Conant staff members share their COVID-19 vaccine experience

Getting vaccinated from COVID-19 has multiple long term benefits, however the short term side effects have left many people, including members of Conant staff, feeling temporarily unwell. To provide more insight into what receiving a COVID-19 vaccine may entail, the Crier interviewed members of Conant staff who have been vaccinated on their experiences.

“My only symptom was a sore arm at the injection site,” said math teacher Kathryn Sagerer about receiving the first dose of the Moderna vaccine. English teacher Katherine Apperson experienced the same side effect after receiving the Moderna vaccine. 

While the symptoms after receiving the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine seem mild, most recipients feel the effects of the vaccine after their second dose. 

After receiving the second dose of the Moderna vaccine, wellness education teacher Amanda Schweinebraten said “It felt like I had the real flu: high fever, chills, body aches, nausea, and headache.”

However, the side effects of a second dose generally tend to subside in a couple of days. “I got a fever, chills, headache, fatigue, and general achiness. The next day, the symptoms were completely gone and I felt great,” special education teachers assistant Joseph Klein said. He also received the Moderna vaccine.

Sagerer said, “My arm was sore. It hurt worse than after the first dose. I also had a headache for 2 days. I had a fever and chills after about 24 hours. However, those only lasted for a couple of hours.”

Due to the more severe side effects of the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, some people have seen an interference in their daily tasks. 

“I felt fine the morning after,” Klein said, “but midway through third period, it hit me like a truck and I had to go home and rest.” 

Schweinebraten said, “I was unable to come into school and teach after receiving the second dose.”

Considering that the COVID-19 vaccine affects everyone differently, receiving the vaccine had little to no effect on some recipients. 

Apperson said, “Fortunately, I had no side effects whatsoever, not even a sore arm,” after receiving the second dose of the Moderna vaccine. “No daily tasks were impeded.”

Despite the side effects some recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine experience, Conant staff members are grateful to have received it. 

“It was a very painless experience overall,” Apperson told the Crier.

Klien said, “It was weird, but worth it!”

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