Personal Vaccine Experience

In 2021, I received the Moderna vaccination against COVID-19. Following the advice of my treatment team for advanced prostate cancer with extensive bone metastasis stage IV, I took both shots of the Moderna vaccine. Shortly, as of my writing this, I will need to receive the booster as well. Being that I have a compromised immune system, which is considered an underlying condition, my care team felt it would be wise to receive the vaccine.

I am well aware there is a very heated debate about whether one should take the vaccine or not, however I am not here to argue that point. I am simply going to report my experience with the Moderna vaccine and withhold any personal bias.

My first dose

Shot number one of the Moderna caused very mild side effects for me. All I can report from the first dose is a slight feeling of anxiety with a minor sore arm. I decided to utilize the drive thru shot clinic offered within my county of residence. The whole process took only about ten minutes of my day.

During the additional waiting period between dose number one and dose number two, I experienced no further side effects from the Moderna shot. The soreness in my arm lasted only a day or two at the most. I believe the anxiety was purely from the build-up to take the shot, and I was anxious to get on with the second dose.

My second dose

Finally, the day arrived to receive my second dose of the Moderna vaccine, and I was completely ready to take it. I again utilized the drive thru vaccine location set up within my county of residence. The process was much the same, with an added wait period in my automobile following the shot. Once the 15 minute wait time expired and the personnel at the site checked me, I was allowed to proceed home.

Upon arriving home, I sipped on a cold drink while watching television. I already felt some soreness in my arm. This is the last thing I remember until the next day. I heard a loud banging at my back door. It was my younger brother, James, coming to check on me and see if I was alright. He told me that I got up and answered the door. We sat in my living room and chatted for a while. He reported that I was talking gibberish and seemed disoriented. When he departed, I returned to bed and waited on my wife, Cristy, to return from a stay at her mother's.

Regaining my strength

Cristy returned home to find me still in bed sleeping and questioned me to determine if I was alright. I told her I was feeling better, but was still a little weak and sleepy. From this point forward I began to feel better, and I regained my strength.

As time passed, I felt a great sense of calm come over my entire body, and I was relieved that I was finally protected against the severe side effects of COVID-19. I can’t express in words the sense of protection and relief I felt following the Moderna vaccination. I experienced no further side effects from the vaccination experience.

Night and day

Personally, I feel the Moderna vaccine has done its job, so to speak. My two sons both caught COVID-19, with one being vaccinated and the other not receiving the vaccine. My younger son was ill first, and he had a horrific time. He was not vaccinated, and his experience was so severe he ended up in two hospitals, finally receiving the monoclonal antibodies. I fear, if not for the monoclonal antibodies, his bout with COVID-19 would have proven fatal. I have never seen him that sick in his entire life.

My eldest son not long ago was exposed to COVID-19 at his place of employment. His COVID test came back positive. He was also vaccinated with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (both shots). The difference between his experience with COVID and my younger son’s was like night and day.

The elder son has only experienced light COVID symptoms, if there are such things. He only vomited once and has also suffered from other minor symptoms. A dry cough, slight temperature elevation, lack of smell, and lack of taste were the major complaints. He never developed the life-threatening symptoms of my younger son.

In fact, he himself exclaimed, “My vaccine did its job. I did not get as bad as my brother!”

My experience

In closing, it is nearly time for our Moderna vaccine boosters, as of my writing this, and we will definitely receive them. I spent the entire time with both sons here in my home, and I never once became ill. I feel the Moderna vaccine protected me along with the Lord.

This is just my report of my personal experience concerning the vaccine, and not an argument one way or the other concerning COVID vaccines.