#and while you're getting your yearly flu shot

[sweaterkittensahoy]

Remember: Boosters give you a better chance of have very mild symptoms, or asymptomatic, or just not sick! Same reasons you want a flu shot!

Which reminds me: Get a flu shot! But not the same day as your booster or your pneumonia shot! ("Gayle did you--" "Yes. Don't.")

CDC finally fuckin' recommended the new COVID boosters for everyone in the US. letting my american followers who don't check the news know because i've been turned away for wanting to get an extra booster & now won't be anymore & it's Lovely. most americans are not going to get these and are going to grumble about them, which sucks as far as spread goes - but DOES mean u can schedule with ur local pharmacy sooner rather than later. please do so. ur immunocomprised friends and ur own body will thank u.

[osaemu]

GOJO SATORU: CALL ME CARDIAC ARREST THE WAY I STOPPED YOUR HEART!

✩ ‧ ˚. synopsis: by the end of your checkup, you're seriously considering going out with your doctor.

contents: gn!reader. non-descriptive medical themes (you get a flu shot).

doctor!gojo who's your favorite part of your bi-yearly checkups at your local hospital.

doctor!gojo who swings open the door to your checkup room the very second you finish changing into the robe given to you by his assistant. he shoots a cheeky smile at you before sitting down behind his computer, spreading his legs just enough for it to draw your attention.

doctor!gojo who asks how his favorite patient's doing and pauses his review of your file to listen. his clear blue eyes focus on you intently as you speak, and he smiles when you stumble over your words due to the eye contact.

doctor!gojo who raises an eyebrow in mock disapproval when you admit that you haven't gotten your flu shot this year. he sighs dramatically and scolds you for not taking care of yourself (especially because it's getting awfully close to winter) before offering to give it to you then and there.

doctor!gojo who hums a familiar tune while he traces your arm through gloved hands, rolling up the sleeve of your scandalously thin robe and studying your bare skin. he unwraps a cleansing wipe and rubs it over your skin, fingers gently caressing your arm as he does so.

doctor!gojo who playfully asks if you're scared of needles when you grimace at the sight of it. his slender fingers grasp the underside of your arm as he preps you, making sure to keep your nice and comfy as he does so.

doctor!gojo tells you about how one of his coworkers, a nurse he refers to as suguru ended up in a sticky situation earlier in the day. his words take your mind off the shot, and it's over so fast that you hardly even feel it.

doctor!gojo who unwraps and slips a lollipop between your lips after praising you for being a good, complaint patient. he steps out of the room to let you change back into your clothes. a couple minutes later, when he re-enters, he takes his sweet time looking you up and down before walking you out.

doctor!gojo who leans against the wall, white coat draped around his shoulders as you make arrangements with his assistant for your next appointment. at one point, he strolls over and takes a look, sighing dramatically when he sees just how long it'll be until he sees you again.

doctor!gojo who goes out of his way to escort you all the way to the front door of the hospital. and just when you're about to say your goodbyes and thank him for his time, he slips a slender hand into his pocket and extracts a small piece of paper.

doctor!gojo who takes your hand and delicately presses the paper into the palm of your hand. he clarifies that it's his number and not a bomb threat, which makes you laugh (to his delight).

doctor!gojo who sighs and says that he'd love to stay and chat, but unfortunately, he has a job. he makes you promise to call him later, though, and you both leave with your hearts skipping.

[makoodles]

I wonder what the Navi would think of humans getting their yearly shots or when they get sick with a flu or something.

I mean, they're on Pandora and all, the diseases are clearly different and even more so when they're two totally different species.

But, I can't help but think of the Navi, both forest and sea, panicking because their favourite human has the flu and looks like a dying little animal and nothing they know helps them feel better.

And worst of all, for them to have a dying creature curl into a ball is the worst thing that can happen, and well when a human is feeling sick it's not uncommon for them to curl into a ball to rest.

I'm just saying, all hell would really break loose… only to have it all get better with a shot, some hot soup and a piece of candy (you know, the kind they give you after you've been brave enough for the injection).

this ask is well timed because i have a bad kidney infection right now and i just want a ten foot tall blue alien to take care of me 😭 is that too much to ask?!

fr tho they would be so funny. not only are the na'vi physically tough, but their immune systems are pretty damn impressive as well. it would be rare for them to suffer ailments like the common cold, so it would definitely cause a bit of a stir for them.

if you bring them with you while you're getting your shot, they're going to be so annoying. you'll have to hold their hand to soothe them as you get your shot, because they'll fully be ready to fight the damn nurse. overbearing, yes. adorable, also yes. they just want you to be healthy!

i don't even wanna think how they'd react if you had something serious tho (eg blood in the urine, v on topic for me rn). they'll go apeshit

[alightwhendarknessfell]

What is your opinion on the Pfizer covid vaccine? I know you're not anti vaxx, but there's so much controversy, so I wondered what your opinion is. I would love to get it, but my country has only ordered a small amount . By the time they've vaccinated the elderly and vulnerable there probably won't be any left, so I'll be getting the cheaper less effective vaccines.

The Pfizer vaccine has been approved by the FDA and CDC for emergency use (EUA) in the United States. There have been rigorous safety trials that have indicated it is a safe and effective vaccine. I know there has been some controversy about some of the COVID vaccines due to political pressures to get it out, but I do not believe the FDA/CDC would have approved this vaccine if it were dangerous. I fully intend to get it (or one of the others that have been approved in the US) as soon as it is available to medical students. 

The vaccine has been approved for EUA in individuals 16 years and older and is about 95% effective. It’s a TWO shot series given three weeks apart and you MUST receive both shots for it to work. There is a very limited amount everywhere, and it is being prioritized for frontline workers/vulnerable populations first. Depending on where you live and what group you fall in, you may not be able to get it until mid-late 2021. 

