8 January 2021
Today I got the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. I go back in 21 days for the second dose and then and only then will I think life will begin to feel semi-normal. It was an interesting experience. I’m sure your experience will be different, depending upon which state you are in, who is providing the vaccine, and where it is being administered. However, I think there are several recommendations I would make to everyone (see below).
The state of Florida decided to modify the CDC recommendations and vaccinate anyone over the age of 65 (CDC recommended 75+). I didn’t agree with the governor on this issue – I could have remained home for longer and it would have freed up vaccine for essential workers. However, I decided that since it was being offered, I would take it.
I was very lucky to get a reservation. My friends Jim and Holley sent out a text message early one morning that the Broward County Health Department (BCHD) website was actually functioning for a change. I logged on around 6:30 am and with one misstep and reload, I got a reservation for today at the rather specific time of 9:59 – 10:00 am at Central Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida – about a 12 minute drive from my house. By 7:30 am the website was down and out for the count. By the end of the day, BCHD stated they had filled all available slots until February.
What BCHD didn’t tell you was you could show up any time, not your scheduled time. They also didn’t tell you which park entrance to take. There is a west entrance on US441 north and an entrance on Sunrise Blvd. I had read one post from someone who had gotten their vaccination there and they said use the west entrance. Wrong. It’s the Sunrise Blvd entrance.
I was, at first, surprised there was no line of cars on Sunrise Blvd. waiting to get into the park. There’s a reason. If you look at the map above, Sunrise in the double lane road south of the park. I made it all the way to the first circle. What I didn’t realize until a little later is that the roads heading east were where you zig-zagged back and forth until you hit the loop road. Those 6 rectangular gray areas in the loop is the approximate location of the tents for inoculations.
I pulled into the park at 9:07 am and had my injection 2 hours and 28 minutes later. The line actually moved pretty fast. For those of you my age, there were 4 port-a-potties along the line and there were also two regular park bathroom facilities along the route. People took advantage of them from time to time. Usually, it was because there were two people in the car. One got out, used the facility and then got into the driver’s seat and the other person ran to the facility.
You were stopped three times in route and once at the end of the process. The first time, you were handed the registration form for your second inoculation and reminded to fill it out before you return for the second inoculation 21 days later. They then placed a blue dot on my windshield.
The second stop was pretty soon after that. They asked you to take your first pre-filled registration form and place it in a plastic bag. That was then inserted under your windshield wiper. You then got a red mark added to your windshield.
The third stop was the gate keeper to the inoculation tents. There were nine. The gate keeper waited until a vaccination came open and then directed you to a specific station. Fortunately, each station was clearly marked by a number.
How long it took to be sent to a station depended on how many people were in the car as to how long it took. One car in front of me had three people. They come out with a cart and visit each window to vaccinate. You never get out of the car. With nine vaccination tents, it moved pretty quickly.
After your vaccination, you were handed a inoculation card with your new date scheduled for the second dose. Everyone with BCHD did a very professional job and once you wove your way through the car line up, the actual procedure to get the vaccination was quick and easy. So far, no pain or after effects.
No one broke in line and everyone was pretty cool about it. After the injection, you were directed to a final line of cars.
The last stop was simply a very slow moving line of cars. They required you to wait 10 minutes after your vaccination to see if you had any severe side effects. There was even an ambulance with paramedics stationed at the end. When you got vaccinated, the last thing they did was write a time on your windshield. For example, my time was 11:47. She wrote that at 11:37 am. I then was stopped once last time. When the time reached 11:47 I was allowed to exit the park.
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(1) Make sure you have topped off the fuel in your tank. I suspect 2 1/2 hours is a very quick time for the whole process but I had friends that, at different locations, spent 4 hours in their cars.
(2) Make sure your coolant is up to snuff. Because you are in line for so long, you are idling much more than you would normally do. My engine temperature started to climb and I got that coolant smell a couple of times.
(3) Bring something to snack on. I made it out before noon but I could have just as easily have been much longer in line.
(4) Make sure you have your registration form pre-filled. I saw at least one car that had to pull to the side of the park and fill out the form before proceeding.
(5) Take your favorite playlist with you or, like me, be prepared to listen to NPR for a long time.
(6) Try to find out the entrance before hand. I did but it was bad information. It’ll save you a few minutes and several curse words.
(7) For your second shot, show up anytime – the earlier the better – unless specifically told not to do so.
(8) I suggest you take a photo of the front and back of your inoculation card with your cell phone in case you lose the inoculation card. Then you’ll at least have a record of your vaccination.
The following is from a text message from my friend Catherine:
“Note to all – takes 14 days after second vaccination to assure you wont get Covid. You can still get it up until the 2 week mark after 2 second dose.
Should you get a shot if you have had Covid? Wait 90 days and let somebody else receive vaccine. Then vaccinate.
Take second shot in opposite arm if possible.
Masks should be worn at all times after taking Covid vaccine.”
Additionally, she wrote: “Must still quarantine if you have been exposed even after vaccine. Do not get any other vaccinations of any type until 14 days after any other vaccination.”
She got this information by watching medical presentation at BC / Memorial Health.
My song recommendation is “I don’t need no doctor” by Ray Charles.
Stay tuned and stay safe!
