{"id":3642,"date":"2021-02-09T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/?p=3642"},"modified":"2021-02-10T09:07:21","modified_gmt":"2021-02-10T15:07:21","slug":"what-to-know-about-the-covid-19-vaccine-from-a-personal-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/index.php\/2021\/02\/09\/what-to-know-about-the-covid-19-vaccine-from-a-personal-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"What to know about the COVID-19 vaccine from a personal experience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
A line forms outside the UTRGV Clinical Education Building in Harlingen on Jan. 27, 2020 as some members of the campus community await their dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. JUSTIN ELIZALDE\/VAQUERO RADIO<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It was Dec. 22 and I heard the familiar chime of Outlook letting me know I had an email. I should add that I receive a lot of emails throughout the day — but this one was different. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an email informing UTRGV faculty, staff and student employees that COVID-19 vaccinations were going to begin to be offered to those with certain medical conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An audible sigh of relief came out because in my mind, this was going to be the final level in the Jumanji-like year we had just endured. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phase 1B of the Texas COVID-19 distribution allowed people like me, with conditions such as autoimmune diseases and Type 2 diabetes, to register. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I received my first dose of the Moderna vaccine on Dec. 29 and became fully vaccinated on Jan. 27.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Though the vaccine is not the be-all-end-all, it has allowed me to breathe a little easier, pardon the pun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Centers for Disease Control website<\/strong><\/a>, the Moderna vaccine is a mRNA vaccine which is unlike traditional vaccination methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The website says a traditional vaccine uses a weakened strain of the virus to trigger an immune response. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CDC says an mRNA vaccine teaches the body how to create a harmless spike protein, similar to one found on the surface of the COVID-19 virus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once our body realizes the spike shouldn\u2019t be there, it creates antibodies to fight against the virus, just like would happen naturally for a person who was infected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vaccine is given by an injection into the upper arm muscle and can cause some pain and discomfort for some as it did to me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My first dose was received without any side effects other than some soreness. However, by my second dose, I did develop a slight fever and muscle aches, which are common side effects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the friends and family that asked me about my vaccine, I continue to say it\u2019s my part of contribution to society and moving forward. For me, contracting the virus outweighed the side effects . <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To those who still worry about receiving their vaccine, I offer this advice. Speak with your family medical providers or research through credible sources. Knowledge is power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an email update from UT Health RGV on Jan. 29, over 3,000 people have been fully vaccinated and more than 4,000 have received their first dose of the vaccine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, more than 55,000 remain registered for the vaccine as a limited supply of vaccines from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) make their way to the Rio Grande Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are interested in when and where the next vaccination will be, visit the DSHS\u2019s website<\/strong><\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Vaquero News, I\u2019m Justin Elizalde.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twitter: <\/em>@justinjelizalde<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It was Dec. 22 and I heard the familiar chime of Outlook letting me know I had an<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":3652,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-radio"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat to know about the COVID-19 vaccine from a personal experience - The Valley's Student Station<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/index.php\/2021\/02\/09\/what-to-know-about-the-covid-19-vaccine-from-a-personal-experience\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What to know about the COVID-19 vaccine from a personal experience - 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