Getting Shots in Arms

Three ‘Contributor’ vendors talk about their experience getting vaccinated against COVID-19

Paul A.

What do you think about your vaccine experience?

I think it was excellent. I think it was something everybody needs to do. It don’t take long to do it. Just a little bit of paperwork, and you’re done! Nobody should go without the shot. Nobody. The more people get the shots, get vaccinated, the sooner the city can reopen to full capacity. That’s how I feel. How anybody else feels, I don’t know.

Can you walk through what it was like to get your shot at Music City Center?

It was a trip. Yea, you had to come in. Yea, you had to get tested for your temperature. They directed you to the right areas where you had to go. I thought that that was good for the most part. Just go online, make an appointment, get in there, get it done. It only takes 15 minutes. You have to sit 15 minutes to make sure you don’t have no reaction. Take that half hour, do it. Get it done. Because the more people, the better the city’s going to be.

Did it hurt your arm?

I didn’t even feel it. Nothing compared to giving plasma. You heard me say, “when are you going to do it?”

You mentioned how you never thought you’d see something like this in your lifetime.

I never thought I’d see anything like this in my lifetime. I never even imagined it in my lifetime.

What’s next for Paul today?

Paul is going to get a cup of coffee. Paul is going to go to work.

Teresa S.

How did you go about getting the vaccine?

Well, a friend of mine had gotten hers at Walmart. And she said, she just happened to be there and the pharmacist had a couple left over. But she was saying that they said that it was free. And she said I needed to go online and do it so I did and then I went online, but it said something like do you have medicare, insurance, but if not, don’t worry about it because it’s still free. Because I’m high risk with my COPD, it said to have a letter just stating that just in case they ask for it.

So I went there and at first they [told] me no, because I didn’t have any kind of insurance. And I was like, ‘hold up that’s not what that website said.’ It said you didn’t have to have insurance. ‘Well, that’s the only way Walmart can get paid, you know, from the government or whatever.’ I said, ‘oh, no, that’s not what your website said.’ So they kept me there for over an hour.

And then finally, I got up because I thought well, sitting here for over an hour, that’s more than patient, without them saying a word to me. So I went to go and she said ‘ma’am, they’ll be right with you.’ They went ahead and gave me my shot, they didn’t say anything. Went ahead and made me my appointment for my booster.

Did you ever find out what happened with the insurance question?

No ma’am. They didn’t say anything just told me to have a seat. I did give them my driver’s license. And I said ‘well here’s my card for indigent insurance that I have at Meharry.’ And I give them that. You have to sign this piece of paper saying the reasoning that you’re eligible for the shot.

What was the experience like following getting the vaccine?

My arm was so sore. I’ve been sleepy for a couple days, kinda. But really nothing bad. My feel good didn’t feel good, but that’s kinda [normal] sometimes for me. I was a little bit tireder than normal. Things kinda hit me a little harder than they do the average joe anyway anymore. I’m used to it.

What motivated you to go and find a vaccine to get?

I’ve been wanting to get it. I have this nephew. Well I call him my nephew because his mom and I have been friends since we were 12 and 13 — a sister that fate dealt me. He’s a neuropathologist and he said everybody needs to get that shot. He’s been doing some studying on it and researching it himself.

So this is someone you trust.

Yes, it was OK, because I’ve heard from some people — there’s this guy that rides the bus with us, he’s a real big advocate for the veterans. He was talking the other day, he said, ‘no, I’m not getting it, there’s too many side-effects.’ And I said ‘that’s not what my nephew said.’ He said, ‘well I’m the type, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I got tested two times and both times it was negative.’And I said, what about that third time, whenever you test positive? But then I left it alone.

Anything else you want to add?

I think everyone ought to get vaccinated. Once they got me over there and [gave] me my shot and all, everything went smooth. It’s not as bad as you think it would be. Even the scaredy cats that are afraid of shots, it’s not that bad.

Roger S.

Where did you go to get your vaccine?

I went up there to Inglewood Neighborhood Health.

Did someone make an appointment for you?

No, I did it myself. I called and I told them that’s what it wanted. It comes up on your phone, that’s how I got it. It’s (615)227-3000. It’s Inglewood Clinic, but it’s in East Nashville on South 8th. On Main Street, they got another one.

What happened when you got there?

When I got there they took me through some paperwork. When they gave me a shot they told me to wait 15 minutes, which I was going to do that anyway. I was spooked about it because I got a steel plate in my head. I got different things. I was scared it was gonna make me feel bad or something. She said I might have a little aching in my body, and feel like a temperature. And I did have a temperature in my head.

I gotta go back April 20.

So at first you were apprehensive but how do you feel about it now?

‘Long as every day is like this day, I say, everything will be OK.

Do you have anything else you want to add about the vaccine?

You got freedom of choices in your life because sometimes you don’t want to hear what people say.