I felt it was my duty to be a part of the solution in slowing the spread of the virus.
My name is Anna. I am a healthcare worker in a small-town hospital in East Tennessee. Working every day through this whole pandemic, I’ve seen the absolute worst that COVID-19 can do. As a healthcare professional, I felt it was my duty to be a part of the solution in slowing the spread of the virus by opting to take the Pfizer covid vaccine.
On my off day, I went to the hospital to receive my first dose. After receiving my first dose, I waited 15 minutes for any significant side effects, which is customary, then went about my day. Roughly 2 hours after returning home, I began noticing a strange sensation in my throat. I could feel it constricting, which was not a comforting feeling. My body began to itch as if I had something crawling on my skin.
It was bedtime, so I took a dose of Benadryl, hit the shower, and went to bed. The following day I woke with a debilitating headache. I could not even open my eyes. The pain felt as if a hot torch was shoved into my eye socket. I not only woke up to a debilitating headache, but my skin was pale and clammy. Severe hives covered my body. I was unable to stand to support my body weight. My husband assisted me to the living room because I was unable to do so alone.
Luckily, I treated my symptoms with antihistamines and over-the-counter pain medication; however, not many are as lucky. I only received one dose; many say subsequent doses can cause more substantial side effects with each dose. I can not imagine what a second dose would have done to me. Therefore I have opted out of any future covid vaccinations or boosters. I do not want to experience my body’s reaction ever again, much less a more intense response.
I’m not sharing my experience to scare anyone into not taking the vaccine; I’m sharing my experience to educate those in need of information regarding the vaccine. If you want to know whether it is safe and effective for all or not, my answer is simply no. Will you have the same reaction as me? Probably not. Could it be worse than me? Absolutely. Take this vaccine at your own risk. It is not for everyone, and you should evaluate whether or not this is the right thing to do for yourself. For me, it’s a hard NO!
