shots

 

On Friday, I drove up to a drugstore, walked in and got my Bivalent Covid and flu shot. I chose to have the Pfizer again and that was the only decision I had to make.  Other than filling out the form incorrectly which is something I am challenged with, it went flawlessly.  I was struck as I walked into the store by the fact that in Canada you can simply get vaccinated with no cost involved and very little effort on my part.  A site is already set up and thankfully, it is now a simple process to just get vaccinated if you so choose to.  Some very smart people have done the research to determine what would be the best vaccine to offer the people of Canada and how to make that happen.  Looking back to the start of how Covid Vaccines were administered it was chaotic to say the least.  There were guidelines starting with age, vulnerability, communal living and other specifications that were deemed important.  For those of us, that had made the decision to get their vaccine we all waited our turn with anticipation. At the very least we felt it would give us the necessary protection to have a bit of freedom.  Others made the decision not to get the vaccine and to accept the limitations because of that decision.  We have come so far from then, and I couldn't be more grateful.   

In true Faye fashion, I didn't put a lot of thought into what was in the vaccine.  I knew it wasn't live because it was called "synthetic".  I was amazed at the research and knowledge that people had regarding the vaccine.  Especially the group of thirty- and forty-year-old people. Probably because they were trying to work and support a family and were one of the last age groups to be protected.  They also had to make the decision regarding protection for their children, so knowledge was very important to them. 

I know very little about paying for vaccines.  I have never traveled anywhere that requires extra vaccine protection.  in Canada the Shingrix is something that a person pays for, or their insurance covers it.  Shingrix is given in two doses to provide strong protection against shingles and their common complications.  In a healthy individual over 50 they quote 97% protection.  I have heard people say they aren't going to get the shingle shot because of the cost, which is $325.  I did get the Shingrix when it was only one shot, I paid $200.  Even though the new shots have more protection, I am choosing not to get the new one.  I am rolling the dice and going with the protection that my one shot provides. 

I have received the flu shot for more years/decades than I can remember.  For me, I believe it helps provide me with overall good health. I worked with Dr. Prescot for 28 years of my career.  He was an English Doctor that had worked in Africa for 17 years before coming to Canada. He was so educated on vaccines and promoted them like no other person could. He was so passionate about the flu shot he literally chased everyone around the Health Centre with a needle to make sure his staff was protected.  His strong belief meant he took on the responsibility of getting the serum, administered the shot and even did the follow up paperwork.  He would be so happy to know that yesterday I received the "High dose" flu shot which is a four-component flu vaccine.  This year they have lowered the age from 75 to 65 for the enhanced dose.  The privileges of being 65 are insurmountable.  Not only do you get extra flu protection, but you also get the opportunity to get the pneumovax against pneumococcal pneumonia.  I recently received a letter in the mail saying since I had recently turned 65, I was eligible for my pneumovax.  Well, my letter came when I was nearly 66 and I had already had my vaccine last December.  I had received my first pneumovax when I was 35 after having viral pneumonia.  It was virtually a new vaccine, and once again Dr. Prescot encouraged me to have it.  At that time, it was expected to provide protection for 7 years, and it did.  I can honestly say that almost 7 years to the day, I felt like I was getting pneumonia again.  The shot was repeated, and I never received anything more until the golden shot at 65.   

The decision to get vaccines is very individual. As an individual, I wanted as much protection as I could get.  I had already filled my body up with the live vaccine of smallpox, TB, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, shingles, H1N1 and the list goes on.  Since March 2020, I have had 4 covid shots, 2 flu shots and a pneumovax.  Clearly, I have no side effects with any vaccines which I feel makes my decision so much easier.  At the end of the day, we have to do what is right for our own health.  Clearly, the protection is out there if you make that decision.  There does seem to be a lot of cold/flu bugs going around and everyone has their own opinion on why that is.  Could it be because we have been so isolated and not exposed.  Did the use of masks weaken/strengthen our immunity? Who knows! I do think it starts with awareness of your own body and what it needs.  Give yourself every opportunity to stay well, could be a long winter ahead for us.  

in closing I wanted to add a little google research.  I found during the last couple of years three words have been used frequently.  Some found them confusing, and others understood them perfectly.   

Inoculation: the introduction of a pathogen or antigen into a living organism to stimulate the production of antibodies

Vaccination: It is the drug (weak pathogen/ inactivated viruses) that is administered to a person to prevent the onset of a disease

Immunization: It is the body’s ability to generate an immune response naturally, or through vaccines. These methods build immunity or resistance towards a particular disease.