What to Expect After Getting Your Vaccine

Looks like 2021 will be a year-long vaccination szn

( @VP / Instagram )

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It’s happening. The promise of a return to normalcy is finally trickling into the air.

It took a while, but vaccine rollout is fully happening in America. According to NPR, about 2.6 million doses of the vaccine are being distributed each day. As of Monday, almost a quarter of Americans had already received their first dose.

President Biden even said every American should be eligible for the vaccine by May 1. That’s major!! I mean it took us long enough but look at us go!

The United States currently has three approved vaccine distributors: Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson. Both Pfizer and Moderna administer their vaccines in two doses (The second shot of Pfizer is administered three weeks after the first, while Moderna’s is administered four weeks after the first). Johnson and Johsnon’s vaccine is only one shot.

Moderna’s and Pfizer’s vaccines have been proven to have 94.5% and 95% effectiveness respectively. Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine is at a lower 66% effective rate, but was still proven effective in preventing hospitalization and death as a result of the coronavirus.

There’s a lot of fears have circled around the vaccine — ranging from the possibility of the vaccine giving you covid to the possibility that the vaccine will cause you to grow a third arm. Both are false! The vaccinations would not be distributed if it were not proven to be safe for users. (Do you really think the government would do something to harm the icon who is Dolly Parton ?!!)

It’s important to remember that even after you’re fully vaccinated, you can still spread COVID to others, and even after your second dose, you have to wait about two weeks before your immune system understands how to keep COVID tf away. Yes, that means you should still wear a mask to help protect others. But on the bright side: Krispy Kreme is offering a free donut for the rest of the year to everyone who’s been vaccinated. (Those donuts are like crack. This should be reason enough for you to get the vaccine if you can.)

Some of Rowdy’s team has been fortunate enough to have gotten at least one dose of the COVID vaccine. Here are their experiences:

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Juliette Nardo (she/her)

Role: Assistant to the EIC

Vaccine: First dose of the Pfizer vaccine

Where: Miami, FL

How she got the vaccine: had a medical exemption

Side effects: sore arm and fatigue

Regrets?: Nope

“The process is easy. It’s not painful. Just get your vaccine as soon as you’re able to.”

Madison Rosenfield (she/her)

Role: Assistant to the EIC

Vaccine: Both doses of the Moderna vaccine

Where: Wellington, FL

How she got the vaccine: Immunocompromised

Side effects: After the first dose, Madison felt slight pain in the arm where she got her shot for about a day and a half After the second dose, Madison developed a giant, red inflammatory reaction in the area where she got her shop, which is uncommon. This caused her upper arm to swell up a little. It’s been less than a week since and the inflammation is finally going away. The worst were the two days following.

Regrets?: Never

“If you qualify, literally go and get it — you aren’t cutting the line!!! Seriously goooo ASAP if u can!!! Any side effects pale in comparison to the amazing thing you’re doing for society (unless you have a major reaction which is super rare so don’t worry) <3”

Ana Escalante (she/her)

Role: Editor in Chief

Vaccine: First dose of the Pfizer vaccine

Where: Miami, FL

How were you able to get the vaccine: Jackson Memorial Hospital had open appointments; Also has preexisting conditions

Side Effects: For about an hour after her shot, her arm felt numb. Very, Very mild soreness the next day

Regrets?: never

"I had been reading a lot about New Yorkers' hesitation with qualifying for the vaccine if they are overweight. There's been so many articles penned about the subject. For a while, I felt really self conscious and ashamed of getting my vaccine– as society often pushes on overweight and plus size individuals. I first saw the argument for acceptance and not feeling bad first on my mutual follower, Tyler McCall's twitter (another Gator fashion mag EIC!) as she retweeted this story. It really changed my perspective, but I think it's an interesting conversation not many people acknowledge or talk about. There's almost a shame, secret element to it, as if I wasn't "worthy" enough to get the vaccine out of situations I myself created or that I was "taking it away" from someone who needed it more. But at the end of the day, Florida has been absolutely mishandling vaccine distribution (FUCK RON DESANTIS) so it's up to private hospitals to sort things out. Maybe capitalism is good sometimes…"

Jazz Abraham (she/they)

Role: Online Writer

Vaccine: first dose of the Moderna vaccine

Where: Austin, TX

How were you able to get it: Underlying health conditions

Side effects: Just arm pain in the first two days following the vaccine

Regrets?: Nope!

"You gotta hop on the vaccine wave, bro."

Liliana Clark (she/her)

Role: Editorial Assistant

Vaccine: First dose of Pfizer

Where: Gainesville, FL

How were you able to get it : Childcare worker

Side effects: Slight body aches

Regrets?: No

"I have severe needle phobia so getting any shot is difficult — but this was worth it."

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Lauren Rousseau is the Online Editorial Director of Rowdy Magazine. When Lauren's not starring at a phone or laptop screen, she enjoys watching ridiculous reality television, stress-baking and listening to music. You can pitch her stories at rowdymagazine.submissions@gmail.com and find her on Instagram @laurenxrousseau