Yesterday morning, I had my first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine pumped into my shoulder. Did I experience all the symptoms they warn about? Were there side effects? Was it life-changing? How did I prepare and deal with the process?
Well, let’s start with the last question. How did I prepare for getting the vaccine? My appointment was at 9:45am. I got up at around 7am, had a cold shower and did my breathing practice for about 25 minutes. That’s it for the beforehand prep.
After getting jabbed, I stopped in a parking lot a few blocks away from the clinic and did another session of breathing (my tweaked version of the Wim Hof Method). I then drove home and went about the rest of my day as if nothing had happened.
I had no fever, tiredness, dizziness or strange growths on my flesh. What I did have was a bit of pain in my shoulder where I was jabbed. It felt as if I’d been punched in the muscle. However, I was still able to get a workout in and go for an 8.5 KM run in the evening.
The shoulder pain seemed to only be a bother when I was sitting around. I had concerns about it being an issue while sleeping, as that is the side I predominantly sleep on, but it wasn’t at all.
My Thoughts On Getting The Vaccine
So, now that part 1 is done and my appointment for the second dose is set, how do I feel? I would say relieved. I had no concern about getting the virus. I felt that the pillars of my lifestyle shift and what it did for my immune system and my overall health and fitness would protect me. Even if I was to somehow get the virus, I was very confident the symptoms would be mild and I wouldn’t end up in a hospital bed. I would not be vulnerable.
But, who’s to say I wouldn’t unknowingly pass on the virus to other people? By getting jabbed, I truly feel I’m doing my part to irradiate COVID-19. My income and growth potential relies on an open and free world. With the restrictions looming over our heads, this simply hasn’t been possible. I look forward to once again being able to travel freely.