Filipino-American nurse Joy Cuadra-Bird, a COVID-19 survivor, had her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Dec. 29 at the rehabilitation and sub-acute center in New Jersey, USA, where she works.
She shared her thoughts about the vaccine in an interview with Negros Now Daily/Negros Weekly.
1) What made you decide to take the COVID vaccine?
Two weeks ago, we were informed at work that the COVID-19 vaccine will be made available for us healthcare providers. Consent and decline forms were distributed. It took me two days to fill out my consent form.
I was trying to find out what vaccine will be given to us. There are some moral issues concerning vaccine production here in the US, that I just want to make sure I will have the vaccine that is morally acceptable to my faith.
Although not significantly of great number, COVID reinfections are happening and I don’t want that to happen it to me. Our work as healthcare providers put us in greater risk to be infected and reinfected, this is why I decided to take the vaccine.
2) As COVID survivor, what are your thoughts about immunity from the virus?
I thought at first that having had the COVID virus would make me immune to it, then I read about reinfections. A medical claim stated the COVID antibodies last at least six month (Rachel Schraer, BBC.com 11/20/2020), but the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is saying that “…experts do not know how long someone is protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19.
The immunity someone gains from having an infection, called natural immunity, varies from person to person. Some early evidence suggests natural immunity may not last very long.” (CDC, Facts about Vaccination, 12/20/2020)
3) How did you feel after getting the vaccine?
On the day of vaccination, I feel fine, as most of nurses and therapist who took it that day (Dec. 29). The next day, I felt soreness on the injection site which was minor.
As of this writing, a fellow nurse told me she felt palpitations and itchiness hours after the injection, and on the next day, her whole body is sore, is having sore throat and coughing. Another nurse is having flu-like symptoms. I was told that these side effects are to be expected and that they usually go the next day.
This vaccine was made considering the benefits are larger than the risks, and I pray to God this will work
4) What vaccine did you have?
I received the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The second dose will be in 21 days, on January 19, 2021.
5) How’s the COVID case in New Jersey? Is it declining?
Per CDC’s data total case is 512,631 with 18,777 deaths (as of Dec. 30). Based on CDC chart, there are days it is spiking and days when it’s down. It all depends on how many people go for testing.
6) What are your thoughts about the new variant of COVID?
The news here said they are more contagious but not as deadly. But nobody really knows. So I do not really know myself. But we will be ready for it. — NAB
