If you're hesitant about the vaccine, you should be way more worried about the virus. Millions of doses have been given at this point.
I'm not an anti-vaccine guy in general. And I'm not especially concerned about long-term effects of this vaccine; I've probably had worse stuff put in my body. That said, having had COVID and breezed through it - along with everyone else in my household - I am even less concerned about the virus. In spite of this, I elected to get the vaccine because I don't see another path to a return to anything resembling normal life.
And that's where the frustration comes in, for me anyway. First, we've got people on one side pushing the narrative that the vaccine is dangerous (to put it mildly). And it has been for some people, and will be for some more. Then there are people on the other side pushing the narrative that the virus is dangerous (again, to put it mildly). And it has been for some people, and will be for some more. We don't seem to know who will suffer negative consequences of the vaccine, just like we've been surprised by some people really struggling with and even dying from the virus. It's six in one hand and half a dozen in the other, in my opinion.
Prior to now, I've only ever gotten vaccines to help prevent me from contracting things that might be real bad for me. In the case of this vaccine, we're saying get it BUT you cannot resume your life, you may still get COVID, and you may still kill everyone you love when you do. I'm paraphrasing of course. If we don't believe the vaccine will keep us from getting COVID, then why are we pushing it and the narrative that people who take a pass are irresponsible and selfish? That's not aimed at you specifically, but that is the narrative. If the vaccine protects us, then why can't people who are two weeks past their second dose get back to their normal lives, understanding that there may still be some risk because no vaccine is 100% effective?
I realize COVID isn't the flu. Having said that, it seems to me that we are moving toward a thinking that it is or will be an endemic virus. We have a vaccine that we think provides some protection, but there are other strains that the current vaccines don't cover. Maybe we can electively get an updated vaccine ever year, and accept the reality that there's still a chance we could get sick and die. Like the flu, in that sense. And yes, there's a chance we can get the virus and spread it someone else who dies. Again, like the flu in that sense. Risk of death is an inherent part of life. We're acting, corporately, like we just discovered we're not going to live forever and we're hiding under our beds because of it (figuratively). I just think the whole situation has turned into a crock, from both sides or however many sides there are now.
Anyway, rant over. Lady at the vaccination site told me that since I'd had COVID, I might get some flu like symptoms with the first shot instead of with the second. I'm about 19 hours past getting stuck and nothing but a slightly sore shoulder. My heart didn't stop and I have no craving for human flesh to report.
