I Am Not Throwing Away My Shot

Gratitude, Health 1 Minute

So I did a little thing yesterday. On Monday I received a text message from Houston Methodist that said, “As a patient we are pleased to inform you that you can receive the COVID-19 vaccine now based on your age and health risk status.” I would like to think I’m fairly healthy, but I have seen a few doctors this past year. I can’t help but believe that my mother pulled a few strings from above. Within days I made my appointment.

I took my morning walk and then drove to the Houston Methodist administration building in the medical district. I felt very young in the crowd of people there. I waited ten minutes in a moving line. The shot was just a little pin prick, overall painless and quick. I was back home in close to an hour, and that included a fifteen-minute evaluation period for allergic reactions. With my booster follow-up scheduled in three weeks, I’m thankful to be able to return to the work force soon without fear and to take myself out of the unintentional spreader pool. Especially as Texas lifts the state-wide mask mandate next week on March 10. According to MSN.com, “Texas has recorded more than 2.3 million cases of COVID-19—with nearly 5000 new cases on Wednesday—and more than 43,500 fatalities since the start of the crisis…The state is averaging 297 deaths a day.”

I felt very young in the crowd of people there. The shot was just a little pin prick, overall painless and quick. With my booster follow-up scheduled in three weeks, I’m thankful to be able to return to the work force soon without fear and to take myself out of the unintentional spreader pool. Especially as Texas lifts the state-wide mask mandate next week on March 10. According to MSN.com, “Texas has recorded more than 2.3 million cases of COVID-19—with nearly 5000 new cases on Wednesday—and more than 43,500 fatalities since the start of the crisis…The state is averaging 297 deaths a day.”

Published by Crystal Byers

When I was young, my dad would always say, "Crystal, you can choose your attitude." One day I chose to believe him.

Published

51 thoughts on “I Am Not Throwing Away My Shot”

    1. I hadn’t put myself on a list just because I’m home most of the time and careful otherwise. I figured others need it worse and was shocked by the news over a text. I hope your time comes soon, Priscilla!

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  4. Congrats Crystal. We can finally start trying to book our first shot (booking dates by age) about March 20. 2nd doses will be 16 weeks later, so more people can get first doses and get protected sooner. I hear the 2nd shot has more discomfort. Stay well. Allan

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  5. Good for you, Crystal! I wondered how you were feeling with your governor lifting the mask mandates and opening everything up. Seems premature to me and I would expect the cases are only going to continue to rise in Texas. But I’m glad you won’t be one of them!

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  6. Thank you for sharing!!.. I too am home 99.999% of the time, so plan on getting vaccinated later when the vaccine becomes more plentiful and give those in need first.. I have communicated with the authorities but keep getting the “try again later” message… but I will get my shot… 🙂

    Have a wonderful day today and every day!!…

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    1. Awesome! Sounds like we are on the same rotation. I suppose I should be a little concerned that I have a health condition that qualified me, but I’m going to try to keep being the healthiest I can be. Good luck with your second dose!

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  11. Crystal, this is great news. I’m happy to hear about this. Yeah I have heard that the shot itself isn’t all that bad, but for some people later that night or the next day it’s quite sore.

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  13. Awesome Crystal. I am yet to get it, rank lower in the criteria for getting vaccinated both work wise and am not yet a senior ( although sometimes my knees feel like it 😁). And plus here in Australia the vaccine rollout has been slower than the US and the UK. But am happy to wait my turn.

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  14. Good for you, Crystal! I get my second should next Friday, and I am not throwing it away either. The parity from the musical Hamilton gave me a chuckle. Our governor decided that all teachers in our state would move to the front of the line this past February 22. He wants all of our schools back to face to face learning. I did not argue with the man, but rolled up my sleeve the first chance I got. 🎶 I am not throwing away my….shot. I am not throwing away my…shot. I’m not so young or a dummy that I wanna feel crummy. I am not throwing away my shot.🎶

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  17. Glad to read the only effect has been Advil-level pain, Crystal.

    I hadn’t heard that, though, about Round Two being fearsome. Then again, as the vaccine has been limited so far to seniors, frontline workers and those with health risks, my “turn” hasn’t come yet, and I’m not paying the vaccine much attention until my moment gets closer.

    Much as I regret using you as a guinea pig, well…I’m using you as a guinea pig. We’re roughly the same age, and thus, your experience may provide a clue of what I can expect.

    So far, most everyone I know who’s been vaccinated is of my mother’s generation. A colleague’s wife is our age, but as she’s a nurse, she got hers already. No ill affects, aside from temporary fatigue.

    Hoping for continued good news from your camp, not only because you’re a friend, but because you negotiating the vaccine successfully will make people our age 2 for 2, and that’s always good. Thus, best of luck, Crystal!

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    1. Thank you, Keith. I also wonder how much we know about this vaccine and the effectiveness. In comparison to what we know about COVID and in light of Texan lunacy, I’m okay with a little risk. Have a great week, my friend.

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  19. Yippee Crystal, so glad you were able to get a shot! I received my first dose a few days ago as an educator, we’re going back to in person teaching in about four weeks! I’m so excited. To our boosted immunities! C

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    1. I can’t believe it’s been an entire year of online teaching. My Texas teacher friends went back to school in the fall, but students had the option of online learning. What a mess! So happy to know you’re protected. To our boosted immunities!

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  20. Wonderful news! I am eligible for the shot, and I will be making plans to receive it soon. Our supply of vaccine is beginning to catch up to demand. Still wearing masks here in Ohio.

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  21. I got mine last Wednesday because as clergy in Indiana, we count as healthcare workers. Definitely on the young end, but I’ve got underlying health conditions which just got approved for the shot this week; so maybe I jumped ahead a little early but not unfairly. Hoping this will help return us to normal life and we can sue goodbye to masks.

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      1. I had mine last month and just waiting for the second. Here in the UK doing things a bit different. Get the first jab then you have to wait up to 12 weeks. Seems to be working. Millions have had the jab. All those covid non believers have mysteriously disappeared!

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    1. I had my second one a week ago. So many people couldn’t wait to tell me how bad it was going to be. Mine was better than the first. I took Advil before I went last time. The following day—not a bit sore.

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