I would strongly encourage anyone who is interested in getting it to speak to a healthcare provider (preferably your primary doctor) about which vaccine is best for you, when you are likely to be eligible to get it, and if there is any reason you should not get it/a certain vaccine. If you are under 16, pregnant, immunocompromised, or have health conditions you should definitely discuss it with your doctor first as these populations may have special recommendations.

The UK reported that two individuals had an allergic reaction to the vaccine but both were known to have had severe allergies in the past. It’s for that reason that anyone with a "significant history of allergic reactions" should not get the vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine is rolling out right now in the US and is being administered with this in mind. Epi-pens are being kept on hand in case anyone has an allergic reaction and pharmacies/hospitals/doctor's offices are equipped to respond if someone has an adverse reaction. Note that all vaccines/medications carry a risk of an allergic reaction but they are rare events. Ask for the vaccine ingredient list if you are unsure if it contains something you are allergic to.  

Now for the ‘side-effects’ that I’ve seen being used to scare people. It is true that some people who receive the vaccine have side effects. The most common are pain/redness at the injection site, headache, fatigue, body aches, joint pain, fever, muscle pain, and chills. These seem to mainly come on after the second dose and is actually a sign of a robust immune response (a good thing!). You may feel like you have the flu/COVID for a few hours/a day after receiving the vaccine, but rest assured you are not actually sick. These symptoms are very short-lived and are controllable with OTC meds. 

THE VACCINE CANNOT MAKE YOU SICK/CONTAGIOUS. Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are mRNA vaccines (just the genes of the virus) and are NOT live virus vaccines. 

[A little side note on why you may get side effects from this vaccine or others as well as how vaccines work.] 

Your immune system is made up of two arms of defense; the ‘innate’ immune system and the ‘adaptive’ immune system (which further divides into cell-mediated and humoral). The innate immune system is largely responsible for why you ‘feel’ sick. The immune cells in this system activate upon ‘recognizing’ foreign material. They produce ‘chemical messengers’ called cytokines and chemokines that alert your body there is something in it that doesn’t belong (viruses/bacteria/parasites/foreign material/cancer/toxins/etc.). It is these chemicals that kick off the symptoms we associate with being sick or injured (fever, inflammation, swelling, headache, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, aches, mucous production, etc). They do this to try and kill/contain/remove the invader while the adaptive system activates. 

This means that when you have the flu or any other virus/infection it is not the ACTUAL microbe that is making you feel bad. It is your own body’s response to the microbe that is creating your symptoms. Viruses would be perfectly happy to take over your cells and replicate without you even knowing it, it’s your body’s ability to detect a virus that alerts you that you’ve been infected. Now in the case of vaccines, killed/weakened/or parts of a pathogen are injected into you. Because they’re not whole and capable of replication you are not actually sick/contagious. But your innate immune system recognizes the ‘foreign material’ and activates (in some people this means mild/short-lived symptoms such as fatigue/low-grade fever, remember they give off those little chemical messengers!!!). It brings this material to your lymph nodes where it shows it to your adaptive immune system which activates and creates your immunity. 

The adaptive system takes time to activate and respond (hence why vaccines aren’t effective IMMEDIANLTY, but normally a few weeks later). Immune cells from the innate system activate the adaptive cells (T/B cells) which go on to produce antibodies (B cells) and ‘helper’ cells (T cells). It is THESE cells that are responsible for creating your immunity through memory. And it is these cells that you want to create from a vaccine. This means the next time that specific pathogen is detected, your body will respond MUCH faster and you won’t even ‘feel’ sick. 

Vaccines allow your body to build the B/T cell memory without you being sick (and most of the time without even feeling mild fatigue!). It’s a ‘loophole’ to build your repertoire of antibodies. Now, the same basic process happens when you get infected with a whole/live pathogen from ‘catching it’. Only this time the pathogen can replicate and infect, causing your innate immune system to go to war with it (making you feel sick) while your adaptive system takes time to activate/clear the infection. You are contagious and a risk to others. Hence why vaccines are SO important at stopping the spread of disease! 

---

My opinion on the vaccine is that it is nothing short of a miracle of medical technology. These vaccines will save hundreds of thousands of lives and allow us to turn the corner in the COVID-19 pandemic. I fully support the COVID vaccines (that have passed their respected safety/review testing) and I have advocated my friends/family that they get one. You must always weigh the risk of a vaccine/drug/procedure/etc. against the risk of not getting it. So what is your risk of contracting COVID (and possibly getting very ill or dying) vs. having an adverse reaction to the vaccine? I’ll tell you right now, that your risk of getting COVID and becoming very ill is much higher. No vaccine (COVID or any others) is 100% effective for everyone, some require boosters or yearly vaccination. However, the Pfizer vaccine has been shown to provide 100% protection against SEVERE COVID infection. If you do end up being in that 5% who still gets sick, you will not get nearly as sick compared to if you were not vaccinated at all (this is similar to the flu vaccine). 

TL;DR: Get the vaccine, they are safe. Talk to a healthcare provider first but for the vast majority of people, the approved vaccines are safe and effective. You may feel some ‘flu-like’ symptoms up to a day after but this is a good sign that your body is building a strong immune response against future infection with the real virus. 

FDA EUA 

Information on the Pfizer vaccine 

*** the AstraZeneca vaccine was the one that made headlines when a study participant developed a serious neurological condition. However, this was EXTREMELY rare and may have been unrelated to the vaccine itself. The AstraZeneca vaccine has demonstrated that it is an overall, safe/effective vaccine. (source)