My wife and I just got our second Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shot and that got me thinking about the vaccinations I had during my life.
The Polio vaccine was not available when I was born, but by the time I was 5 years old the Jonas Salk vaccine was released. I was too young to remember that vaccination.
In 1961 the Albert Sabin vaccine which used a weakened version of the Polio virus was released. It was delivered via a sugar cube which had drops of the virus applied to the surface. I remember eating the sugar cube which was the most painless vaccination I ever had.
On my arm is a faded scar from my Smallpox vaccination which was applied by scratching the vaccine into the skin on my left shoulder . I do not recall how the scratch was made but most likely it was via a bifurcated needle with the liquid vaccine between the prongs.
A pox formed on the inoculation site and a protector was put over the vaccination site to prevent spread of the virus and to keep the site clean.
(I seem to remember the protector being a plastic shield with holes in it but some online historical records indicate a piece of gauze was taped over the site.)
Vaccinations against mumps and measles were not available during my childhood so I caught both viruses. I’m glad kids don’t have to go through that now.
Many years later when my wife and I went overseas we got the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The only reaction I had to that was temporary pain and stiffness in my fingers. I know we had to have other vaccinations before traveling but don’t recall which ones.
While living in Pensacola Florida I received a vaccination for the Swine Flu from a compressed air gun called the Jet injector. When I got to my car after the shot I felt nauseous for a short time but felt no other effects.
I was a big fan of Star Trek and the injector reminded me of Dr. McCoy’s “Hypospray” device and I was pleased to experience that kind of injection.
According to Wikipedia, NBC rules prohibited the use of hypodermic syringes to inject medications in TV shows so the Star Trek producers decided to use the Jet injector concept for the Hypospray.
My wife and I have been taking the annual flu vaccine and last year we got the one time pneumonia booster shot as well. Catching the Flu or Pneumonia along with COVID-19 would not be a good combination .
I suspect that COVID-19 will be around for a long time so frequent vaccinations will be in our future.
Perhaps some day the vaccine can come in a nasal spray similar to the spray currently available for flu vaccinations. That would be nice!
Thanks for reading!
Jim
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