I Got My Pfizer Booster Vaccine
Full List of My Side Effects
I received my booster shot six months after getting my 2nd Pfizer vaccine. We already know that Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective, so I’m not here to spew the facts. I’d like to share my personal experience.
A few things to note about me:
- I qualified for early administration due to my health and one prescribed medication that suppresses my immune system;
- I was never diagnosed with Covid-19 nor have I ever had symptoms to make me question that. (Yes, I’m aware that you can be a-symptomatic, but that’s the best answer I can give you;)
- My current health status is good; and
- I ate and hydrated well an hour before the shot.
Getting the Shot
I had a walk-in appointment at Walgreens, even though I got my first two shots at a different location. There was no confusion or conflict.
Beforehand, I called this Walgreens to confirm that they carried Pfizer vaccines and had the product on hand to give out today.
I presented my CDC vaccine card and health insurance card at the check-in window. I had to fill out two different documents: a typical questionnaire and consent form to receive a vaccine, and then a form that proved that I qualified for an early booster.
Soon after, I was invited into a small room where a pharmacist administered the vaccine quickly but professionally. They recommended I wait 15 minutes before leaving Walgreens, which I did. No reaction to report.
That Evening, a Few Hours Later, on Day 1
I felt mild soreness at the injection site, but I was able to kick around on a pool float, jump on a trampoline, and eat with no problem.
Right before bed, my knees were stiff as if they were experiencing mild inflammation under the knee caps; however, I felt no pain…. I was just walking around like the tin man.
That Night, Sleeping on Day 1
I kept waking up in the night to change my sleep position, too delirious to determine if my body ached or felt extreme uncomfortableness. The pain in my vaccine arm increased but could only be felt upon physical movement. No, the pain was not intense; I did not shout, cry, or whimper.
The Next Morning on Day 2
I woke up as stiff as a board! My neck hurt so much that any subtle movement hurt my head.
I was worried that this would be a long day, but after walking around and drinking coffee, my joints loosened and my headache vanished. I did not detect that stiff sensation in my knee caps as I had earlier.
The pain in my vaccine arm was still not enough to make me favor one arm over the other. No lump or redness. No pain in the armpit like I experienced during the 2nd Pfizer dose.
Throughout Day 2
Unfortunately, I was not over my symptoms as my body transitioned into a state of malaise, which is a mix of fatigue, uncomfortableness, and overall icky feeling.
Malaise is when you are too tired to do activities but not enough to fall asleep. You crawl onto your couch only to never get comfortable. It’s truly a vicious cycle.
Nonetheless, malaise is one of the better symptoms because most people would find this tolerable. If I had to, I could go to an office job, but I definitely couldn’t perk up to film a YouTube video.
To top it off, my temperature fluctuated from normal to 99.7 degrees Fahrenheit (considered a low-grade fever.)
I took two extra-strength Tylenol pills, so I wasn’t dazed during my doctor’s appointment. When I returned home, I took full advantage of the Tylenol benefits by taking a nap — and it was solid bliss!
The Night of Day 2
The Tylenol wore off, and the malaise returned. The pain in my vaccine arm lingered a little too long to become an ache. But I decided to attempt sleep without any pain medication.
Drifting off felt impossible as I was more than aware of my discomfort. Rolling over, reposition pillows, twisting my body in a way that would clearly make me hurt in the morning. But once I was asleep, I stayed asleep.
Day 3, Tapering Off My Symptoms
I woke up with mild soreness in my vaccine arm and nothing else. All throughout the day, I waited for something unusual to occur but nothing. My energy level is normal. My butt is doing just fine on my couch while I type this.
Experiencing vaccine side effects is never fun; however, having those irritations is a good sign that your body is making use of the new antibodies. You are (re-)introducing the germs to assure your body can combat the deadly virus when you are actually exposed to Covid-19.
Upon reading my symptoms, albeit mild, you may be hesitant to get vaccinated. You need to work, be a parent, or drive somewhere. You can’t take the day off to recover. But you must ask yourself, can you afford contracting Covid-19? Because at the rate it is spreading, you are either getting the vaccine or the virus.
