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Shot Two View, and My AstraZeneca Side Affects

by tacogirl 02/07/2021
written by tacogirl 02/07/2021
caribbean sea and beach view san pedro belize

According to what the vaccine form said, my second shot appointment date was to be July 22nd. Imagine my surprise when I got a text almost a month early from Brittany O’Daniel, vaccine rollout volunteer (and co-owner of Sandbar Hotel and restaurant) notifying I was eligible for shot number two much sooner.

As I read her text stating that I could answer yes, or no, to a 9:30 am appointment the next day, it sent some unwanted thoughts through me.

  • I was not mentally prepared.
  • I was not physically ready.
  • I must not get hung up on other people’s side effects or lack of, for shot two. More people I know had them than not and the last person I spoke to mentioned a bucket came in handy.

Not wanting to miss the opportunity I quickly slammed the door on the above anxiety-producing ideas and asked if I could get a later option. Thankfully the answer was yes, as a walk-in. I was grateful, as that would allow for me to better prepare.

Being a single girl I wanted to make sure I had everything I might crave after my shot so I would not need to bother friends. Also being a single girl who does not like to cook, my fridge was not full enough – hence needing preparation.

Having learned what I felt was missing from my get-well supplies for shot one, I decided to get a bit of extra fruit this time around and also tapped into my craving center while shopping. I already had papaya and a couple of limes but decided more variety was in order. The afternoon before, I walked across the road to get a 1/4 piece of watermelon, and some mini plums. I skipped the limes, and as you can see by size comparison in my picture below I fared better in town. On the left are from across the road and on the right at Back St. Fruit Market.

I also ended up buying an extra avocado which was perfect for a before the vaccine meal addition. As for the main staple of my grocery shopping, I would time my walk so I could get what I needed quickly afterward, and head home.

belize produce limes

On my way to town, I left enough time to allow for my walk to be minorly distracting. I took comfort in the view instead of thinking about the vaccine roller coaster I was about to take an unwanted joyride on. Weather-wise, it was a beautiful June day with highs of 88° F/ 31° C and lows of 81° F/27° C.

walking beach to get astrazeneca shot two

As I neared the edge of town, I heard a rare sound, a lawnmower. I took the opportunity to snap a few pictures of the gardener at the Phoenix Resort and once again lose myself in something other than where I was headed.

the phoenix resort belize

When I arrived at the Lion’s Den around 11:30 am, I had no wait time. Instantly one of the intake women gave me a quick spray, collected my ID, and welcomed me to take a seat.

Pretty much as soon as I sat down the other intake girl, my friend Karen Brodie was calling me over. As she went over my first shot experience we briefly caught up on life. This time it was a different woman who administered my dose, and the needle hurt. In the after-shot waiting area, they handed me my Tylenol and notified me I had to get my vaccine card stamped at the Poly Clinic. After waiting the required 15 minutes, I was free to go.

getting vaccinated in belize

In case the side effects clock started ticking, I had a short fast lunchtime grocery route planned. First off I headed to the lagoon area and was minorly surprised there was no fruit and vegetable stand set up that day. The big market day with several vendors happens early Tuesday mornings but usually, there is someone set up on the other days. So I backtracked on Ambergris St. and rounded the corner to the Omega produce store. There I bought a grapefruit, four limes, a beet, cucumber, and one zucchini- cost about $4.50 BZD. Next stop the ultimate in easy single girl cooking – $20 BZD for a golden rotisserie chicken 😀

  • downtown san pedro sidestreet
  • belikin tractors san pedro

As I turned the corner onto Caribeña Street to head out of town, I saw Belizean meat pies listed on the chalkboard of My Secret Deli, so I grabbed a couple to add to my recovery food options.

belizean meat pies

Although I had not traveled far, since my shot, I could feel slight dizziness setting in. Knowing my body well, I knew I had just enough time to finish my last three stops and get home. Ritchie’s for the best price on Nescafe Dolca coffee on sale at $5.99 a jar. Then it was across the road to Caye Mart for the best pricing on La La light, box milk right now, at $1.95 BZD. My last frivolous stop was Tans Mart for Fruit Loops cereal with our national bird the toucan on the box and some chocolate M&Ms. Note, those last three stops had nothing to do with my recovery kit. After all, my side effects were not going to last forever and my desire for coffee and sweets would need satisfaction again.

