The Moderna Vaccine experience

Today I would like to take share my experience dealing with the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. More specifically I will be sharing the symptoms I got after receiving the 2nd dose as I did not write anything down after the 1st dose. Before going into details, however, I would like to answer some questions that many have asked me in the past.

How was I able to get it so fast?

Simple answer is that I work for a government entity and am considered a health-worker. Because of this, my employer was able to schedule me in.

Did it hurt getting it?

Yes, but it was no different than getting a flu shot. The needle went in, vaccine was injected and I was on my way.

How much did it cost?

It was completely free!

Where did I go to get it?

I received both doses near Balboa Sports Complex in Los Angeles County.

Any side effects since recovering?

None so far. As of March 2nd, 2021 two weeks have passed and I feel great! Hopefully, nothing happens in the near future.

Symptoms and Events

Well now that we have covered some basics, I would like to provide some details about the things you must do before getting vaccinated and the symptoms I experienced after receiving the vaccine. Be aware that my description will be in the format of a log entry since it is a lot easier to read.

February 16th, 2021

• 12:30 PM Arrive at the vaccination site. My temperature was checked by one of the employees and I was asked for the  vaccine card that was given to me when I received the first dose along with my government ID. From there, I was allowed entry into the gym and saw two lines: one was a line for people with appointments and the other was for non-appointments. I was asked to get behind the non-appointment line.
• I was called by the nurse about 5 minutes after being in line. She then asked me for my name,  address, email, phone number and if the number belonged to a cell phone, and my mother's maiden name. She then went ahead to show me the computer screen to verify the accuracy of my information. She then submitted my information to their online system and shortly after I received an email like the one below:
• Finally, the first nurse asked me to wait in line until I was called for a vaccination. I was called again and the final nurse asked if I had taken any vaccinations in past two weeks and if I was taking any blood thinners. Also, if I had had any severe reaction to vaccines such as trouble breathing. I answered no.
• I was then asked to pull up my left arm sleeve and at 12:38pm I received the second and final does. I was asked to go wait outside for 15 minutes to make sure there were no immediate side-effects. While waiting I decided to rub injection site as I felt this would help... it didn't.
• At 12:47 PM I started feeling a light tingling in  in space between thumb and index finger on my left arm.
• 12:53 PM headed home.
• 1:46 PM Tingling sensation has left thumb and move to knuckles near pinky and ring finger. This sensation came and went.
• 3:05 PM: Soreness on arm started to kick in. It arrived a lot faster than the first dose but the discomfort was not so bad.
• 11:55 PM- arm has started to hurt like the first time I got the vaccine. Injection site feels stiff and moving or flexing the muscles on my left arm caused pain/ discomfort.

February 17th, 2021

• 12:40 AM Chills started kicking in and arm was sore. Was not feeling good at all
• 2:00 AM Couldn't sleep well due to the body chills getting stronger.
• 9:00 AM Soreness a bit stronger. I started getting a mild headache and felt drained and sleepy. I also notice that I had a low grade fever. Went back to sleep
• 12:00 PM Woke up and but was not hungry as food grossed me out and I had very little energy and was feeling weak and sluggish.
• 1:18 PM  Body aches kicking in. They were all over the place. Sometimes it was my leg, other times it was my arm. I was so drained that I went back to sleep.
• 4:00 PM I was able to eat food but was heavily craving sweet drinks. Body chills still present.
• 7:00 PM I was no longer having headaches.
• 11:30 PM Fever returned but it was not as strong as before

February 18th, 2021

• 8:00 AM Woke up feeling better. Lots of thirst and could tell that I had night sweats as my shirt was moist as if I had been sweating during my sleep. Not as hungry as normal but was able to eat fruit, a banana, without much trouble. Arm still sore but able to move it more than the day before. Rest of the day went without much discomfort besides the soreness on my left arm.
• 11:00 PM Fever has return but it's a lot less milder than before. I am able to move arm with less discomfort.

February 19th, 2021

• 7:30 AM Still experiencing some soreness on left arm but no longer have any body chills, aches or fever

February 20th, 2021

• 10:00 AM Soreness almost gone. Only discomfort I feel is when I touch the area where the vaccine was injected.
  I was able to fully extend arm upwards but still experiencing mild pain at injection site. No more fever

February 22nd, 2021

• 8:00 AM All symptoms are gone!