Bless everyone. This has all been such a travesty, and long learning curve that appears to have no end. It's so sad and also very inspiring to listen to how my fellow OB folks are dealing with all this. We WILL get through this. At end of day we have a group who can share, and it makes at least me feel less alone.

For what it's worth, I am so grateful for the 'net. While we can't gather in person, we can still reach out to each other. And even get our "orchid fix" in places we could never manage in person. (I have been enjoying Zoom orchid meetings in far-away places, with speakers in even farther-away places) Indeed, I hope some of that can continue even when we CAN meet again. A bit of lemonade from the lemons.

I had a call today, getting my first shot on Monday, hooray!

I've been doing most of the shopping for several friends, as well as our own, for the last year, as I'm the youngest, just, and my lungs are preserved! (I describe it as like smoking fish (kippers) to preserve them! :rofl:) We are too far from town for the big supermarkets to deliver so not a lot of choice. The longer it's gone on the more concerned I've got: the infections on our island were few and far between in 2020 but this year are up and up, more in ICU, ICU full 1 week, more deaths this year than whole of last .....

I've been fine with visiting outdoor spaces like the garden centre but I haven't gone near any shopping centres.

Getting my first Pfizer vax today !! Bring on the orchid shows!!

Congratulations! My first shot was a sore arm for a couple days, and my second shot I just felt tired and went to bed early that night. Hope yours goes smoothly!

Where I live, the vaccination appointments are taken within minutes of being posted (not much of a supply). Just got mine yesterday, the J&J one. Finally. So glad that is over and done. Spouse and I were the last in the family (most of the family are in the health-care field, the only one not in healthcare lives in an area where people are still denying Covid to be an issue). Everyone else in my family got Moderna or Pfizer. Good luck to all of you!

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It is definitely great to have our online community. :)

My daughter called me on Thursday, describing the "hell" that her reaction was to the first shot. Temp of 102.3° (her "normal" is 97.2°), achy, and felt generally miserable. She is fine now, but let's take a look at this, as a strong reaction may actually be an indication of something good.

When getting the vaccination, or just getting sick in general, the "miserableness" you experience is not from the vaccine or the pathogen; it is from your own body, mostly due to the production of a lot of interferon, meant to stimulate your immune system into action.

Each individual reacts differently, of course, but a strong reaction may be indicative of a strong immune response.

My daughter, for example, having had the disease, was already "primed" to react to the pathogen, so when she received the vaccine, her body let out a very strong "Oh Hell No!" to address the perceived attack.

That does not mean that if you didn't have a strong reaction, the immunity is not as strong. Instead, it may simply mean that had you gotten the disease for real, your reaction might not have been very severe. Considering the wide range of reactions to the disease that have been observed - everything from no reaction whatsoever to organ shutdown and death - I'd bet that's pretty likely.

My first vax was mild in side effects, the 2nd one kept me awake for a day and a night with extreme joint and myo pain. Like you, I think it was a good reaction with antibiodies building fast. both my daughters one west coast and one in alabama, have had Covid one in March 20 and the other Jan 21. The later was at high risk for ICU but on 8th day got antibody infusion and recovered in three weeks. Now unrelated, she is having brain surgery to place a stent. So I may be leaving dry NM for humid Alabama soon.

Best Wishes to you and your family Early - hope all goes well.:blowkisses:

So good to hear from ya Early, despite some sobering news. God Bless and you’re in my heart and prayers.