A Sacramento area doctor who treats coronavirus patients at Sutter Roseville Medical Center is sharing her experience about getting the COVID-19 vaccine.Dr. Vanessa Walker, a pulmonary and critical care physician, is taking people along her vaccine journey and encouraging others to get the shot as soon as they can.As a front-line health care worker, Walker was relieved to receive the vaccine. She created a YouTube “vlog” that over four and half minutes takes viewers, step-by-step, through getting the shot and that shows what she experienced in the days following.Walker said she is now on her way toward protection from the virus, not just for herself, but also for the patients without COVID-19 that she treats, as well as her family.”The thought that I’ll be able to go home and kiss my kids and my husband and just feel secure that I’m not bringing home a virus to them is gonna be just such a weight off my chest,” Walker said.The doctor’s vlog is one way for her to lead by example, she said. In the video, she describes side-effects 12 hours post-shot then reports back with how quickly those symptoms have gone away.”I’m feeling a little tiny bit fatigued in my muscles and some of my joints,” Walker says at 12 hours after receiving her shot.At the 24 hour mark since receiving her shot, she says she feels “totally normal.”At the 48 hour mark, Walker notes some injection site soreness, similar to when getting a flu shot. She’s anticipating more noticeable side effects when she gets her second dose of the vaccine in a couple weeks.”That means my immune system is doing its job and it’s gonna be ready to fight COVID-19 if it were to see it,” she says. Walker said the vaccine is often considered the light at the end of the tunnel but is quick to remind there’s still a long tunnel ahead before the vaccine is widely available.”Hunker down. Avoid gatherings. Wear your masks and just be really smart about this,” Walker said. “Until everyone can get vaccinated, we are still at very high risk of having these massive surges that are going to impact our delivery of health care, to not just people with COVID, but people with every possible illness.”Walker encourages everyone to take the vaccine as soon as they get access to it.”It’s not gonna work if we don’t all try to do our part,” Walker said. “Otherwise we’re all gonna be stuck in this masked society for more years to come.”Walker is scheduled to receive her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 4.She plans to do another vlog to document what side effects — if any — she experiences at that time.
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. —
A Sacramento area doctor who treats coronavirus patients at Sutter Roseville Medical Center is sharing her experience about getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Vanessa Walker, a pulmonary and critical care physician, is taking people along her vaccine journey and encouraging others to get the shot as soon as they can.
As a front-line health care worker, Walker was relieved to receive the vaccine. She created a YouTube “vlog” that over four and half minutes takes viewers, step-by-step, through getting the shot and that shows what she experienced in the days following.
Walker said she is now on her way toward protection from the virus, not just for herself, but also for the patients without COVID-19 that she treats, as well as her family.
“The thought that I’ll be able to go home and kiss my kids and my husband and just feel secure that I’m not bringing home a virus to them is gonna be just such a weight off my chest,” Walker said.
The doctor’s vlog is one way for her to lead by example, she said. In the video, she describes side-effects 12 hours post-shot then reports back with how quickly those symptoms have gone away.
“I’m feeling a little tiny bit fatigued in my muscles and some of my joints,” Walker says at 12 hours after receiving her shot.
At the 24 hour mark since receiving her shot, she says she feels “totally normal.”
At the 48 hour mark, Walker notes some injection site soreness, similar to when getting a flu shot. She’s anticipating more noticeable side effects when she gets her second dose of the vaccine in a couple weeks.
“That means my immune system is doing its job and it’s gonna be ready to fight COVID-19 if it were to see it,” she says.
Walker said the vaccine is often considered the light at the end of the tunnel but is quick to remind there’s still a long tunnel ahead before the vaccine is widely available.
“Hunker down. Avoid gatherings. Wear your masks and just be really smart about this,” Walker said. “Until everyone can get vaccinated, we are still at very high risk of having these massive surges that are going to impact our delivery of health care, to not just people with COVID, but people with every possible illness.”
Walker encourages everyone to take the vaccine as soon as they get access to it.
“It’s not gonna work if we don’t all try to do our part,” Walker said. “Otherwise we’re all gonna be stuck in this masked society for more years to come.”
Walker is scheduled to receive her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 4.
She plans to do another vlog to document what side effects — if any — she experiences at that time.