Thanks for your posts and well wishes getting for me getting my(u/Blueredant) first novavax today. As promised, here is the detailed update of the novavax events that transpired for me today:

Background Info: I’m a 40 yr old mix-raced female, with a history of allergies (medication and seasonal allergies), SJS, and mental health issues. …

8/5/2022 (u/Blueredant’s first Novavax covid vaccine in Traverse City, MI)

10:00am - Used the unofficial novavax vaccine finder https://novavax-finder.github.io/#/ (thanks u/poop_sox) and found out that they had novavax in my general area of MI. Reconfirmed the listing on https://www.vaccines.gov as well.

10:30am - I called the Costco (in Traverse City, MI) and spoke to the pharmacist man on the phone, who confirmed that they did have the novavax and they just got the shipment in this morning. I asked them when they had the earliest appointment, to which he said for me to book online. I didn’t want to waste additional time doing this, so I just asked them if they could do it for me on the phone. They took down my name and phone number and said they had an opening at 3pm today. I said I’d be there this afternoon. No time to detox or discontinue any current medications, as I had to be there in the next 5 hours…eek!

1:45- 2:45- Went to Traverse City, MI, with my husband (he drove) and with my two kids in tow…..I feel nervous, but yet hopeful that everything will be ok…I drink some water in the car to keep hydrated.

2:45: Got to Costco early to the pharmacy department and told them that I had an appointment for a covid vaccine at 3:00pm. Got some forms to fill out (2 pages or so). On the forms it indicated that I wanted a novavax and that I wanted it on my right arm. I also showed them my drivers license and insurance cards. They took down my information, verified it in the databases and told to wait.

2:50: Went to the back consultation room with my older child (they were my vaccine support buddy..lol…), and with the small stuffed toy my child lent me for the day (lol….). The Costco pharmacist lady that administered the vaccine was really nice and asked me if I had any questions. I asked her if she would aspirate, but she didn’t know what that was, and I didn’t want to press any further about that. I also had to flip the chair around as I wanted it on my right arm and the chair was faced the other way to the left..lol…I explained that I wanted it on my right arm, as it was away from the heart and less likely to cause heart related side effects this way. The novavax vaccine was already pre-filled in the syringe, so I did not get to see the vial. But I trusted that it was a novavax.

2:55: I get my first novavax shot in my right arm. My older child takes a couple of photos of me getting the novavax. And my child noticed that there was a spot of blood after they took the needle out of the injection site of my arm. The pharmacist explained that it was because sometimes it the needle goes into the arm a certain way and it does that, with not much to be alarmed about, and put a bandaid on the injection site. I felt a slight stinging sensation, for about 5 minutes or so, but no arm pain.

On a scale from 1-10, the temporary stinging arm was a 1….

2:55-3:15: I and my older child walk out the door of the consultation room and thank the pharmacist lady for administering the novavax. She tells me that I was the third one there today that got the Novavax and that she was glad that she didn’t have to waste any doses today. She then gives me my official CDC card, with my name, birthdate, and novavax information on it (with the lot number too) on the front of the card. She says that I can come back in 3-8 weeks for the second dose, but did not write any specific date on the back of the card.

I was also told to wait 15-30 minutes or so, at the seating area, to monitor for side effects. I feel alright (no arm pain or anything….NOTHING…NO SIDE EFFECTS (other than the slight stinging arm for 5 minutes) and leave the Costco store at 3:15.

3:15-5:30: My family and I do more errands and shopping in Traverse City. On the drive home (about 4:30 or so) I notice that my nose and sinuses feels stuffy, kind of like how it feels when my seasonal allergies kick in. So I am not sure that if was allergies related or if it was vaccine related. The stuffy nose goes away and hour later….

On scale from 1-10, the stuffy nose was a 2…..

5:30: Went home and ate chocolate chip ice cream….yum….A good treat on a hot summer day, and for getting my first novavax vaccine done today….

I feel physically fine now, 3 hours later….

Mentally, I feel happy and relieved that I got my first novavax done today….

Thank you all for your support and encouragement from this novavax reddit forum.

I hope this detailed first dose of novavax review helps you all, especially to those who are considering getting a novavax vaccine at some point…

My lesson for the day: Just do it….It was definitely worth the 1 1/2 years of waiting to get a first dose of Novavax! No regrets. No worries.

Feel free to post if you have any more questions or concerns for me too..

Will update more this week and onwards…