I’ve Had my Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine, and Here’s What I Encountered
Jacquie Sandler, Editor-in-Chief of Investigative Journalism and External Affairs
February 13, 2021
A simple Google search of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine generates a near endless stream of facts, figures, and insights from health and medical experts around the world. Nearly every news outlet I come across is heavily devoted to the provision of accurate and reliable scientific details about the development of Pfizer’s vaccine while simultaneously tracking its speed of distribution across the global stage. As someone who is among the first group of Canadians to receive both doses of the Pfizer vaccine, I applaud the accessibility, reliability, and transparency of this information and data. My initial feelings of uncertainty and hesitation prior to my first dose were surely reduced after understanding the vaccine’s abundance of scientific endorsements and approvals. However, during this process of familiarizing myself with Pfizer’s vaccine prior to my initial injection, I noticed a stark lack of commentary about what to expect from this vaccine on a more intimate and personal level. As I reflect on my initial fear and nervousness, I would have appreciated the greater circulation of personal insights into the vaccination experience. Therefore, as more Canadians prepare to roll up their sleeves for the COVID-19 vaccines, I hope to reduce these potential feelings of anxiety by bringing you a recap of my personal experience of receiving both doses of Pfizer’s vaccine while revealing the wide variety of emotions I encountered during the process.
I currently work at a retirement home in the Greater Toronto Area. Therefore, my management team informed me and my fellow colleagues that we were to receive the first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in early January. Immediately, I was filled with not just excitement and eagerness, but also gratitude; I was, and still am, incredibly grateful and lucky to be at the forefront of such a path-breaking scientific movement. However, over those next few days, I grew slightly nervous and apprehensive. I knew that it was important to validate and accept these feelings, as being one of the first to experience something new and foreign is often emotionally challenging. After researching the potential side effects of the first dose, I was quick to learn that I should not experience anything more than 24 to 48 hours of head and body aches and grogginess. According to the large collection of scientific information on the Pfizer trial, severe symptoms such as allergic reactions are extremely rare. While I do admit to generating many “what if” scenarios in my mind, I was simultaneously eager to participate in Canada’s transition into herd immunity.
The process of receiving my first dose could not have gone by smoother. In my case, I was given the address of a large sports arena and stations were set up throughout the entire space. Upon arrival, I was simply asked for proof of my employment at the retirement home and was instructed to complete a brief consent form. Then, I was brought to one of the many stations in the arena. The nurse who administered the injection was incredibly reassuring, understanding, and warm; her overall attitude and persona surely put me at ease. She asked me a series of questions such as if I am currently pregnant, am feeling sick, or have experienced an allergic reaction to a vaccine before. I was also given a choice of which arm to receive the vaccine in; I would recommend choosing your non-dominant arm, which in my case, is my right.
The vaccine itself was relatively painless; I would compare it to a minor cat scratch. After the injection, I was asked to sit in a different area and self-monitor for 15 minutes. If anaphylaxis were to occur after the vaccination, it typically happens within this time frame. Once this time was up, I was given a receipt of my dose, a staff member asked if I was feeling alright, and then told me I was free to go. The entire process lasted less than an hour.
The immediate side effects I experienced after this dose was as expected. I grew extremely sleepy within the hour and developed a throbbing pain in my shoulder that eventually travelled to my neck and head. After a very long sleep that night, the only lingering symptom the next day was muscle soreness in my right arm.
I did develop a rare allergic reaction to this dose.
About 3 days after I had been vaccinated, numerous tiny, but extremely itchy bumps emerged across my right arm. According to data from the federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, 83 cases out of 1.9 million doses given developed mild allergic reactions such as a rash, hives, and itchy skin. While the rash itself was not incredibly bothersome, it took a week to completely heal. Developing this reaction surely resurfaced my initial feelings of anxiety and uneasiness, as I was concerned about whether my 2nd dose would trigger similar or worse reactions.
The process of receiving my 2nd dose was very similar to my first. However, this time, I was required to schedule an appointment instead of simply walking in. This change surely sped up the process and I was in and out in under 30 minutes.
The side effects I experienced were quite different compared to my initial dose. While I did notice grogginess and sleepiness in the first few hours after receiving it, I did not experience any significant arm, head, or neck pains during that day. However, on day 2, my arm grew incredibly sore to the point that lifting it was unbearable. Additionally, I felt sudden waves of nausea that would come and go throughout that entire day. Also on the same day, I lost my appetite and had trouble focusing. It was incredibly difficult to complete simple tasks and maintain productivity. However, I woke up the following day feeling completely normal with no traces of the previous day’s reactions. Most importantly, I did not develop a rash or any other form of an allergic reaction to the 2nd dose.
It is evident that I endured varying forms of anxiety and uncertainty leading up to both my first and second doses of the vaccine. However, taking the necessary steps to begin Canada’s, and ultimately the world’s, strides towards normalcy and safety brought me feelings of comfort, excitement, gratitude, and relief. Overall, while I appreciate the constant flow of clinical research articles on these vaccines, I hope this personalized and intimate story that details the emotional significance of receiving Pfizer’s 2 doses brings readers an increased sense of familiarity with this immense, and rather intimidating, international breakthrough.