As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more available to Utahns, I was fortunate to get my first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and wanted to tell you all about it in this blog.

Where did I go?

My roommate and I decided to go to the Dee Events Center in Ogden, which is about a 45 minute drive away. This location had the soonest time slot and was available for my schedule. It was a super easy process and went by so quickly!

How did I sign up?

My roommate and I waited until we were eligible to get the vaccine, which was on March 24. Then, we browsed one of the vaccine websites, filled out the form and chose a time slot for the location that worked for our schedules. The whole process only took about 15 minutes.

What was it like at the vaccination site?

It was big, quiet, and very friendly. When we arrived, we encountered some lines but the whole process was very organized. We gave our consent forms and showed proof of appointment, then got in line to fill out our information cards. Once we got our information confirmed and received our cards, we waited in another line to get our shots administered. Everyone waiting was super friendly, and the wait was very short. Once we got called to get our shots, we sat down and they double checked our information. Then, the administrators got the injections ready. It was probably the most painless shot I have ever gotten. It took less than 30 seconds and then I was on my way. After getting my vaccine card signed, I moved to the waiting area. We had to wait 15 minutes to ensure we didn’t have a bad reaction. Once our 15 minutes were up, we left and headed home!

How were the side effects?

My arm was sore pretty immediately, but very manageable. A few hours later, I started experiencing some fatigue and a mild headache. After a long night of sleep and some Tylenol, I was feeling good. About 48 hours after getting my injection, the soreness in my arm was all gone. 

How did I sign up for my second dose?

Signing up for my second dose was easy. After my first shot, the vaccination center gave me a sign-up code to reserve a slot 3 weeks after my first dose. The whole sign-up took less than 10 minutes. 

What are the benefits to getting your vaccine?

Not only do you protect yourself from COVID-19, but you protect your community and the ones you care about. Another great perk is that Krispy Kreme Donuts are giving a free donut every day of 2021 to anyone vaccinated. All you need to do is show them your vaccine card, and in my opinion it is absolutely worth a free donut. 

Overall, the vaccine process only took us about 30 minutes from when we got to the site to when we left. It was so easy, relatively painless, and came with a free donut!