NaPoBloMo? (And Covid vaccines for kids)

I have been flirting with the idea of participating in NaPoBloMo. I was going to wait a week to actually say that out loud (you know what I mean), but already I’m struggling to think of what to write. None of this bodes well for my NaPoBloMo attempt, but who cares, you know? This is as low stakes as it gets, and I’m here for it.

My husband just texted me about kid vaccines. Evidently Walgreens had appointments open last night but now they are all filled. But I had heard there was a glitch in the appointment page (it asked for an authorization code that no one had), and when I just tried I hit that glitch (but the supposed “fix” didn’t work for me). I am SO HAPPY that vaccines have been approved for kids 5-11 years old and I am VERY EAGER to get my kids vaccinated. I also hope to avoid the desperation I felt when I was trying to get vaccinated in February.

There was such an atmosphere of scarcity around it when I was trying to get a shot, but in the end it worked out. The news cycle definitely contribute to the feeling of scarcity. And they are doing it again. Almost every article I’ve read about Covid vaccines being approved for kids 5-11 have included the caveat “but they may be hard to get.” It all just feels so unnecessary. My kids will eventually get vaccinated and I will be so happy when that happens. But I refuse to whip myself into a frenzy in the weeks before we get appointments. We aren’t traveling anywhere for the holidays. We don’t have to make hard choices about whether or not to see unvaccinated family, as we have none in the area. Mask mandates aren’t going to be lifted in schools before the new year. Their vaccination won’t change anything for us in the next two months. I am lucky that I don’t have to feel stress about when they get their shots, and I’m going to embrace that.

Instead I’ll celebrate that I’m 3/3 on my NaPoBloMo 2021 attempt. Ha! What a low, low bar. 😀

Are you chasing Covid vaccines for your kids? Or a booster* for yourself?

*I have not pursued my own booster yet, though it has been offered to me as a teacher.

6 Comments

  1. I haven’t heard a word about the shots being hard to get here, and Colorado has vans going all around the state doing clinics for the different communities. I’m actually pretty nervous about my kids getting the shot, but I think I’m signing them up for the 13th when the vaccine bus is in town. Then their 2nd shot would be done 2 weeks before we go to Mexico for Christmas like usual. Ugh, I fucking hate COVID.

    PS, I hope you do NaPoBloMo!

  2. I got the Pfizer booster as soon as I qualified (as a teacher), so a little more than a month ago. Zero side effects but I also didn’t have any for the first two. My state has a school mask mandate but I’m around unmasked kids this year (due to the population I teach) so I wanted it as soon as I could get it. I was SO glad I could easily make an appt at a pharmacy, instead of the craziness of last spring.

  3. I got a Moderna booster because I got J&J. I had side effects, as I did the first time — fever and headache. I keep on hearing about people who don’t qualify for boosters getting them and I find it confusing. Even if there isn’t a scarcity now, I’m not sure what they are boosting against. Shouldn’t they wait until their immunity actually wanes before getting a booster? I signed my age-eligible child up for a vaccine next week. I hope he doesn’t feel as awful as I did after my shots.

  4. We have lots of open drugstore slots – wonder if it has to do with more hesitancy in the area (south FL). I booked appts for Saturday for my 2 big ones (littlest not even 4 yet, so nothing for her).

  5. I hope you get the booster as soon as you hit the 6 month time mark. Because even post vaccine covid is not a good plan AT ALL.
    My booster was easy and no major side effects beyond slightly sore arm. Went to the grocery store (masked) at 8:s0 which was a HUGE change from only going at 7am to avoid many shoppers being in store.
    I agree, stressing over appointments is not good, none of us needs additional stress but I hope all the 5-11 year olds get shots as soon as they can. The idea of a child on a ventilator. … Now it can be prevented.
    I do hope you are able to write each day ~~ because it is always a treat to hear from you. I’d be interested in how your school has changed from 2 years ago, and if the students are different from then too. Also what your children think of being at new schools, what is different and what they like better and what they don’t. What was biggest surprise returning to in person? How is their commute/independence going? I always appreciate hearing from you.
    THANK YOU!!!

  6. Yes, I was chasing the booster shot. It was challenging to find a place giving the Moderna booster since it’s a half dose. Or at least it’s supposed to be….last Friday my husband and I went to our appointments…and they gave me the full dose much to my dismay. He would have been thrilled with it, but I have had such a horrific reaction to the shots I was not happy. And in fact, here is is Wednesday and I haven’t eaten since Thursday, and the headache is so bad I count the minutes until work is done and I can close my eyes. But at least I didn’t spent 4 days puking this time so I guess it’s progress.

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