Since the government announced that it will undertake vaccination for every citizen, I have been waiting for more details to come about how and when it will be done and for whom it will be done, etc. Over time, more clarity emerged with the government. the disclosure of details about who will be vaccinated first, etc. The ride started and the curiosity of people like me to know “how was it”. Some of the obvious questions that came to my mind were: “is it painful”, “how long does the pain last”, “would there be side effects”, “would it have any long term impact”, “would it take care for all strains of the virus “,” there would be fever after vaccination “, etc. Meanwhile, my mother, who is 75, was vaccinated and some of the questions were answered.
Within days of the government announcing the opening of the vaccine for citizens over the age of 45, my wife and I decided to make an appointment via the Arogya Setu app. We have consciously decided to go to the ‘paid’ category so that the ‘unpaid’ can be available to deserving people. We booked an appointment for me and the appointment was granted on April 6 at Jupitor Hospital, Thane. Therefore, I arranged / adjusted my official instructions for 6 and 7 April as most who took the vaccine before me advised it. A surprise presented itself to me when I ended up in Jupitor Hospital at the appointed hour. The volunteer there did not find my name in his list. I showed him the screenshot of the appointment, only to see that the appointment was actually for March 6 and not for April 6. This was apparently a bug in the Arogya Setu app when we booked my appointment last week of March. The vaccination was also not opened on March 6 for 45 years and more. After pointing out the volunteer, he advised me to make an appointment again. Luckily, I made an appointment the next day at Highway Hospital, Thane. This time I double-checked to make sure the date was indeed April 7th.
I reached the hospital at the given time and was immediately sent to a waiting room where they issued a sign and confirmed my details. Within the next five minutes, I was taken to a room and sat down on a comfortable chair while the doctor prepared him to inject the vaccine. As is the prevailing trend, I appealed to the nurse to take a picture of me while I was vaccinated! The whole process was over within five minutes, after which I had to sit in an adjoining room for 30 minutes. There were a few others sitting there waiting for their 30 feet to come over so they could be free. A volunteer kept time and let those “whose time was over” go !! He also advised everyone to take a paracetamol tablet in case of body aches, headaches or fever. I walked out of the room after my waiting period was over and left the hospital with a sense of accomplishment and pride.
After I got home, I attended some official appointments and it was very good until early in the evening. By 7pm I was getting a little tired and I had a mild headache but also feverish. When I checked the temperature, it was 98. Before I went to bed that night, I took a paracetamol tablet as recommended. I could not afford to be off the next day because I had several official commitments.
I wake up the next day (April 8) and feel little under the weather. The mild headache continued and by noon it became feverish again. I also had joint pain and was very uncomfortable throughout the day. That night I had a paracetamol tablet again and I reassured myself that I would be doing perfectly well the next day.
Luckily my reassurance worked and I felt awake in 9th place and feeling completely fit. Overall I am happy with the experience because I now have a new story to tell !!
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DISCLAIMER
The opinions expressed in this article should not be construed as a substitute for the advice of a physician. Consult your treating physician for more information.