By the time I made it home and put my groceries away, my body was ready to rest. The roller coaster had started and I had no choice but to relax into the ride and do my best to make myself comfortable.

As it turns out that ended up to be binge-watching the last two seasons of Project Runway Australia and up to and partway through season 4 of Sex and the City. I was super tired so fell asleep and woke up often. I would catch the beginning and end of the shows and miss the middle – that happened all night.

If you are planning to, or have already cut the cord on cable TV, the latest version of Cinema HD APK is a great option. While this app is free and does not require a VPN, I still recommend one for other apps. Of course, being in Belize, surfshark was a no-brainer for my first choice. It has great reviews and no device limits.

Back to AstraZeneca’s side effects…

The morning after my second dose, I had a slight bout of nausea and the same short broken sleep cycle all day. I also experienced strong extended headaches and the Tylenol that was given gave me no real relief, nor was taco tip # 29 near the bottom of the previous article, but I used it anyway. This time around the symptoms had also taken my appetite away, I was happy to have a good fruit choice and avocado to get some easy light nutrition.

By the second day after my shot, I was mostly better, just tired from extreme sleep disruption so I took it easy. By late afternoon my appetite was coming back – bring on the meat pies 😀

The third day after shot two, and I just had minor low energy. As much as I did not really want it, I am glad I got the vaccine and thankful my side effects are pretty much over. As far as the island goes, we still have a ways to go before we reach herd immunity. Help stop the spread of Covid, and if you haven’t been vaccinated yet please consider it. Our cases are low on Ambergris right now, around 20 by my count from the daily reports.

Updated Belize Covid info

As of Sunday, July 4th our regulations are changing slightly again. From Thursdays to Saturdays, curfew will start one hour later at 11:00 pm and last until 4:00 am. From Sundays to Wednesdays it remains 10:00 pm – 4:00 am.

As far as the “Covid rules” go, masks are still mandatory in public places with a few exceptions like driving or exercising. There is some grey area though, as it is clear people are itching to get back to “normal”. Bars are not supposed to be a focus and are only supposed to serve a few drinks with food being the primary reason for people to be there.

Outdoor restaurants are allowed to have 75% capacity. Those without outside areas are allowed 50% capacity if they have fresh air options.

Planning a trip? Check the CDC’s key information for both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travel to Belize – COVID-19 on the Belize page.

For Belize based information, click through on the BTB Belize travel COVID-19 update page.

For local news, Island COVID-19 cases are on the rise; people are urged to get vaccinated. According to the San Pedro Sun article – “Some of the people testing positive for the virus work in the service industry (restaurants, water taxis, tour operators, gyms), while the rest are tourists.”

sex and the city girls
Sex and the City photo credit: Runway Daily

Related

tacogirl

Laurie Norton grew up dyslexic and was very challenged by the school. She never dreamed she would move to Belize and become a writer. A year after her move to Ambergris Caye, Laurie became an entrepreneur and professional writer starting tacogirl blog in 2007. Since then she has helped many people plan their vacations or move. She also has been published in Great Destinations Belize Guidebook, Moon Guide to Living in Belize, Insight Guides, Island Magazine several times and USA Today. Currently Laurie resides in downtown San Pedro and enjoys being a "city girl" on a tropical island.

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5 comments

Emily S. 11/07/2021 - 1:53 pm

Laurie, Glad you are feeling better! I had the Pfizer vaccine here in the US in April and definitely felt side effects (including a 101 fever) from the second dose. Still, I am super thankful to be vaccinated, and it really changed how comfortable I felt leaving the house and doing things in public. Thank you for getting vaccinated! The more people around the world who do, the sooner we can put this pandemic behind us.

