My vaccination side effect is a sense of relief

It is a group of five couples - we come from different walks of life - but one of the couples in the group brought us together several years ago when we attended the wedding of their oldest daughter.

We found a connection that has now stood the test of several years.

We don't live out of each others pockets but we love to catch up for dinner or an activity from time to time. Our online social group was established to co-ordinate catch-ups and to keep us connected through Covid restrictions.

The thing that makes me most proud of this group is that every single one of us has had at least our first Covid vaccination. Some of the group have had their second vaccination.

While most of us are in our mid to late 50s we have all had AstraZeneca and we all stepped up for the jab well before the latest Delta outbreak in Greater Sydney. My husband and I have our second jab booked for late August.

Now don't get me wrong I understand why people might be cautious. I will admit my husband and I were nervous about stepping up for that needle.

We paid close attention to any possible side effects following the first jab. Those side effects amounted to flu-like symptoms and lethargy for one day, and a sore arm for a couple of days, but nothing more.

But there is one other longer term side effect that I embrace. It is the sense of relief.

There is relief in knowing we are well on our way to full vaccination, relief that exposure to the virus should be less impacting, and relief that we have stepped up to support, what has been identified by the powers-that-be, as the path out of this pandemic.

I note that it was vaccinations that brought an end to Polio and many other life-threatening viruses and I am hopeful it will do the same for Covid.

Stay safe,

Jackie Meyers

Editor