Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Mom Gets Her 1st COVID-19 Vaccination!

I was wondering if I would need to contact Kaiser Permanente for mom to get her vaccination. However, once Hawaii moved to Tier 1b, I got an email from them with a "ticket" to schedule an appointment. Gee... that was pretty easy. We could choose our time and clinic. We chose the Waipio Clinic because it's the smallest building and I thought it would be less crowded. 


Nope. Although the Clinic closes at 5:00 it was still busy for our 5:10 appointment. There were a lot of people waiting to get their Pfizer vaccinations.

I had to circle YES for mom having a history of allergic reactions to bee stings. Our clinician checked whether mom could still have the shot. She was told that mom could, but instead of waiting 15 minutes before leaving, she would have to wait half an hour. I commented that the room where the shot was administered is rather cramped. I hoped that the hospital had good ventilation. Me, paranoid? Well... maybe.

Do you know mom didn't even flinch when the shot was administered? My daughter said, "Grandma is a tough cookie." 


We were sent along with others to an observation room after her shot. Chairs were placed well apart. However, I was getting rather concerned when it started to fill up. 

The administrators in charge must have thought the same thing because they sent us on our way after 20 minutes.  They also gave mom a mask. However, the mask is made of polyester. Wasn't it supposed to be cotton? Is polyester OK now? 🙄

Mom was scheduled for her 2nd shot in February so we're good to go. 

That was pretty easy. On the other hand, Art also falls in this 1b Tier group and he hasn't heard anything from Tripler Army hospital. Looks like we're on our own. I hope Biden/Harris will be able to fix the incompetence of the current administration.

🤞

POSTSCRIPT 1: One day after her COVID-19 vaccination, mom said she had a severe leg cramp the night before and slight pain where she received her shot. I gave her a couple of Tylenols.

Two days after mom received her COVID-19 vaccination, she was 100% better. She says she doesn't have any reactions and she's back to normal.

I'm hoping Art and I will also avoid any adverse reactions when we're able to get our vaccinations as well.

POSTSCRIPT 2: Whoa... Art just got a call from Tripler Army Hospital. He is to go in on Saturday as a "high priority" person to also get the Pfizer. 

31 comments:

  1. Good for you in weathering this. Could you not have waited outside in your car, perhaps? I have to see my allergist doctor once a month and the large waiting room always has a half dozen people...but we sit far apart and sometime others wait in the area just outside the elevators. We both have preregistered and I am hoping hubby gets his shot soon.

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  2. One down, two to go... good to hear about your mom, Kay (gee I've been reading a lot of "sore stories" about those shots). And I think your paranoia was 100% justifiable, I just hope you & Art didn't catch anything from the cramped waiting.

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  3. That is great and it does sound easy. Florida's system is set up like a competition -- notice goes out that the sign-ups will start at a certain time and I have heard the slots are all taken within fifteen minutes or so. And the sign-up program is apparently designed to cause maximum confusion and frustration to those who are the least computer savvy.
    Vermont has not yet opened the vaccine for those under 75, struggling with far fewer doses than expected.
    I look forward to someone being present and competent in the WH.

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  4. Pfizer can't ship to Canada next week. I just learned that we ordered from Pfizer, Belgium instead of USA. Of course, we did this because they was feat that tRump would confiscate the vaccine. There was something else at one time (I forget what) that he somewhat threatened to confiscate. Or did he and then release it? I can't remember; there has been too much mayhem to keep track of with that odious man.

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  5. Glad your mom got her shot. Now to wait for the 2nd one.

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  6. My wife sort of felt bad for a couple days after both of her vaccine injections. But it apparently worked because she was directly exposed about a week before the second dose and never got Covid. The rest of us weren't so lucky but have since recovered from mostly mild symptoms.

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  7. So happy to hear this. I am waiting to hear from our local medical group as to when we can get our vaccine, but I really want all of the frontline workers, including educators, to get their vaccinations before me. I can still stay home and stay safe. Those workers aren't as privileged.

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  8. They're telling us to go ahead and register with multiple entities (such as the County health department and each hospital group we have a relationship with). However, with my age and lack of health issues I know it will be a long time.

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  9. I cannot get an appointment within 100 miles of my home.

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  10. So glad your mom is on the way to getting immunity. Like you, that waiting room would have unnerved me too. Hope you and Art are soon under the needle.
    I am on a list here so it is wait and see.

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  11. So glad your mom got the shot. I'm not sure my dad will since he's terminally ill. We'll see what his oncologist says today. Right now, I hate being 64. I'm hoping that more vaccine will open vaccination up to us "younger" folks.

