Learning about the Coronavirus Vaccine and Keeping it Simple

In the beginning of the Corona pandemic, I wrote an article about how to boost
your immune system to help keep your body strong in this long battle, and to be
sure to wear your mask to protect you and others. After that I have not written
much about Corona, because I feel we need a break sometimes. It is scary, and
it has been almost a year, we are tired. However, this month is different! I want
to share with you my experience with the vaccine! It is important. I feel masks
are a no brainer and mandatory. I feel the shot is your choice. For me, it was
the right thing to do, and I want to share why and what I went through, incase it
helps you make the decision that is right for you and your family.

I am going to share facts and my personal experience. I am in group A because I
see over 300 patients a week. I have been exposed many times and fortunately
always tested negative. I am tested every week. My poor nose shakes every
time that long swap stick comes at me. I have a son with a heart condition, and
a mom who I care for that is 84 (sorry mom for exposing your age), I do not
want to ever be the one to bring it home to them. I was called 2 days ago to
receive the vaccine on New Years Eve. I am allergic to
shellfish and bees. For me, even though my anxiety was a little high, I said YES!
When I shared with others that I was getting the shot, their reactions were
mixed. Some were grateful that healthcare workers are coming forward and
making the world more comfortable by going first. Some told me I would get
“bells palsy,” grow a third eye, I got a lot of sarcastic – “good lucks.” To me, I
was offered a gift and I would not say no.

On New Years Eve, I showed up at the ShopRite in Byram. They took the old
Verizon store and made it a Covid center. I registered, filled out my paperwork,
and waited my turn. I was called to a back room, where a wonderful girl
listened to my fear of having an allergic reaction. If you are to have one it
happens in the first few minutes, 10 minutes you are not likely to have one, and
once an hour has passed you are golden. Please keep reading because I will
alleviate these fears later in the article. The shot was quick, and I was sent to
the observation area. I had my headphones to listen to a Stephen King novel on
my phone (I know, but it relaxed me). My heart started to pound out of my
chest, and I thought I was having a reaction. I put my timer on my phone for 5
minutes and felt if I could make 5 minutes, I was fine. Sure enough, my heart
rate slowed, and the time passed. It was just my anxiety of all the negative
people I listened too. After 20 minutes I felt great and went to the registration
desk to schedule my second shot for January 26, 2021. She looked at me as she
handed me my ticket and said, “you are Charlie, from Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory, you have the golden ticket to survive this.” I will never forget her
words and I am grateful to have the chance to get the vaccine. We prayed in
March for help, now we have it. Listen to the healthcare teams and their
positive roles in helping see light at the end of the tunnel. Instead of being
negative, say thank you. You do not have to get the shot, but be thankful for
those that are brave enough to step forward in such early stages to help the
world learn. I feel great. I never had any side effects. Not even a sore arm!

Now let us read the facts about the Moderna COVID-19 – 19 Vaccine:
**It is rare to have an allergic reaction to the vaccine. Those few that have,
mostly popped an antihistamine and were fine. (I had no allergic reaction with
both my allergies that I carry an epi-pen for.) Also, of the all the people that
have received the shot, only 6 (to date) had any reaction. I think it is every .001
in a million. There is always a trained staff with you.
** You must be 18 or older
**What are the risks of the Moderna vaccine – Injection site tenderness,
redness (I had none). You may feel fatigued, have a headache or a small fever
the next day (I had nothing)- it only means your body is working, it is not a bad
sign
**The Moderna vaccine does NOT cause you to get the coronavirus

**The ingredients to the Moderna shot are: messenger ribonucleic acid, lipids

polyethylene glycol 2000 dimyristory glycerol, cholesterol and 2-distearoyl-sn-
glycero-3-phosphocholin, tromethamine, tromethamine hydrochloride, acetic

acid, sodium acetate and sucrose. (No idea what most of this is, but now you
know what is in it)

** The first injection will NOT prevent corona. When you receive the second
injection 3 weeks later and give your body a week or two after, you are 95%
protected for the coronavirus. You will either not get corona or have a mild
reaction. The point Is for you and your loved ones not to die from this virus.
The choice, again, is what is right for you. For me, I am so thankful. I will put on
my website how my second shot goes (www.kara-boutyourbody.com).
I hope my story gives those with allergies the confidence you need to move
forward. Mom is next and my son after that. We need to work together. Trust
in science, but trust in all of us that have gone first.

How about some football, super bowl food:
Buffalo chicken celery sticks:
1 rotisserie chicken chopped
1⁄2 cup of hot sauce (like franks)
1 square of Kerry butter
1 tsp of Worcestershire sauce
1⁄4 tsp of ground cayenne
1⁄4 tsp of garlic salt
2 – 3 tbls of cream cheese
Celery stalks cut into 3, and scallions to top the stuffed sticks
Cook all ingredients except the cream cheese, chicken, celery and scallions, in a
pot till butter is melted and mixed. Add cream cheese and chicken and cook till
warm and mixed. Stuff the celery sticks and top with scallions.