Thread by @_Brian_Hunter

Had my winter Covid "Spikevax bivalent original/Omicron" booster yesterday, 16 hours ago.
This is my blog to help inform those worried about having the vaccine, amuse those easily amused and annoy those that follow the anti-vax cult.
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1. It hurt, did you know they push a hollow-tipped metal dagger into you?
Seriously, it was like a pinprick, nothing. I had the injection at a pharmacy booked via the NHS site. My only complaint was that I had to travel over 4 miles, when there ought to be nearer places.
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2. They were very efficient. On arrival (10 mins early) I was given an information leaflet and form to complete to say that I was not allergic to ingredients, pregnant or had any of the contra-indicators. Ticked "No" to all boxes and was good to go. 👇

3. There seemed to be a backlog of people waiting before me. Then the nurse helped out the elderly woman from the treatment room, she must have been in there for over 10 mins. They seemed to be very kind to her, taking time over whatever issue there had been.
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4. The nurse then checked for the next assigned victim/patient. Our forms were numbered to ensure we went in order of appointment time. Those in front of me were in and out in a minute each. It was my turn. Asked for my details (to check it was me). 👇

5. Asked the same questions as on the form to confirm I was eligible and then asked if I was driving (I was, see above complaint about the distance to the nearest centre) and told I would need to wait 15 mins before driving home. Shirt open, injected, and good to go (and wait).👇

6. I was allowed to sit in my car to wait the 15 mins. I read the leaflet, felt completely normal, drove home.
The leaflet tells you a lot about the vaccine and its effects. It contains RNA encoded to produce the spike protein embedded in nanoparticles... 👇

7. This seemed to confirm all those warnings the anti-vax cult like to highlight:
RNA is like DNA, are they reprogramming our genes?
Nanoparticles, just like the nano-bots in Red Dwarf and other science fiction programs.
some science follows: 👇

8. RNA: The key here is that it is used to get your cells to produce the spike protein. "One of the active processes controlled by RNA is protein synthesis, a universal function in which RNA molecules direct the synthesis of proteins on ribosomes."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA

9. The spike protein is the part of the virus that triggers an immune response in your body. In conventional vaccines, a method to grow the spike protein would be needed so that you could be injected with millions of them to generate the immune response. 👇

10. What is clever about this vaccine is that instead of having to build a factory to create lots of spike protein you are given RNA to cause you to produce the spike protein yourself. The RNA produces sufficient spike protein to generate the immune response then disappears. 👇

11. The immune response of your body is the same whether you are injected with spike protein, generate the spike protein yourself or if you catch covid.
The benefit of the vaccine over covid is that there is no risk of the serious illness that covid can cause.
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12. Side effects: Any injection you have could cause unwanted effects (as well as the wanted one).
These new vaccines have been used in millions of people worldwide, so the risks are becoming well understood. The leaflet outlines these.
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13. A reason not to be vaccinated is if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. If you have allergies, check the leaflet carefully, it lists the ingredients. If in doubt ask your doctor. The vast majority of us are not allergic to any of the commonly used ingredients.👇

14. Spike protein: This is what your body's immune system uses to identify the Covid virus as something to be destroyed. If you catch Covid, most people will have an immune response, it is then a battle between your immune system and the virus for who will win. 👇

15. In most people Covid will be destroyed by their immune system. Some people will die. Some people will survive but have a lot of damage leaving them with lasting illnesses. If you catch Covid, you may pass it on to those closest to you, they may die.👇

16. If you have the vaccine, your immune system has a jump-start on the virus, destroying it before it can overwhelm you. By lessening the amount of virus in your system you are less likely to be ill and less likely to pass Covid on to someone else. 👇

17. But what about those nanoparticles, won't they travel all over my body changing things?
Nano is a prefix meaning "extremely small". 'Small' is a good thing when you are being injected. They are only there to protect and deliver the RNA. 👇
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanoparti…

18. What follows is my ongoing experience.
Day1: I have a sore arm where I was injected.
The likelihood that you will have this side effect is high.
Solution: Take to your bed, tell work you cannot drive, drink lots of fluids, and eat food easy to swallow such as ice cream.

19. 26 hours since my Covid booster, a bit achy and tired and my arm is still sore where injected. I looked through the other possible side effect symptoms, but none so far.

20. Day2. 41 hours since injection.
All back to normal but with protection from the worst Covid can do.

#GetVaccinated