisch Bewegt]

The day after my first jab, my upper arm (a little surprised at how high up on the arm I was impaled) is a bit heavy and painful.  But otherwise no reaction, positive or negative, and no tiredness.  Just an extraordinary feeling of glee that human genius may have outwitted this terrible disease.  Some people report being miraculously cured of long-standing complaints, like joint pain, etc., and while it may be that the immune system kicks into higher gear most medicos are skeptical of his, one surgeon saying, "The mind is a miraculous thing..."