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  12. Hooray for Mom! Glad she didn't have a bee sting response. My retired Army Major brother, at 77, received a notice from the VA, even though he doesn't get his usual medical care at a VA. He has to drive about an hour from his Colorado town to the nearest VA. Hope EPA folks are in the same line-up.
    Seems most doc offices, or specialists offices aren't chasing a supply for their patients. Got mine at the county health department as an RN, but I had to register at a site for health care providers since I'm not working with a hospital directly.
    I heard the first vaccine includes antibodies to resist crappy politicians....(just teasing, not a medical fact....)
    Yes, 3 layers of something is supposed to be the best cloth mask. So many people only wear one stretchy fabric. They scare me.
    FYI - About 2 weeks after the first shot, you're about 50% protected. About 2 weeks after the second shot, you're about 95% protected. That does NOT mean you can remove your mask and go to big parties.
    We still have that 5% chance of infection, but hopefully the case would be milder. It is unknown if a vaccinated person could still be a carrier and infect others. The mask rules won't be done until at least this fall or November.....sigh.
    See Medscape.com for articles about why grandparents can't plan to visit relatives yet, even if vaccinated. Linda in Kansas

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    1. I’m relieved Art will get his first shot on Saturday. I’m looking forward to getting mine when we move on to the next tier. Art agrees with you. He prefers the Olson mask design too with the extra liner.

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  13. We got an email today telling us how to proceed to get out shots, but the system keeps bogging down. I finally got through the qualification process, but now the "ticket" message won't come through. patience is in order.

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  14. Good for Mom! Please let her know that she is everyone's favorite.

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  15. Your mom's reaction is wonderful. Bees react to me too. Yes, please tell your mom we are all cheering for her.

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  16. Kay, I used to get some night time leg cramps. Just like the old "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" show, quinine is supposed to help. I drink 4 ounces of diet tonic water (contains quinine) a day to keep leg cramps away. That's half of a very small soda bottle. I actually reuse and rotate 4 of those 8 oz bottles, pouring in tonic water from a 1-liter bottle. It comes in regular sweetened tonic water too, but I don't need the extra sugar. I asked my doc about quinine pills and he said the tonic water was fine. I guess you could add it to orange juice, or add some flavoring, but the plain tonic water tasts fine to me...seems to have a faint citrus taste. Linda in Kansas

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    1. I’m afraid we did try tonic water and it didn’t help. Luckily, she doesn’t get those cramps all that much these days. She does get leg pain during the day occasionally but learned from her sister that a certain massage would take care of it and it really seems to have helped her.

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  17. Amazing, we had our shots yesterday for 70+ and only sore arms today...but getting an appointment is crazy since we live in an area/retirement location so many are trying online and servers are going down. Just got an appt through an surprise opportunity not announced after all other appts were taken. Now we go back in a month in Feb 10th. HURRAH!

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  18. Thank you! Kaiser vacced my husband and I'm in the next tier. He has his 2nd appt already made! Honolulu clinic was less busy he says

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  19. We get to go online on Friday to sign up for vaccine. Can't wait.

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  20. So glad she got her shot. I am waiting my call...

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  21. Good for you, especially for Mom. How I hope we get back to normal.

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  22. I am 85 but I haven't heard a word when I can get my vaccination

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  23. Congratulations! It's too bad some of the hospital's precautions weren't as good as they should have been, but your mother now has a way better chance of getting through the pandemic safely.

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  24. It's good that your Mom got vaccinated so early in the program.

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  25. Happy to hear your Mom got her shot. My daughter-in-law has gotten both her shots, she's medical personnel and Mom to a very large family. But as of Monday night our area, SE WA is out of vaccine. I'm in the list (78 etc.) and have been sent a "note" saying so. Was in line Monday evening but they ran out just as our part of the line got to the door. To be honest I'd rather my sons got the shots. I imagine shot or not I will still be masked up and avoiding people for sometime to come. We will just have to be patient and careful. I'm in a really good mood this evening post-Inauguration. Everyone stay well.

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  26. I'm glad to hear this, Kay. Wishing you all lots of good health.
    My second shot will be Jan. 26. Remember that with the Pfizer vaccine full immunity doesn't kick in until a week after the second jab.

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    1. Dina, I’d been thinking about you and meant to write a comment here and got distracted. Where are you? What are you up to? I did send you emails, but didn’t get a reply.

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  27. Kay, I'm so glad your Mom didn't have any reactions other than the leg cramps from her vaccine. I have heard good and bad reports on the vaccine reactions.

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  28. I am still waiting to find out when I can get my vaccine shot. I keep trying to find out where I can go to at least get on a waiting list.

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