Immunity

I had been thinking about getting some of the recommended old people vaccines for a year or so now. The alarming chaos that the Trump administration is creating accelerated those decisions. I'm really worried that some of the vaccines won't even be available in a year or two. 

 As an aside, with no research being done in the U.S. to pin down the strain of this fall's influenza virus, and avian influenza misbehaving all over the place, we are going to be royally fucked anyway. 

As another aside, I absolutely trust science. Vaccines have saved millions of lives across the globe for decades. Dismissing vaccines as a public health necessity clearly shows how little you value those lives. Notice I said I don't "believe" in science. Science doesn't require faith or belief. 

Back to those old people vaccines. I decided to start with the shingles vax. A friend went through about 8 weeks of painful hell when she developed shingles. She couldn't lift one of her arms above her waist for weeks. I'm busy at work, busy with teaching dog classes, busy with my dogs--I don't want to sit out 8 weeks of any of that. 

 My local Kroger offers a wide array of vaccines on a walk-in basis. I got a COVID booster and my influenza shot there last fall. Since I get a couple of minor medications from that Kroger pharmacy, all my info is in the system. I walk in, say "I want this vaccine" and in minutes it is done. My insurance covers 100% of the cost. It is so stupidly easy to take care of this. 

I knew the shingles vaccine required two shots. I was surprised to learn that the second shot isn't given until at least 2 months from the first. That's a long time to wait for the second booster. But the chickenpox virus is a weird one anyway. 

As usual, I got my shot in my right arm. I'm one of the special 10% of the world that is left-handed. 

 That was three days ago. That shot spanked me hard. 

It took a solid 24 hours before my immune system decided to kick into gear, but I have a low-grade fever, raised, red wheals on my arm extending 2-3 cm around the injection site, sore arm, malaise, etc. None of these are adverse events as they are an expected response to the shot. But that is one spicy vaccine! Yikes!

But all of these things are so much less horrible than actually getting shingles. 

Measles booster is coming up next month! I can't wait!