Covid-19: A doctor’s vaccination experience

16 Apr, 2021 - 00:04 0 Views
Covid-19: A doctor’s vaccination experience In Manicaland the third dose is now easily accessible in medical facilities across the province

The ManicaPost

Dr Tendai Zuze

AFTER hearing all sorts of conspiracy theories and seeing some dubious social medial posts, I must admit I was initially apprehensive about getting the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine.

I, however, gathered some courage and went to Mutare Hall when the call for frontline workers to get vaccinated came through.

When I got to the vaccination centre, I was immediately relieved at the sight of about five colleagues sitting outside the vaccination centre.

They had already gotten their vaccines and had been asked to hang around for observation.

There being no queue, I instantly became next in line to get the shot inside the tent that had been erected on the lawns.

There were three nurse stations in the tent.

At the first station I got my temperature checked. This was a warm day and it was extremely hot inside the tent. As soon as the nurse pointed the thermometer at my forehead, it immediately went berserk and started beeping like crazy. The nurse apologised for the thermometer’s behaviour and pressed the button again. This time the thermometer went even more berserk and was showing temperature readings above 40 degrees.

Now 40 degrees is a very high temperature.

I wasn’t feeling ill at all that day and luckily the nurses pulled out a second thermometer which showed a ‘normal’ temperature, to everyone’s great relief.

There must have been something wrong with the first thermometer.

After the temperature debacle, the nursing sister then pulled out a little blue vaccination card and wrote my name and date of birth on it before directing me to the next station.

The second station was the ‘business’ station where the actual vaccination was being done. There were not a lot of formalities here as the sister just pulled up my shirt sleeve and jabbed a small needle into my left upper arm.

It did sting a little bit, but nothing unexpected or worth writing about.

After the ‘jabbing’ station, I went to the last place where some nurses were collecting data.

There I was asked about chronic illnesses and more personal information.

The whole process from the first to the third station took about five minutes.

I was then asked to sit outside for a few minutes, in case I reacted or something.

As l sat outside, I was in the company of two doctors from Mutare City Council who were at hand to deal with any emergencies, which was quite reassuring.

I sat outside for almost 15 minutes and then a nurse came and checked my temperature, which was normal this time; and sent me on my way, with my vaccination certificate in hand of course.

I was told to report back should I feel unwell.

Did I feel any different after the vaccination?  Not at all.

In fact, I felt completely fine on the day of the vaccination and have been fine since then.

I had to go for the second shot a month later at the same place and this time the process was even quicker.

There were not a lot of formalities and all I had to do was show my vaccination certificate, which needed to be filled in. I got the shot on my arm and was on my way.

Those two shots are considered a full course of the Sinopharm vaccine.

The Chinese Sinopharm vaccine is an ‘old technology’ vaccine which uses a killed virus injected into the arm to evoke an immune response in the body.

Nobody is completely sure how long the protection it gives lasts. Getting the vaccine does not, however, make anyone immune to Covid-19 infection, which is why we should still continue with Covid-19 mitigation measures.  Now the vaccination programme has moved to the second phase which covers people older than 60 years and those with chronic medical conditions, among other groups.  Should you go for the vaccine if you fall in these groups?

I would say yes.

Not only would vaccination reduce your chance of severe illness and death from Covid-19, it will also help create the herd immunity which is essential in ‘ending’ Covid-19. Herd immunity can only be attained when around 60 percent of the population has been exposed to the virus either through vaccination or infection.

Needless to say whatever chronic medical condition you have needs to be well controlled before you get your vaccine. If you are not sure how well controlled your condition is, check with your doctor.

Even people who have actually been infected with Covid-19 should be vaccinated.

After infection, you should just wait for two weeks after being declared Covid-19 free before going for the shot as it is known that the vaccine produces a stronger immune response which gives you better protection than natural infection.

A possible third wave of Covid-19 infections is on the way and we should all continue with Covid-19 prevention measures, including physical distancing, wearing masks and hand hygiene.

It is way too early for us to relax and imagine that things are back to normal.

There are other vaccines in other places but they say the best vaccine is the one you can get today.

Will some people react to the vaccine?

Possibly.

Nothing is ever without side effects.

But all things considered, your getting a Covid-19 shot will go a long way in the fight against this deadly invisible enemy.

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