Enjoying a sense of ease getting my vaccination

On the last Friday in May, I got in a cab for the ride to Beijing United Family Hospital on Jiangtai Road.

Through the haze of the morning sun, the cab weaved in and out of the rush hour traffic. We eventually got off the highway and turned toward my destination.

Small restaurants lined the street, reminding me of 1st Avenue in New York City. Hospitals festoon the road in New York and the pop-up cafes serve the medical workers there.

I wonder if the eateries on Jiangtai Road do the same thing for the nurses and doctors here.

Beyond the bus stop, we pulled into the driveway of Building No 2. I disembarked the taxi and made my way to the entrance.

My temperature was taken and my phone scanned the ubiquitous QR code for Beijing's health kit. I can still remember the day when going to a clinic or a hospital in Beijing would mean just walking up to the receptionist and asking where a doctor's office is located.

No more. COVID-19 happened. And nothing has been the same since.

I told the nurse I was there for my first shot of the Sinovac vaccine. She pointed me to the elevator that would take me to the 5th floor where the vaccinations were taking place.

The station where one signed in was empty, except for the two nurses on duty. I showed them my passport and showed them the notice for the appointment on my cellphone.

They gave me a sheaf of documents to fill out. I went to a nearby room, was handed a pen and began filling out the documents.

They were in English and Chinese.

I was then told to go in the direction of where a sign indicated the bathroom. It was also the entrance to the vaccination room.

When called to get the injection, the nurse asked me about my preexisting conditions and if I had any allergies to vaccines.

I answered "no" and rolled up the sleeve on my left arm. I watched the needle go in, felt a slight twinge and it was done. The nurse then told me not to take a bath that day and not to eat any spicy food.

I proceeded to a spacious room where others were lounging around to wait for their 30 minutes of observation to finish.

Of all the things about getting the jab, the most difficult part was counting off the 30 minutes before I could leave.

Like everybody else in the room, I spent the time checking my cellphone.

I looked at the closing prices of some stocks in the United States, but spent more time monitoring the results of a baseball game played by the Boston Red Sox, my favorite team.

About a month later, I was back at the same hospital. This time, my wife accompanied me for my second shot of Sinovac.

I experienced some jitters because of stories I had heard about people getting sore or feeling dizzy after the second shot.

This time around, there was only one vaccination station instead of the three they had the first time I was there.

The jab went into my right arm this time. Again, I watched the needle go in.

While waiting for my 30 minutes observation time to run its course, I discussed lunch options with my wife.

I did not feel sore or dizzy. I went to work that afternoon and put in a normal shift.

I wish all my hospital visits would go as smoothly.

There was a small sandwich and cake shop at the hospital entrance. We bought some cake for the ride home. A treat for ourselves.