As mentioned in our previous Notedd issues, we wanted offer the opportunity to share our Tribe’s journey with vaccines. Thus, we created this forum for our community where we can learn from our own community.
Please see below responses from the tribe on their experience with the vaccine including, but not limited to, how many doses they received, their symptoms, how long they experienced their symptoms, and recommendations.
If you would like to share, feel free to either use this link to complete the survey and we’ll post your information in this thread.
We hope this will combat some of the associated stigmas and at least provide more information.
First dose symptoms: Nausea, Sore arm, Fatigue/tiredness, General feeling of being unwell, Headache
Second dose symptoms: No side effects
Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 4-6 days
Recommendations/suggestions: My first shot was the worst. I felt really bad, and it came in waves a few days after the shot. I felt really tired at first. Then I had a migraine, that seemed to go away after rest and limited screen time. I also felt nauseous for 4 days.
My second shot I had no symptoms, my arm was sore but not like the first time. I did things differently to prepare for the second shot. I took vitamin c the whole month after getting my first shot. The day of my second shot, I drank lots of water. I drank Gatorade after my second shot. I kept crackers around since I had nausea the first one. I drank a lot of Gatorade for about a week after my shot. That seemed to help because I felt fine. Stay HYDRATED!
Second dose symptoms: Headache, General feeling of being unwell, Chills, Sore arm, Nausea, Fatigue/tiredness
Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 24-48 hours
Recommendations/suggestions: Give your body room to process the vaccine and any potential side effects. Clear your schedule, if you can. Listen to your body and take extra care of yourself.
First dose symptoms: Fatigue/tiredness, Pain at the injection site
Second dose symptoms: Pain at the injection site, Difficulty sleeping, Chills, Fatigue/tiredness
Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 12-24 hours
Recommendations/suggestions: Move your arm in a circular motion to help with the pain at the injection site. Be proactive and take Tylenol before the symptoms hit.
First dose symptoms: Fatigue/tiredness, Sore arm, Headache, General feeling of being unwell Second dose symptoms: Headache, Fatigue/tiredness, General feeling of being unwell, Sore arm Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 12-24 hours
Recommendations/suggestions: Hydration seems to be key. I did not hydrate well, and had a couple glasses of wine the night before my first shot and I felt more generally unwell, though overall not terrible. I hydrated well, including making sure to have Gatorade or something with electrolytes in addition to plain water and I was lethargic for about 12 hours and had a headache but nothing debilitating. Also of note, though I was lethargic after my second shot, but I have insomnia and wasn’t able to sleep much the night before so it’s very possible that it had nothing to do with the shot.
Age: 25 to 34
Location: Georgia
Vaccine: Pfizer
How many doses? Both
Overall experience: 5 out of 5
First dose symptoms: Redness/rash at injection site, Pain at the injection site, Sore arm, Fatigue/tiredness, Itching at injection site
Second dose symptoms: Itching at injection site, Pain at the injection site, Swelling in/of the arm, Allergic reaction, Fatigue/tiredness
Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 24-48 hours
Recommendations/suggestions: Painless injection. Get it done.
Age: 35 to 44
Location: New York
Vaccine: Pfizer
How many doses? Both
Overall experience: 4 out of 5
First dose symptoms: Sore arm, Fatigue/tiredness
Second dose symptoms: Headache, Fatigue/tiredness, General feeling of being unwell, Coughing, Sore arm, Whole body hurt for a day!!
Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 6-12 hours
Recommendations/suggestions: My side effects from the 2nd dose came 10 days after when my husband got his 2nd dose. It was weird.
Age: 25 to 34
Location: Virginia
Vaccine: Moderna
How many doses? Both
Overall experience: 3 out of 5
First dose symptoms: Nausea, Sore arm, Fatigue/tiredness, General feeling of being unwell, Headache
Second dose symptoms: No side effects
Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 4-6 days
Recommendations/suggestions: My first shot was the worst. I felt really bad, and it came in waves a few days after the shot. I felt really tired at first. Then I had a migraine, that seemed to go away after rest and limited screen time. I also felt nauseous for 4 days.
My second shot I had no symptoms, my arm was sore but not like the first time. I did things differently to prepare for the second shot. I took vitamin c the whole month after getting my first shot. The day of my second shot, I drank lots of water. I drank Gatorade after my second shot. I kept crackers around since I had nausea the first one. I drank a lot of Gatorade for about a week after my shot. That seemed to help because I felt fine. Stay HYDRATED!
