“ON THE first week of January 2021, my workplace, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation-California Institution for Women (CDCR-CIW) offered immunization to all hospital workers. On January 4, 2021, I received my first dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccination.” Thus says, my younger sister, Charmaine L. Sales CF RN.
Two types of COVID-19 vaccination are under Emergency Use Authorizations by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the USA.
In a related vein, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued interim recommendations for the use of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to prevent COVID-19 in the US.
According to Nurse Sales as she is fondly called by women inmates, and who has served CIW for nearly 15 years, “This is a very historic moment. Introducing the vaccine to help control and hopefully stop the COVID-19 pandemic is a page turner in the annals of history.”
Based on study and research, both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are 93-94% effective. According to Moderna’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, the vaccine has shown an efficacy of 94.1 percent. This vaccine is for people 18 and older. The vaccination requires two injections given 28 days apart.
Nurse Sales said that health care providers especially nurses, doctors, laboratory technicians, and first responders which include paramedics, police officers, custody officers, firefighters, and medical staff are the first recipients of this historic vaccination in the US.
Among her fellow frontline registered nurses obtaining the COVID-19 vaccine shots were colleagues at the State Prison and fellow Filipino nurse-friends all over the USA and even in Canada.
Meanwhile, my high school classmate, Nurse Mercedes S. Batoon of Virginia, USA, received her Pfizer jabs on Dec. 22, 2020 and Jan. 12, 2021, respectively.
Another high school classmate, Frontliner Marichu Salvacion, a citizen of Canada for over thirty years, received her first Pfizer vaccine shot on Dec. 27, 2020 with the second shot to follow this month – January 2021.
According to Nurse Sales, there are very mild reactions and side effects. “We understand that this is a new vaccine so there’s still continuing study and research on vaccine recipients like me. Profile or vaccine recipient information is required and basic medical questions especially on any drug allergy, health diagnosis, and current medication are noted”, she added.
Charmaine further explained that a Card is issued reflecting the actual date that you received your first dose – in her case Moderna. Moderna vaccine information and CDC updates and guidelines are provided through a scan link that one can use via a smartphone. It will connect to a V-safe CDC.
After signing up with the website, you will receive a text message with a list of questions daily. Questions range from one’s condition and a list of symptoms, Nurse Sales further said. “It’s important to sign in so you can be monitored”, she underscored.
On vaccine skepticism, Nurse Sales has this to say: “I understand a lot of people don’t trust, entertain doubts, are very skeptical, and worst, won’t even receive the vaccine. It’s a very personal decision. But I have no doubt about it. It will save precious lives. That is our battle cry. We should not forget what we are fighting against!”
The fight for COVID-19 is not over yet. It still rages on. We are hopeful that the vaccine will help stop millions of deaths from here onwards, Charmaine concluded.
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Tomorrow, Saturday, and on Monday, I will provide another round of interactive lecture on Police Media Relations for senior police officers coming from Region 12 with a few coming from Region 11.
I look forward to another engaging experience with my participants.
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I am still heard on Kwentas Klaras over Radio Station DYTR-Ang Tingog sa Bohol every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 9:00-10:00 in the morning.
This is another platform for my advocacy and views as a communicator, woman advocate, and involved citizen of the republic.
If my views on Kwentas Klaras and Woman Lens differ from yours, you can only grin or frown and bear it! Thinking differently has always been my cup of tea, so to speak.
I couldn’t say that it has helped me quite well on several phases of my exciting life haha, but it has certainly fueled my convictions! I can’t help but smile about the confrontations I bore in the past just because I think differently. Well, that’s just how it is!
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Writer can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN
