Each week we talk about important travel topics to help you decide when, where, and how to explore the world in style. This month we are helping you make sense of the rapidly changing travel options for US travelers. And in this week’s episode we are talking about the vaccine: where to get it, how it can help you travel and more. Hear from us on our personal experience with the vaccine as well as from our special guest, Dr. Sarah, who is a pharmacist and podcaster on her professional opinion on all the vaccine options.
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Transcript:
JQ: Hey travel babies, did you get your vaccine yet? With more and more people getting their vaccine every day? Travel is finally starting to pick back up again.
Juliana: This is travel babies. We’re just two sisters trying to travel the world in style, but sometimes things don’t go as planned. Each week we talk about important travel topics to help you decide when, where and how to explore the world in style. I’m Juliana from Travel with Juliana , professional travel blogger from Boston.
JQ: And I’m JQ from jqlouise.com. And I’m also a professional travel writer, blogger and influencer, also from Boston. Combined, we have over 200000 followers across our social media platforms and we love sharing our travel tips and tricks with you all before we get started. Don’t forget to subscribe and give us a review. If you enjoy your podcast, it really helps us a lot.
Juliana: Last week we talked about all the things you need to pack for your trips, but this week we wanted to talk about the vaccine, how to get them and what it means for you and your travel plans. So first, let’s start off with how to get one. Keep listening to learn what the vaccine means for travel.
How to Get a Vaccine Appointment
JQ: So obviously it varies a lot state by state. Again, like everything related to covid, it really depends on where you are and can even be different depending on what town you are in, in your own state. So, first of all, you know, we’re just trying to give some general advice so that you guys can know what’s out there and just give our own personal take on the situation. But we just wanted to remind you, please do your research on your specific state and town. But for us making an appointment in Massachusetts, it really starts with our state website.
Juliana: Right Exactly. So we went to mass talk of such covid and you can easily make an appointment. You know, it takes less than five minutes and you just get emails saying, like, OK, you’re preregistered and, you know, you basically want an appointment opens up.
JQ: Yeah. So just to clarify that a little bit, so we went to the master of covid site to preregister. So that way we would know when we were available based on our age and, you know, all of the other requirements and options that they have. So for us, you know, we’re both under 30. So we didn’t have the general availability until April 19th. But we did also know that there were a lot of doses that you could get. You know, at the end of the day, when there were leftovers or cancelations from the appointments of people who were qualified for the vaccine at an earlier time than we were. Keep listening to learn what the vaccine means for travel.
Juliana: Yeah, exactly. So basically, Jocund saying, you know, a lot of days, like everything changes like very fast with these like with covid vaccines, you know, by April 19th or on April 19th, everybody was everybody is basically eligible. But in these pharmacies, like especially in CVS, they have extra doses that basically are going to expire if they don’t get use that day. And, you know, because people cancel or something happens, they just have these extras,
JQ: So you know, with everything with covid, you know, there is, you know, always a push and pull with certain things. And this time around with the vaccine, you know, the kind of the pulling effect is that the vaccines do have expiration dates like they need to be chilled. They need to be used within a certain timeframe. So if they’re not used by anyone, they’re just going to go to waste. So I know people like us who are eager to travel again, have been keeping an eye out, looking for extra doses that we can get one as soon as possible before the, you know, general availability. So Juliana and I actually really kept an eye out for that.
Which Vaccine is Best?
Juliana: Exactly. And I mean, you know, all sort of medical professionals are saying the best, you know, vaccine you can get is the first one you can get. Because at this point, you know, there’s a lot of different varying opinions on what which, you know, type of vaccine as best or, you know, what are the different rates. But honestly, at this point, I think if you’re lucky enough to get one, you should definitely take advantage of it. We were actually lucky enough to get one at CVS through this, you know, just by checking to see what, you know, when they had extras. A lot of times you can just go on their site and see, like check to see if they have more appointments.
JQ: So or by just going in person. So most of the time, I think for CVS, if you just go and check at your local CVS towards the end of the evening, the pharmacist will be able to let you know if they have any extra doses that day because of missed appointments, that kind of thing. But there’s no guarantee you need to just go in and just check every so often and see if they have a space for you. Keep listening to learn what the vaccine means for travel.
Juliana: Exactly. And I know that there are also like websites online, like not on government websites, but you can check to see which vaccination centers in your state have appointments available. So there’s that way, too. I think there’s a lot of different opportunities to check when you can get an appointment.
JQ: Yeah. And there’s ways to check for, you know, the state run appointments, too, I think, because we got a CVS which a CVS one. Which is for the Johnson and Johnson one shot vaccine, but in Massachusetts, the state run vaccination locations are offering the Fizer in The Moderna, you know, the two shot vaccine. So I think some of these websites, Juliana mentioning offer, you know, they show the empty slots for those as well.
Juliana: Yeah, exactly. I think they’re for all of them. So, you know, I’ve had a couple of friends who are eligible and they just basically were checking to see if they could get an appointment like they had an appointment and they were just checking the website to basically see if they could get one sooner than they’re originally scheduled appointment. So, you know, if you if you’re just persistent about it and you keep checking online, sometimes you can, you know, get your appointment date moved up earlier.
Our Vaccine Experience
JQ: OK, well, you know, check your state and local guidelines on, you know, eligibility for the vaccine. And, you know, check out some of these other third party websites for, you know, the missed appointments or empty appointments, that kind of thing. So hopefully you can slide in a little bit early. But anyway, I think what you guys really want to hear about is how did we feel after we got the vaccine? So we got the J.&J. vaccine about ten days ago and immediately after we got the shot, I think both of us, we just had a little bit of arm soreness. Keep listening to learn what the vaccine means for travel.
Juliana: Yeah, exactly. I didn’t really feel anything. You know, I got my left arm and it was just like a tiny bit sore, like honestly was less sore than the flu shot normally is usually after the flu shot, I get like my arms store for like a good two to three days almost. But with this one, you know, right after I felt fine, I got it in like the evening. So then I slept totally fine that night. And then the next day I woke up, still felt fine. I was just drinking a ton of water to, you know, to stay hydrated. But then around, like lunchtime, I started to get like a really bad headache. I started to feel tired. I got like chills. But that really only lasted, like, less than 24 hours. So it really wasn’t that bad.
JQ: Yeah. I mean, I had, like, the same reaction, like so we both got the shot about 8:00 p.m. the night before. And then I felt totally fine in the morning. But then right around lunchtime, I just started to get the chills. I started to get just lose energy and I just felt really tired and just achy. So that lasted from, you know, noontime, I would say, through that evening until I went to bed. And then when I woke up the next morning, I felt fine again. Keep listening to learn what the vaccine means for travel.
Juliana: Exactly. So, like, we really didn’t have any bad reactions, you know, just like feeling really tired the day after. But I do know some people who got the J&J and like the side effects can honestly vary so much. So it’s interesting, like you and I felt pretty much the same thing, but I’ve had friends who got it. And, you know, one of them said they had like a really bad fever or one of them. So they didn’t feel anything. And also it honestly, like really depends just how it affects you. Everyone’s different. Yeah.
JQ: And I know, like, you know, we all hear these stories from our friends on how they’re feeling and that kind of thing. But, you know, talk to your doctor to get advice on your own body in your own medical history. But, you know, for Juliana and I, we were fine. We had pretty mild symptoms.
Juliana: Exactly. And I mean, one thing to keep in mind is when you do get these sort of symptoms, you know, that the vaccine is just like making its way through your system. So, you know, it’s it can it’s going to help you later on and just, you know, help, help protect you.
What the Vaccine Means for Travel
JQ: Yeah. So we’re both really happy and excited that we got it. And the main reason is that we want to start traveling again. I mean, we want to go international. We really want to get back out there. And we’ve noticed that so many countries have announced that they either will be requiring the vaccine and or some of them have already, you know, put it into place like Iceland. We’re trying to plan a trip to Iceland right now because we do have the vaccine and that makes us eligible to visit Iceland again. And I won’t be surprised if more countries follow in his footsteps because it just makes sense with the current situation. So we’re really excited about it, but we’re even more excited to start traveling again.
Juliana: Yeah, exactly. Same here. I mean, I think it’s great that we’re so lucky to have so many vaccines in the U.S. and so many people are getting vaccinated. And it’s just, you know, making it, making people feel safer and being able to, you know, start to live semi normally again.
Interview with Dr. Sarah
JQ: Exactly. So let’s get a little bit more of an expert opinion on the vaccine. We’ll be talking with Dr. Sarah, who is a pharmacist at CVS. And let’s hear what she thinks.
Juliana: We’re here with Dr. Sarah from Sessions with Dr. Sarah. You can follow her on Instagram at sessions with Dr. Sarah and Dr. Sara, one on one. Keep listening to learn what the vaccine means for travel.
JQ: Thanks for joining us, Sarah.
Sarah: I’m so excited to be here with my travel babies. How are you guys doing?
JQ: Awesome. I’m so excited to be chatting with you. I mean, the vaccine is what’s helping us travel more these days. So we’re so excited.
Sarah: You are like on my first on my list, I. Wanted to get you traveling when I give you a vaccine where I get so excited.
JQ: Sarah is a professional pharmacist at CBS and she’s here to talk to us about the vaccine.
Sarah: Hey, guys, thank you so much for having me. I’m excited to talk about vaccinating and any questions you guys have about the shots and for your listeners as well. Keep listening to learn what the vaccine means for travel.
JQ: Awesome. So how many years have you been at CBS?
Sarah: I’ve been there about eight years, but I’ve been a pharmacist 20.
JQ: Amazing. We’ll see. So I’m glad we have a real expert on the vaccine because I know there’s a lot of information out there. So we want to get the good stuff for all of our listeners.
Sarah: I know I have I have all the juice on the Pfizer, Moderna and the stalled Johnson Johnson.
What the Vaccine Means for Travel
JQ: We’re so excited. And I know we’ve been getting so many questions about the vaccine. So that’s why we’re doing this episode, to just share information from an expert like you so people can know what to expect and just feel more comfortable with the vaccine. So I guess to get started maybe actually today when we’re recording this, this is the first day that all adults are eligible for the vaccine in the United States. So maybe could you talk to us about what’s the best way for people to get appointments right now? Keep listening to learn what the vaccine means for travel.
Sarah: You have to go online. I mean, it can be difficult to get it honestly, like with CVS or any of the I find because, you know, we’re only doing 20 appointments per day. So there’s only so many slots. And you can’t just walk in and get a shot like a vaccine, like a flu shot or anything like that. Also, you can go on any of the government sites. I think people are having an easier time starting to find them now because, you know, so many of the elderly already have them and the ones that needed it the most. So, I mean, my best advice to people I always tell is like for like, CVS go on at midnight because I think that’s when the appointments usually drop. It’s a good idea.
Juliana: Yeah
Sarah: Yeah, but right now we have, like the Johnson Johnson that’s that was our main one and that’s what you guys got. And unfortunately, right now it’s at a stall. So it’s kind of thrown off the vaccines and getting people done quicker. I mean, we stalled for a week. We’re stuck in a stall space and they are sending out Moderna and Fizer right now. So hopefully we get it going again soon.
JQ: So how does the scheduling work? So now that CVS is doing the, you know, The Moderna and the Fizer, so like someone’s schedules their first shot, you know, do they schedule their second shot when they’re in the pharmacy for their first shot or how it how does that work? Keep listening to learn what the vaccine means for travel.
Sarah: That’s actually a really good question, because my specific store had a Johnson Johnson. We didn’t have to do the duplicates. So what I’ve been told is that it does schedule them for their next appointment and they should get it. I can’t really answer that perse because I don’t have experience with either one of those, but I can check into that. But, you know.
JQ: No problem. So I guess maybe the biggest thing on everyone’s mind right now are just all the, you know, the side effects and any that happen after you get the vaccine, like, what do you want to tell people about that?
Sarah: Well, if you look, I do a lot of talks about that. I did a big I let everybody know different side effects. Personally, I had the Pfizer, so I had that back in January and everything was really new. So there wasn’t very much information coming out. I was very lucky with mine because I got the slight headaches, but I get migraines anyway, so I don’t know if maybe that just played into it and I was really, really tired. So that is one of the things. But a lot of people do get sick, like to feel like they have a flu like the Moderna. A lot of people with Moderna feel very sick on the second dose, not the first. But there’s like my mother’s experience with that was she just had a sleep the whole next day. A lot of people feel like they have the flu for two or three days after. So it’s a little bit more intense for The Moderna. So I always tell people, if you can get pfizer or if the Johnson Johnson comes back soon, I would go one of those if you could, because the Moderna not to knock its doing its job, but unfortunately, the second dose is really getting to people. Keep listening to learn what the vaccine means for travel.
Juliana: Do you do you think that the second for The Moderna, it can kind of vary by age or like for all of them? The symptoms vary by age, because I know like our parents also got the Moderna and the second shot, they felt like really sick after they just had to sleep the whole day.
Sarah: No, I think it’s it doesn’t matter your age. I just think I know we like try to talk about it. There’s not a lot of information out there where we’re going to be like we know we can speculate that maybe they didn’t have covid. You know what I mean? I feel like I may have had it already back you before it was called covid last year. So maybe that’s why I didn’t react as much. And I know a lot of people who did. There was people who went to Encore probably two weeks after that Biogen thing, and a lot of people got sick and a lot of them tested positive for the antibodies later.
Juliana: Oh, wow.
Sarah: So, I mean, the Biogen thing I have heard, you know, we were the epicenter of the whole explosion because all those people left and just started spreading like wildfire.
JQ: Well, and it was crazy because that conference, there were people that came from all over the world or people that came from Italy, from the you. Right. Like from all over. So, I mean, that’s what really brought it here. It had to been.
Sarah: Oh, absolutely. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Yeah, definitely.
JQ: So to go back to the J&J, so I mean, Julian and I both got J&J, right. Had we had mild side effects the day after headache, a little bit of aches and chills, but other than that, we were totally fine and we feel fine now. But what should people know about the J&J going forward? I mean, do you think it will come back? I mean, just what do you what are your thoughts on it? Keep listening to learn what the vaccine means for travel.
Sarah: I think absolutely it will be back. I wouldn’t be surprised by the end of this week or by next week. I think there’ll be a warning on it. You know, for me, like six people I mean, six people are very important. However, six people out of seven million experienced this. Yes. It’s very important to take care of that. But, you know, if people have blood clotting disorders and things like that, I think there’s something they need to look into, what it is these six people had that maybe made them have the blood clots versus everybody else because this is a pandemic. This is this could be deadly. It could be different for you. It could be different for me. So I think they do need to bring it back so we can get them going and get everybody vaccinated so we can get back to life. It was funny because this morning I was thinking about concerts are going to start coming back. But I’m like ideally like real life big concerts like. Stuff, I just don’t see it happening again till next summer. So here we are waiting another year. Yeah, things are getting better, but we’re still not back to normal.
JQ: Our last episode, we talked about how this is really another one of those pivot moments where, like everything is changing every day. Again, every different every every day it’s different. And wherever you go, it’s different. So, you know, you have to just, you know, do your research if you’re going to a different state. And what are their rules? How can you protect yourself? How can you follow their rules, that kind of thing,
Sarah: Right Absolutely. I mean, I’m going to Florida in two weeks and I cannot wait. I think I’ll probably burned to a crisp. I have a like you ladies and like two years like. But as you can see, with no makeup, thank God nobody else can see me. But, you know, I’m excited to go. But there Florida’s a little lax.
Juliana: Right. I know JQ just came back a couple of months ago, but yeah, I know Jack and I are going to Mexico soon. But you’re really excited about. But, you know, it’s still like, you know, even if you have the vaccine, you still need to be careful, like everybody has to do their jobs. Keep listening to learn what the vaccine means for travel.
Sarah: So. Yeah, yeah. Well, you guys going to Mexico, are you taking me?
JQ: So we’re going to Cancun. We’re going to check in on a new hotel, so. Oh yeah. Yeah, we’re going. Yeah I will go next week.
Juliana: So we’re going next week so we’ll be somewhere warm. Actually this is just a nice second Mexico trip, just the two of us.
Sarah: So yeah, that’ll be fun. Next time, invite your helium radio free. Yeah. Yeah. These girls are on my channel and I’m so excited that you guys have joined helium in all our following. So we’re delighted. It’s so exciting to have because I think travel is such a huge thing and like you guys go everywhere. So when I reached out to you, I was really excited that you were going to join us and we’re going to be doing some big things. I can just do some huge sponsorships for you all because of traveling and stuff. And you’re going to have to take me.
JQ: Yeah. Oh, for sure. That’s exactly. And honestly, I mean, you know what? We’re so excited is that this vaccine is what’s helping everybody be able to travel again.
Sarah: So I think. God, can you imagine I mean, in your house another year. Oh, my God. Especially when the weather’s getting nicer, like every day.
Juliana: And so I just look at my phone. I’m like, OK, I’m going to go outside this day, this day, this day, because it’s going to be nice weather days. So, yeah, I just I just really can’t imagine others like missing a whole another summer because I know it was still so new and we didn’t know anything. We didn’t know a lot yet, but yeah. So just, just moving on to more of like the travel rules, like what do you think, you know, how will the vaccine help? I think, you know, some countries are already kind of announcing, like, if you’re vaccinated, you can visit. You know, for JQ and I talked about our last episode, Greece is opening up mid-May to travelers who are vaccinated. So that’ll be like the first country that you’re Europe is really opening, really opening, too. And we you know, we’ve been seeing some articles about France opening, like we’re just super excited to be on different countries lists of vaccinated passengers. So, yeah,
Sarah: Right. I mean, I guarantee you we have to bring those CDC cards. So they’re such like, honestly, if you haven’t had a vaccine there. So I don’t, for lack of a better word, stupid. They’re just like a cardboard cut of paper. Yeah. They need something better. And like our official. Yeah, like we have our passports travel. We need something different, I think, because, like, I one of my things in my Tiktoks that goes with the sessions was there was don’t post those cards on online and I still see people doing it and I got vaccinated and they have the card . Great. I’m glad you were vaccinated, like I say. But at the same time, you’re putting your lot number, you’re putting where you had it. So people are selling cards for hundreds of dollars and they’re taking your information and putting it on there. So then you have all these clowns out there who aren’t vaccinated pretending to be. So I hope that’s going to be a better way than me laminating my card or hanging it up somewhere in my house. We don’t forget it.
Juliana: Right? I know.
JQ: I know there there has to be some kind of digital verification, something like that, because I don’t know how we’re supposed to travel with these, you know,
Juliana: Just piece of paper that could easily be duplicated. Yeah. And also, I feel like it needs to be somehow associated with your passport for international travel.
Sarah: That’s got to be it. Oh, actually, you guys, you have the piece of paper don’t you don’t even have any of the piece of paper. You come comes home so I can give you a real legit one. Yeah. Yeah, we need one and they got it. We’re like, let’s just put it with our passport. Print to them? Yeah, well, we have them again, so just come on back. Let’s get one of those. Come visit me.
JQ: Yeah, I mean, I’m just so excited about all of this. I mean, it’s just crazy. It’s been a year of this. So, I mean, you know, for Juliana and I were just excited to be able to get back out there again. Keep listening to learn what the vaccine means for travel.
Sarah: I know you’re so lucky. So what’s this hotel you’re checking out?