Reply
Michael Rieck 04/07/2021 - 8:57 am

Good info Laurie, Deb and I will be there Sept 12 thru Sept 25. We both have had both shots for awhile now. Look forward to seeing all of you.
Mike & Deb Rieck

Reply
tacogirl 04/07/2021 - 12:39 pm

Thanks, Micheal. Enjoy your countdown.

Reply
Mike Haworth 03/07/2021 - 8:04 pm

Laurie – credit needs to be given to the Mexican government for donating over 100,000 vaccines recently. This enabled Belize to speed up the vaccine process.

Reply
tacogirl 04/07/2021 - 12:40 pm

That’s true MIke, thanks for mentioning Mexico.

Reply

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We have been using TacoGirl for what feels like decades when planning our trips to Belize! It has only been a few... years but she is the first place we stop to see what is happening in our favorite vacation spot. She knows all the best spots to get away and do so many fun things - whether it is relaxing or exploring! We are planning our next trip with our twins and she was the first person I reached out to. Knowing we have a resource like her, makes trip planning a breeze!read more
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Found tacogirl while doing some research on an upcoming trip to Belize. This is the place for all the information you... need to plan your vacation. Incredibly helpful and responsive. I sent an email with lots of questions and received a very quick and detailed response that helped us finalize our plans.read more
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We have been following TacoGirl for years now and before booking any trip to San Pedro we check to see what is... currently happening. We love the emails to let us know when a new blog has been posted. Keep up the great work Laurie, we feel like we know you.read more
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I first got my Passport in 2012 and Taco Girl was my first connection back then Great then and Marvelous Now! She's... blossomed and developed into a wonderful contact for any and all information Belize. She goes above & beyond to respond with information that you need whether visiting Belize or relocating! I wasn't able to fund the move then but now that I have much more equity I am doing it.This time she was the 1st person I reached out to! Now I am selling and moving to Belize. She responds immediately! Like I do in my Pet Sitting Business! I was so impressed I followed her all this time. And was not disappointed!Pamela Nixonread more
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Wanted to give a shout-out to tacogirl belize for helping us! She is a plethora of knowledge and was super helpful and... responsive in helping us find longer term stay on the island. Thank you so much for your help!read more
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I've spent the last month exploring Belize. I'm retired & seriously considering moving down to Belize permanently from... the US. I contacted the local San Pedro expert "Taco Girl" to help me get started in finding an apartment to rent. With her help, I've located several places that meet my needs & budget requirements. Thank you Laurie!read more
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I am very glad I found you and asked you a question about a spice in Belize. You helped me figure out the name of it... and where i could buy it. You went above and beyond to help. Thanks again.read more
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I am so grateful for the time and energy Laurie has taken to share about her experiences traveling to and living in... Belize as well as provide thorough recommendations for planning a trip there. I was so thankful (and honestly surprised) that Laurie took the time to respond to several of my questions via email. I highly recommend reading Laurie's blogs and helping to support her business. Thank you Laurie!!read more
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tacogirl was very nice to share her knowledge with us and assisted with planning our trip to Belize; thank you for the... help and info, it was helpful and allowed us to plan utilize our time accordingly while both on the mainland and islands of this great country.read more
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As a Canadian—tired of long winters—I cannot wait to spend some time in Belize. I haven't set foot yet, but I am... yearning for lots of Caribbean adventure. Thanks so much to tacogirl for her endless enthusiasm and generosity of spirit. She is a constant stream of up-to-date information. Her knowledge and love of the area is priceless, and I will need her expertise for future endeavours!read more
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We started coming to Ambergis Caye in 2014 and stumble on to Tacogirls blog, so glad we did! We used her 15% discount... at The Premier Duty-Free shop in the airport! It worked great all we did was let them know we read it on her blog . She has great information awesome pictures, we have tried several places she has recommended, all were amazing. Highly recommend reading her blog. Kathleenread more
