Dr. Lassegard talks about receiving the COVID-19 vaccination

Editor’s Note: Campbell County Memorial Hospital Emergency Medicine Physician Deanna Lassegard, MD, was the first Campbell County Health caregiver to get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on December 17, 2020. Below is a follow up on how it went.

I’ve been asked by several people how I am feeling after the coronavirus vaccine yesterday. In an effort of full transparency, and so that we all learn from the trial vaccination, I will share with you any and all symptoms that I have had:

Immediately upon receiving the vaccine I had no pain. That was most likely due to the superior vaccination skills of CCH Paramedic Jason Budd. It was a fairly unnoticeable injection—on par with the influenza vaccine, far less painful than the tetanus vaccine, and certainly less painful than progesterone injections.

Within 10 minutes of receiving the vaccination, I developed a small 2 cm area of erythema (reddening of the skin) around the injection site. This is not uncommon for me to have this reaction. I have this type of reaction to any injection, including medications. I never had any hives, or itching.

At around 3 or 4 pm, my right arm started to ache where I had the injection. Probably a little achier than the influenza vaccine, less achy than a tetanus vaccine, and much less painful than the molten lava acid combination that is a progesterone injection.

By about 5 pm, I had some generalized aching across my shoulder girdle and neck, much like I had “slept wrong,” or done too many overhead presses. This lasted through the evening. I was very tired last evening, but I think this was related to waking up at 3:30 in the morning, and my chronic state of too little sleep. I really don’t think it had much to do with the vaccine—I would classify this as a side effect of being a full-time emergency physician, full-time home school teacher, mother of two, and sleeping next to someone who snores.

This morning I woke up feeling fine. There is a very mild ache right where I had the injection, the arm and shoulder soreness is gone, this is less than what I usually experience with the influenza vaccine, or tetanus vaccine, which I often find to be more sore the next day.

I have not developed any headache, fever, upper respiratory tract infection symptoms, or nausea or vomiting. Otherwise I feel in my usual state of health, which is probably moderate at best for a 36-year-old who eats far too many carbs, and gets far too little sleep and physical activity.

As of December 17, 2020, Campbell County Health is administering the COVID-19 vaccine to personnel who have regular exposure to potentially positive COVID-19 patients, as authorized by Campbell County Public Health.

The vaccination is not currently available for members of the Campbell County, Wyoming community. Check with your health care provider for updates about the COVID-19 vaccine. We will announce more information as it comes available at www.cchwyo.org/covid19.