Age: 25 to 34
Location: Virginia
Vaccine: Moderna
How many doses? Both
Overall experience: 3 out of 5
First dose symptoms: Headache, Nausea, Sore arm, General feeling of being unwell, Fatigue/tiredness
Second dose symptoms: No side effects
Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 4-6 days
Recommendations/suggestions: N/A
Age: 25 to 34
Location: Virginia
Vaccine: Moderna
How many doses? Both
Overall experience: 5 out of 5
First dose symptoms: Fatigue/tiredness
Second dose symptoms: Headache, General feeling of being unwell, Chills, Sore arm, Nausea, Fatigue/tiredness
Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 24-48 hours
Recommendations/suggestions: Give your body room to process the vaccine and any potential side effects. Clear your schedule, if you can. Listen to your body and take extra care of yourself.
Age: 25 to 34
Location: California
Vaccine: Moderna
How many doses? First dose
Overall experience: 4 out of 5
First dose symptoms: Sore arm, Redness/rash at injection site, Pain at the injection site
Second dose symptoms: N/A; Haven't received my second dose
Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 4-6 days
Recommendations/suggestions: N/A
Age: 25 to 34
Location: Maryland
Vaccine: Pfizer
How many doses? Both
Overall experience: 5 out of 5
First dose symptoms: Fatigue/tiredness, Swelling in/of the arm
Second dose symptoms: Pain at the injection site, Itching at injection site
Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 12-24 hours
Recommendations/suggestions: Definitely recommend a protein shake and Tylenol before your doses. Take the time off if you can to get some rest.
Age: 25 to 34
Location: Georgia
Vaccine: Pfizer
How many doses? First dose
Overall experience: 5 out of 5
First dose symptoms: Sore arm, Fatigue/tiredness
Second dose symptoms: N/A; Haven't received my second dose
Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 12-24 hours
Recommendations/suggestions: Take a pain killer before and make sure you eat a good meal before!
Age: 25 to 34
Location: Indiana
Vaccine: Pfizer
How many doses? Second dose
Overall experience: 5 out of 5
First dose symptoms: Itching at injection site, Pain at the injection site, Sore arm
Second dose symptoms: Fatigue/tiredness, Pain at the injection site
Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 12-24 hours
Recommendations/suggestions: N/A
Age: 25 to 34
Location: Georgia
Vaccine: Pfizer
How many doses? Both
Overall experience: 5 out of 5
First dose symptoms: Pain at the injection site, Sore arm
Second dose symptoms: Fatigue/tiredness, Sore arm
Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 12-24 hours
Recommendations/suggestions: N/A
Age: 25 to 34
Location: Georgia
Vaccine: Pfizer
How many doses? Both
Overall experience: 5 out of 5
First dose symptoms: Sore arm
Second dose symptoms: No side effects
Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 48-36 hours
Recommendations/suggestions: N/A
Age: 25 to 34
Location: Michigan
Vaccine: Pfizer
How many doses? First dose
Overall experience: 5 out of 5
First dose symptoms: Sore arm
Second dose symptoms: N/A; Haven't received my second dose
Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 24-48 hours
Recommendations/suggestions: N/A
Age: 25 to 34
Location: Georgia
Vaccine: Pfizer
How many doses? Both
Overall experience: 4 out of 5
First dose symptoms: Fatigue/tiredness, Pain at the injection site
Second dose symptoms: Pain at the injection site, Difficulty sleeping, Chills, Fatigue/tiredness
Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 12-24 hours
Recommendations/suggestions: Move your arm in a circular motion to help with the pain at the injection site. Be proactive and take Tylenol before the symptoms hit.
Age: 25 to 34
Location: Pennsylvania
Vaccine: Moderna
How many doses? Both
Overall experience: 4 out of 5
First dose symptoms: Fatigue/tiredness, Sore arm, Headache, General feeling of being unwell Second dose symptoms: Headache, Fatigue/tiredness, General feeling of being unwell, Sore arm Overall how long did you experience your symptoms? 12-24 hours
Recommendations/suggestions: Hydration seems to be key. I did not hydrate well, and had a couple glasses of wine the night before my first shot and I felt more generally unwell, though overall not terrible. I hydrated well, including making sure to have Gatorade or something with electrolytes in addition to plain water and I was lethargic for about 12 hours and had a headache but nothing debilitating. Also of note, though I was lethargic after my second shot, but I have insomnia and wasn’t able to sleep much the night before so it’s very possible that it had nothing to do with the shot.