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It was my first time visiting Belize and San Pedro so naturally I had a ton of questions when it came time to planning... the travel. Taco Gril's blog was an invaluable source of information for all the travel questions in Ambergris Caye. I was able to learn a lot of basic information, as well as many tips and tricks. In addition when I reached out to Taco Girl for advice on finding a local photographer and a restaurant recommendation, she was very quick to respond and gave me many helpful suggestions. She also provided a lot more information from a local's point of view, which was much for valuable than than a typical guidebook. Thanks to her helpful suggestions we were able to celebrate my daughter's birthday at a nice restaurant, and had a great photo family session with a local photographer. I'm very thankful for all her resources and knowledge.read more
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I started coming to San Pedro Belize in 2007 and that is when I met the online presence of Taco Girl. Her blogs on the... island and area are very personable and informative. She gives out promo codes from time to time so watch out for those. You cannot go wrong with someone who was a tourist and now lives here for quality info. Thanks Taco Girl for helping make my trips memorable!read more
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I take the seniors from our academy to Belize every year for their senior trip. One of the first people I contact when... I start planning the trip is Laurie with TacoGirl Belize. She knows the island of San Pedro better than anyone else out there. Trust me, I have looked. If you are looking for the best restaurants, hang outs and shops then Laurie help plan your vacation.read more
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Love Taco Girl Blog @LaurieNorton!I've been reading this blog since I started visiting Ambergris Caye in Belize almost... 10 years ago. It is filled with helpful up-to-date information and recommendations that I wouldn't necessarily find on my own. Laurie Norton's knowledge and extensive network on the island provides her with the ability to share perks/discounts/coupons with her readers, which come in handy year after year. Things on the island change daily - new businesses pop up constantly and LaurieNortonstays on top of these developments. Whenever I plan my return trip to the island, I always check her blog first - and I recommend you do the same. Trip Advisor ain't got nuttin' on Taco Girl!read more
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Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice... to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. There is so much information it's amazing! Thank you Laurie!!!read more
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I am considering a move to Belize and I have serendipitously found tacogirl.....what a treasure! She is full of great... advice, helpful hints.....knows everybody on Ambergris Caye and has a thousand useful recommendations and suggestions. Whether you are planning a vacation or relocating, you should make use of the many services she has to offer…..read more
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I’m so pleased to see tacogirl's blog on Google. Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local... information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. I especially enjoy her guest articles, providing a different perspective of all things San Pedro. Her tipping quide is a classic, and don’t forget her Tropic Air flight code and on-island discounts. You’re not up-to-date with what’s going on in San Pedro if you’re not regularly reading tacogirl's blog.read more
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I have known Laurie (Taco Girl) for several years. She has been a wealth of good information for me in all of my... pursuits in Belize. I highly recommend her for any services you may require.read more
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Do yourself a favor. Read this BEFORE any trip to San Pedro - Ambergris Caye or Belize in general. Not saying “do what... everyone else says”, but Laurie has frank and honest info which will make your stay in country a little more fun, a little more informative, and often at a great cost savings. Best thing: it’s unbiased, honest, and factual. Personal note: thank you for your personal tailored help in answering mine (and my wife’s) questions.read more
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Taco Girl (Laurie) is amazing. She has so much knowledge about Belize and has great connections with many of the... businesses in Belize. Because of her connections she is able to offer many perks and discounts that you wouldn't have been able to find otherwise. She is super responsive and I always go to her for all my travel needs. From golf cart rentals, to spas, to places to eat. She's got the inside scoop on all!read more
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Belize Blog Est. 2007

belize travel specialist

ABOUT ME

I took the plunge and moved to San Pedro Town on the Island of Ambergris Caye, off the coast of Belize, Central America. Originally from Canada, I made the life-changing move to escape winter for good (in 2006) after one three week vacation. If you have any questions or want Belize help planning and booking, please feel free to contact me.

SPARKING MY DESIRE

A few childhood memories that shaped my desire to move to Belize from a young age. Sailing in the Virgin Islands, seeing a rainbow out the window of an island hopper as we flew from Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico, Christmas in Hawaii and many trips to Florida.

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