COVID-19 Vaccination Resources By Hire Dynamics CATEGORY: Blog POSTED: May 14, 2021 COVID-19 Vaccination Resources Now that every adult in the country over the age of 16 is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, we thought we’d put together a bit of a step-by-step explanation of their safety, effectiveness, what kind of side-effects you might experience after your shot, how to find a place to get one, and how to find transportation to your vaccine appointment. Vaccine safety There’s a ton of incorrect information out there about how safe having one of the COVID-19 vaccines is. Bottom line: the vaccines ARE safe! From the non-partisan, non-political Mayo Clinic, a globally trusted non-profit organization that researches medicines and medical conditions: Mayo Clinic experts agree: You should get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it’s available to you. COVID-19 cases are still widespread and shifting, and the vaccines …. have been approved for safe use. COVID-19 vaccines are one of our best opportunities to get this pandemic under control. From what we know from trials involving tens of thousands of volunteers, if you are exposed to the COVID-19 virus, these vaccines can prevent you from getting the infection. That includes severe infections that can send you to the hospital. Vaccine effectiveness is incredibly incredible While no vaccine can completely prevent you from getting COVID-19, the ones approved for emergency use by the FDA in the United States are highly effective at preventing you from getting COVID. They also are even better at making sure that if you do get COVID, it will be a mild case: you likely won’t become so sick that you will have to be hospitalized and/or die. But if you get it? You may not even know it: you may have no symptoms at all. Or you will come down with a case that is mild to moderate. But remember the bottom line: getting a jab with a COVID-19 vaccine means you have a very slim chance of being so sick with COVID that you need to be hospitalized or that you will die. Possible side effects from getting the shots The truth is that you could feel some discomfort in the hours after getting a shot. Most people – and we mean MOST people – report just being a bit sore at the injection site and perhaps some fatigue for a few hours after getting a first jab of the Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. (The J&J vaccine requires just one dose; the other two require two shots to be given to you three or four weeks after your first shot). The second shot may see you experiencing a stronger reaction, even a high fever, chills, body ache, etc. We cannot emphasize this enough: this is not a sign that you have COVID. It’s a sign that the vaccine has “awakened” your immune system and it will fight back against the COVID-19 virus should it enter your body. “It’s an indication that your body is revved up, prepared to do battle against what it thinks is a foreign invader.” (We highly recommend you click the link above and read about the potential reactions you may experience after getting the vaccines.) And don’t worry: not everyone has these reactions and it’s not a sign that the vaccine isn’t working if you don’t experience them. You WILL be protected! How to find a vaccination location Hospitals, doctors’ offices, healthcare clinics, pharmacies and even pop-up mass vaccination sites are open all over the country. Vaccines are plentiful right now and you should be able to find a location near you easily and get an appointment quickly. Hire Dynamics has offices in several states and so we can’t give you detailed information as to how to find a vaccination location closest to you. Instead, we recommend checking out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vaccine Finder tool to find a site near you. Finding a vaccine location when you don’t have internet If you’re reading this, you have access to the internet. Yet, we know that not everyone does. So if you have a friend or family member without access (or if you don’t feel comfortable signing up for a shot online), we recommend that you call your local hospital system, pharmacist or even your family doctor for information on where you can get a vaccination and how you can call for an appointment. (Note: while it was hard to sign up for vaccinations via phone earlier this year, that’s no longer the case. Now that vaccines are plentiful and many, many, MANY places are offering them, you should be able to make an appointment by phone quickly and easily.) How to get to your appointment if you don’t drive The rideshare service Lyft is offering rides to vaccination appointments. People can pay for the ride themselves, but the service also has been asking large non-profit organizations across the country to help fund rides for people of limited income. Individuals also can contribute to a Lyft fund to help pay for rides to appointments. If you’re a senior (or know one), call your local senior center for information on rides. You also can call your doctor, hospital, pharmacy, etc., for information on organizations that are providing rides to vaccination appointments. Let others know where the shots are in your area If you’ve found a pharmacy, clinic or mass vaccination location near you and want to share the information, contact the Hire Dynamics branch nearest you and we’ll be sure to let our employees and candidates know about it. By the way, job opportunities are really hopping at our branch offices now! Take a look at our current openings and if anything appeals to you, follow the application directions and/or contact your nearest Hire Dynamics office for more information. Good luck with your vaccinations AND your job search!
