As vaccine rollout increases across the state of North Carolina, student workers now qualify to get vaccinated. I recently received the Moderna vaccine and had a weekend of muscle aches, exhaustion, and a lost voice. The second dose of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, as well as the single dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, often reports intestinal symptoms, so self-care is a must for those receiving the shot.
Unluckily, this past weekend was also daylight savings time, resulting in a lost hour of sleep for my already tired body. This made napping a necessity, though I think either way I would have slept throughout the day. To take care of yourself, I would recommend doing work in advance and giving yourself a day or two of relaxation without the stress of impending deadlines, if possible. I wore sweatpants or pajamas for the day, did a face mask, and watched Ginny and Georgia on Netflix. My sore throat was soothed by tea, my favorite being Lavender Chamomile, which helped with everything except for my lost voice. Because of my exhaustion, I ate a lot of meals at home and would encourage everyone to stock up on snacks and ready-made meals. Ibuprofen (or Tylenol) and hydration are also a necessity since my arm was incredibly sore. This made staying tucked into bed incredibly desirable, though going for walks and moving your arm around helps to relieve and prevent pain.
Use the vaccination as an excuse to relax, read the book that’s been sitting by your nightstand, watch Netflix’s new series, and catch up on sleep. While I would have loved to have my mom take care of me while I was feeling sick, I am so grateful for North Carolina’s quick rollout of vaccinations!