Quite unexpectedly, I scored my first COVID shot yesterday, thanks to a tip from a friend with insider information.

 

I was typing away on a writing project proposal when the phone rang. Noticing that the caller was my friend, Judi Cooper, I answered it.

 

She told me, “You were saying you missed your first shot because Patches (my cat) was desperately ill and got an appointment for the same day and time. If you’re available right now, a paramedic I know just told me he’s on his way to (an assisted living community) to give some leftover shots to anyone who’s available to get them.”

 

I thanked her, plunked my phone into my pocket, told Jackie and Wendy (in Jackie’s side of the house) where I was going, and bolted out the door.

 

About 20 minutes later, I pulled  into the parking lot and approached the door of the facility. A sign on the door said, “DO NOT ENTER. USE THIS PHONE TO REACH SOMEONE.” A three digit number was listed.

 

I dialed. A woman answered.

 

I said, “Hi, I’m Kris Smith. I just heard from a paramedic that you’re offering COVID shots to eligible people. I’m 69 and —-”

 

The woman responded, “Come right on in!”

 

So I stepped into this unbelievably magnificent assisted living community building and was immediately greeted by a lady who said, “Welcome! Fill out this form and put your phone number on the back of it.” She pointed to a counter where I could fill out the form while physically distanced from the only other person at the same extended  counter/welcome desk.

 

I was amazed there were so few people there to get these “leftover” shots. I expected I’d be given a number and asked to wait interminably for a chance to get the shot.

 

But that wasn’t the case at all. The residents had already been given their doses and the immunization team was just waiting for anyone else to come in who had received a call.  As far as I know, I was the last person they immunized, so I hope they were able to give all the shots that they had available.

 

Anyway, after I filled out the form, I was directed to the immunization team, where my temperature was taken, I was asked a series of questions (“Are you feeling okay today?” “Have you been exposed to COVID in the past 14 days, that you know of?” “Have you already had COVID?” “Are you allergic to any drugs?”  “Have you ever had an allergic reaction after being given an immunization?” etc.), and then I got shuttled to the immunizer.

 

She asked me which arm I preferred (“My left, because I’m right-handed”) and scrubbed a spot on it with an alcohol swab. Then she grabbed the syringe and said, “Just relax.”

 

But before I could even respond, she said, “You are relaxed! You’re the most relaxed person I’ve had all day!”

 

I told her, “I learned a long time ago that the better you relax, the easier it is to get the needle in, and the less it hurts. That was back in the day when they used what looked and felt like horse needles. I hardly feel them these days.”

 

And just like that, it was all over. They scheduled me for my second dose (same place) three weeks from now and then asked me to move to another room for 15 minutes to be sure I didn’t have an anaphylactic reaction to the shot, so I went there and texted Lisa, Jackie and Sue to let them know I had received the shot. (Lisa and Sue have been helping me track down pop-up immunization places because getting scheduled online has been impossible.)

 

Then I drove home and called Judi to let her know I had done what she said, and received my shot. I thanked her profusely for letting me know about the opportunity. She said she was glad she could help.

 

This morning my left arm is fine,. When I lift it I can feel just the wee-est bit of soreness, but it’s hardly even worth mentioning.

 

I’ve heard that it’s the second dose that can make you feel crappy for a day or so (headache, flu-like symptoms, chills) , so I’ll plan for  that but I won’t truly expect it.  I’ve never had very adverse reactions to shots.

 

I’m glad I’ll have both doses onboard when I have my panniculectomy surgery on April 10th.That will be a huge relief, to know I’m as well-protected as possible, because I will have to remain in the hospital for one night…

 

So, that’s my COVID saga, and it happened almost a year to the day after I believe I came down with COVID and felt darned lucky to have survived it.

 

It’d pretty amazing that in one year’s time, scientists have come up with vaccines to tamp down the pandemic. But it took Biden taking office just three weeks ago to get the vaccines turned loose in sufficient quantities to make it as available as it is right now…and more is on the way because he used a Department of Defense initiative to command manufacturers of PPE and other needed ancillary supplies to step up and get busy with what it takes to support the healthcare workers and train immunization providers.

 

That’s what an adult, compassionate President does.  It’s nice to have one in the Oval Office again! It had felt like for-freaking-ever since we had one…