Please Wear Suitable Clothing to Administer the Vaccine
A confirmed appointment for your first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in 2021 is the equivalent of looking for a golden ticket at your Wonka bar. (Actually, no – it’s better, because gaining a certain level of immunity to the pandemic-causing virus is far superior to a factory tour where participants are encouraged to lick the wallpaper.)
Once you’ve secured your seat and are ready to travel to your vaccination site, you may be so excited about getting your first dose (and generally getting out of the house) that you leave home without thinking about what you are doing. tedious. Or perhaps you’ve spent hours picking out the perfect outfit that will really make you look at the vaccine selfie you’ve been waiting for months to post. (Roughly equivalent to 500 “I Voted” stickers.) Or maybe you’re accompanying a parent, grandparent, or neighbor to a vaccine appointment and want to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
No matter how many (or few) thoughts you’ve put into your Vax Day ensemble, here are a few things to keep in mind as you dress up for your highly anticipated date.
Wear something short-sleeved / sleeveless (at least as a base)
If you’re not doing anything else, plan to wear something that makes your shoulder easily accessible to the person administering the vaccine – be it something short-sleeved, sleeveless, or easily pulled off the shoulder (like the elegant lady in the photo above ).
With so many people to vaccinate, you don’t want to waste time fiddling with some awkward one-hand-in-one-hand-out configuration. When it’s your turn, you want to be bare-handed and ready to go.
So if for some reason you’ve decided to take a selfie with the vaccine while wearing a long-sleeved turtleneck, you might want to revisit your outfit. Perhaps this is the perfect time to get rid of that cold shoulder top that has been taking up space in your dresser drawer since 2016.
This does not mean that you have to wear a seasonally inappropriate summer shirt in a dull winter layer up and stay in the kit for every part of the process. If nothing else, then at least wear a T-shirt, because …
Suppose the vaccination is done outdoors.
Unless specifically instructed otherwise, it is best to assume that you will receive the vaccine in an open, semi-public place, such as a stadium, high school gym, pharmacy, or clinic hallway. Sure, there might be some kind of privacy / modesty barrier on the site – or you might be lucky enough to take a picture alone in the exam room – but when planning your clothes and layers, consider undressing at least some of the other people around you. (Then if it isn’t, it will be a pleasant surprise.)
Or, if you’ve always wondered what it would be like to model Botticelli , there is such a possibility:
Be prepared to wait in line
There are countless locations for COVID vaccinations, and some of them involve waiting outside. In winter. Somewhere, like Massachusetts . Regardless of your geographic location and whether you will be waiting indoors or outdoors, do yourself a favor and wear comfortable shoes. (And pants – you can just as well pick up something soft with some stretch.)
And if there is even a chance to wait outside, get ready with a warm coat, socks, hat, gloves, scarves – anything to make the wait more bearable.
Don’t forget your face mask
At this point, you should get into the habit of wearing a mask every time you leave the house, and your vaccinations are no exception. Plus, if you’re waiting outside, a good sheet mask will keep your face warm.