Fairfax Readers Share What It's Like To Receive COVID-19 Vaccine

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Fairfax County Health Department officials briefed the Board of Supervisors Tuesday on the county's COVID-19 vaccination program.

During the briefing, Board Chairman Jeff McKay said Fairfax County has the infrastructure in place to ramp up distribution, but a the health department is hampered by the lack of availability of the vaccine.

While county residents wait for more vaccine to become available, many of those in the high priority groups, such as people 75 and older and Fairfax County teachers, have already been vaccinated.

Patch recently asked its readers to share their vaccination experiences on Neighbor Posts and Facebook. The following is a collection of responses from our readers in the Fairfax City area.

David S. and his wife registered to be vaccinated on Jan. 18.

"We then received confirmation calls and emails immediately," he said. "Then, unfortunately, there has been nothing since. Going to the Department of Health website each day since has shown the same info. We don't know where we will go, where we stand on the 1B over 65 list, how many people they are giving shots to, etc. We have waited a year but the unknown is worse."

Yvonne Morales of Fairfax City also registered on Jan. 18, but she still hadn't heard back about making an appointment 10 days later.

"I call the Fairfax Public Health once or twice a week and have gotten different answers, but have come to know that it's because they are constantly making different decisions," Morales said. "We just don't have enough vaccine available."

Although Morales is one year younger than the 75 and older group, but she has a compromised immune system.

"The issue is that although they decided to include the 65 and older group with 1b, they will not get to them soon," Morales said. "When I asked when, I was informed maybe anywhere from two weeks to two months until they are getting to this added group. I certainly believe that my condition (at 74) should fall before healthy 65-year-olds."

Fairfax City resident Mike said he tried to register for an appointment on Jan. 25, but the website to signup was down. Although he was finally did signup, it took a long time for him to receive confirmation from the county.

Sally Cramer of Fairfax City also applied via the internet and is awaiting notification.

"I had a pretty favorable experience through Fairfax County government," said Chuck P. of Fairfax City. "After registering, I got an invite for an appointment. At first, i did not realize there was a drop-down list of places and times. After trial and error, I found a time in Alexandria. Unfortunately, at the site the computers had a hitch, or things would have been quicker. Fairfax County's communications were A+. They texted me from the parking lot when it was time to enter. I ended up with the Moderna vaccine, and absolutely no after-reactions, not even an ache."

John Stevens, 75, and his wife, 77, received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine on Jan. 20. They are scheduled for their second dose on Feb. 17.

"The process went very smoothly," Stevens said. "We couldn't even feel the shot and the clinic used a timer for the monitoring time period. We experienced a little shoulder soreness which went away in a couple of days. We're relieved to be in the program and still plan to wear masks, practice social distancing and take every precaution to protect ourselves and everyone else."

JoAnne Norton, a 79-year-old Reston resident, preregistered online on Jan. 12 to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. After receiving a message on Jan. 25 asking that she schedule an appointment, she was vaccinated at 10 a.m. on Jan. 27, at the Fairfax County Government Center.

"Absolutely, the most well managed combo of tech (messaging) and human systems (well planned out program with lots of cheery, personable personnel) that I have ever seen," she said. "Out by 11 a.m. with a 30-minute wait after shot to see if I was OK. Have faith those who have not gotten messages."

Mary Jones, a Fairfax County Public Schools employee, received her vaccine on Jan. 23. She signed up for the vaccination via a link provided by her employer and found the whole process to be very efficient.

Arriving early, Jones underwent an "ultra-fast" screening and had to stay in a monitoring area just in case there were adverse symptoms to the shot. She was also able to register for her second dose of the vaccine.

"The shot injection didn't hurt and I only had a little soreness in my arm the next day; not nearly as painful as other vaccinations," Jones said. "It was kind of stunning to see so many people there and rows and rows of health staff at desks with numbers on them, in a huge room, vaccinating people left and right. I wish I had taken a photo of it. It gave me hope that perhaps large numbers of people may be vaccinated quickly. I feel grateful to have received the vaccination and to feel safer somewhat safer about working indoors. I still intend to adhere to pandemic precautions, even after I get the second shot."

J McQ, a fellow FCPS employee, did not have as positive an experience as Jones. After being scheduled to be vaccinated on Jan. 23, Inova canceled the appointment.

"I’m not looking forward to signing up again because I don’t have another 7 hours to waste trying to register online," McQ said.

What was your experience receiving the COVID-19 vaccine? Share what it was like in the comments below.

Also see ...

Fairfax County Challenged By COVID-19 Vaccine Availability

Fairfax School Board Endorses New Return-To-School Timeline

CVS Plans To Offer Vaccine Appointments At Select Virginia Stores