Quick Slice of Life: Getting Updated

Today is Slice of Life Tuesday. Since I already wrote my Medium.com post today, I’ll keep this short. If you want to read it, you can go to the links at the end of this post. Thanks!

Today my husband and I got our newest COVID-19 booster shots. It’s the vaccine with combined variants. At the same time, we got our flu shots. I elected to get one in each arm and he got them both in the same arm.

Giving vaccines was something I did routinely as a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner back in the early 1990s. I did a lot of well-child exams in my role at a private pediatrician’s office as well as at a county clinic. Discussing the safety of vaccines, possible side effects, and obtaining consent was all part of a routine day at work for me. Back then, we did have families refuse, but it was rare. And, it was usually for religious reasons. Therefore, I routinely gave one to four shots as per early childhood vaccine recommendations at once. I like to think I was good at it. But, babies will cry when held still and jabbed with a needle no matter how good one’s technique is at giving shots. It was always helpful if they had nice meaty thighs!

I didn’t even feel the vaccines today! The pharmacist was adept at giving them, I would guess. Besides my flu shot arm feeling somewhat heavy tonight, I don’t even have soreness. My husband feels good too. We both took some ibuprofen at lunch as a prophylactic, though. I’ll take some more before bed.

The news has been rife with virus warnings, especially for children already. Between the flu, RSV, and COVID variants, it might be a nasty season for our young. Bear in mind that RSV has always been a danger to children, especially the very young such as infants or those with co-morbidities. I wonder if the percentage of infections is higher or if people are just more on alert to the symptoms of RSV. The news wants us to think it is worse than normal. And, maybe it is.

So, I ask. Are you up to date on your COVID boosters? Have you gotten a flu vaccine? If not, I’d urge you to do both, sooner rather than later.

I’m starting to see people wearing masks again too. If infection rates go up, I’ll revert to wearing a mask in public. Some family members (vaccinated) have been ill with COVID in the last few weeks. It can happen, even if you are vaccinated. But, hopefully, your infection will be less as the vaccine builds your immunity. At the very least, the vaccines will help to keep you out of the hospital. I know I used hand sanitizer when we left the store where we got the vaccine today. I felt I needed to – as a precaution. I still keep it in my car.

As a former nurse, I think vaccines are valuable, especially for children and the elderly. As we head into cold and flu season, think not only of yourself but only those around you that could be infected. Take some time to get a vaccine, wash your hands, and stay home if you are ill. Who knows? You could save a life.

If you want to read more, I wrote my Medium.com post on Geocaching today. Here is the link:

https://carollabuzzetta.medium.com/geocaching-it-must-still-be-a-thing-9eb0856cc3a2?sk=9b83aef75a0f015153e58fc6395b38a5

Thanks!

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