First Inoculation

"Be vaccinated, not just for yourself but for the people around you."

This line resonated in my ears for a few seconds. My best friend told me, she works at the local health unit as a medical front liner in our town and she was surprised when she learned that I am not yet vaccinated. She then told me the reasons and I told her my alibis too.

Project Balik Buhay "NO-SHOW"

On July 22, 2021, I was scheduled for my first shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. I am thankful for my employer because even if I am on extended maternity leave, I was still included in the list of employees to be vaccinated under the Project Balik Buhay from the government. My schedule was at 8 AM that day inside the SM Seaside in Cebu City. 

It was a good time because I was in Cebu during that week, we were on a vacation and we had to go to the city for our swab test. I agreed with my HR department that I will show up on that day however, a day before the scheduled vaccination, I got my swab results and it showed positive. I had to go through home quarantine and there were so many things in my mind like not being able to go home to Bohol and more. It was stressful as well as it was a little uncomfortable for my in-laws as most of them were required to also be in isolation. 

I made a blog about it here: My COVID-19 Stranded Story

After the event, I decided not to think about the vaccination first because according to some of my relatives, if one has been tested positive, he or she should wait for 90 days before getting vaccinated.

However, this week, as I researched, this is only applicable to those who were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma. But in my case, I didn't receive such and so I can go ahead and get vaccinated. That encouraged me and I was already asking my friend about the next schedule available for the vaccination.

Thursday, September 2, 2021, The Negative Thoughts

"It's a first-come, first-serve basis.", my friend told me. I chatted with her that my husband and I will come to the local health center. My best friend told me to be early so she can help me. They got a few brands available but they are all limited. Some of which she mentioned were Pfizer, Moderna, and Sputnik.

By seven as the family was having breakfast, I told my parents about our plan but also mentioned to them that I felt like I am not in good condition so I guess we will just skip this time.

The truth was that I was having second thoughts again. I have read several stories on social media about those who had been vaccinated but ended up dying. I look at my son and I couldn't help but be worried, what if this vaccine would kill me? What if something happens? All these negative things plus my mother in law called my husband a day before telling him not to get vaccinated because they had heard stories from their neighbors about those who became sick after the vaccination.

Antibodies to Babies

By nine in the morning, I checked a breastfeeding support group that I had joined when I was still pregnant and then I checked if these mommies had been vaccinated and if there's anyone who went through bad side effects.

Scrolling through different updates from mommies all over the Philippines and in some other countries, they had testified that nothing bad happened to them. There were even shreds of evidence that showed how the baby can get the antibodies from their mom who's fully vaccinated.

While the previous variant of COVID-19 had somehow less effect on children and babies, the new ones aren't. There are now several children who got infected and some even were not able to survive. So, it is important that even if our babies are not vaccinated, they can get the antibodies from the mother.

This truth made me make up my mind and so we found ourselves on our way to the RHU center.

No Social Distancing?

There were too many people, everyone was wearing their masks, some had face shields on but there was an improper observation of social distancing!

I got discouraged, I know the supplies were limited so I thought, well, better luck next time. But I found my best friend who was surprised why I was late! We chatted a bit, Matti was with us (in the car) because no one can take care of him at that time, she told me she will just process our papers and will call me later. 

Pfizer - First Dose

After lunch, the best friend called and told me she scheduled us for 12:30 PM, both James and I. So we went straight to the center, there were fewer people around which was good but since we have Matti with us, the workers told us to stay inside one of the rooms at the center to avoid the crowd. 

We filled up the paper, run through the questions, and got our temperatures and blood pressures then James went inside first. After a short while, I was called to get inside too while Matti was handed to James.

I got shy about taking a photo or video of myself during the shot. I headed straight to the canteen area where Matti and James were waiting. We had to rest for 30 minutes first before heading home.

After getting our blood pressure again, and the results were normal, we were advised that we can go home already, avoid any alcoholic drinks of course until the next dose.

Our second shot will happen three weeks from that day, September 23, 2021.

Side Effects

So far, I felt sleepy, my arm is a little in pain like I was punched on that side also, I am always hungry.

I guess it varies per person because James was feeling unwell but was manageable, he just decided to take a leave for two days so he can rest.

We are now on our second day after the vaccination and I am hoping that we won't get any bad side effects.

That's it guys, thanks for reading!

xoxo,

mommy jean of momentswithmatti

Love harder than any pain you've ever felt.