JQ: So it’s called so it’s a brand new hotel and we just planned everything today. So it’s called the Gaza Blanca Resort and Spa in Cancun. OK, but yeah, we’re going next week. It should be super nice. I mean, like this will be just a nice beach trip. Like, we’re so ready just to relax and
Juliana: Just get away from someone that’s mostly like, honestly, Jack and I will just like even if we do a little bit of work there, it’ll just be nice to not have to be on Zoom to do to do everything. Yeah, I know everything.
Sarah: I know every week. It’s always like your screen time is up by now or something like well that’s kind of how we live. So thank you for telling me how many of your steps are really down. It’s because you have the house today. Oh yeah. And I love the steps down. You are down an hour from last week. I’m so sorry.
Yeah, I know it.
JQ: And isn’t it crazy that today’s marathon Monday, but there’s no marathon again.
Sarah: Oh, my perfect brother God. And it would have been nice weather. I know. Oh I know everybody. My sister read up the two times. Not obviously not last year. So she ran the two times before I was such bad weather, the rain and all that stuff.
Juliana: JQ ran it the what is it. 2018. And the rain is not really stories and yet just in transition. And we, I mean Drew, we’re like going to cheer her on. And it was just like freezing standing outside. Yeah. Like really.
Sarah: I know. Well again it was like with the concepts and stuff not only next year but you know, once. Yeah. But they were saying like they’re going to have to through some kind of vaccination. And you’re they’re also saying like Pfizer came out and said a year from your last dose, you’re going to probably need a booster shot.
Juliana: So exactly. We’ll be like a yearly thing, like the flu shot. And I mean, I think a lot of people are kind of like people have a lot of mixed opinions about this, too, because it’s like, oh, I can’t just get it once and it works forever. Like, no, I know this is the thing now, so.
Sarah: Yeah, yeah, it’s a virus. This is a virus. People you cannot cure it with an antibiotic. There is no cure for covid right now. So you’re going to have to get vaccinated and please stop making it political. It’s your life. It’s your friends life. You know, I’m asthmatic, so I was very scared. They made us stay in the stores during the whole thing. And I was very scared. Like I tell people all the time, I’m like, I saw these horrific graphic photos of people. I mean, not to be a bummer on the podcast, but people keep in mind that some of these people who died of covid, they’re dying like butt naked on their stomachs with tubes in their throats. Do you want to go out like that or do you want to just get that vaccine? You know what I mean? That’s what I say to people. And I’m like, do not make me send you. What’s the reality about this? You know, it’s not a political thing.
Juliana: You want to meet in Mexico? I exactly like here we are, you know, want zoom, zoom. OK, Sarah.
So where is the best place for people to listen to your podcast?
Sarah: It is on helium radio right now at sessions with Sarah and we have Fridays with Sarah. And guess what? You’re on it too. You guys are on one thirty, right?
Juliana: Yep, we’re on one thirty.
Sarah: Mine starts at twelve thirty and then after that’s millennial girls and then you guys.
Juliana: Yes. Perfect, perfect lineup. You can follow Sarah on Instagram at sessions with Sarah and Dr. Sarah. One on one. Yep.
Sarah: Find me there. DM without any questions about vaccines and I always have about different remedies and opinions of my vaccines and et cetera on their stuff.
Juliana: And what’s your Tiktok, Sarah?
Sarah: It’s at Dr. Sarah one on one as well. Perfect. Yeah, we might have to move to the Jacuzzi because that’s how we’re seeing more of our view. So I have to do recommendations from the Jacuzzi, you know what I’m saying?
Juliana: Thanks for listening, Travle Babies. We hope you enjoyed our chat on the vaccine and our interview with Dr Sarah. Stay tuned for more travel tips. And don’t forget to subscribe and give us a review if you enjoy our podcast. Thanks, JQ.
JQ: Thanks, Juliana .
Be sure to check out our other episodes on the current travel situation to learn about how we are packing and preparing for our upcoming trips.