A confirmed appointment for your first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is equivalent to finding a gold ticket in your Wonka bar in 2021. (Actually no – it’s better because some level of immunity to a pandemic-causing virus is far superior to a factory tour where attendees are asked to lick the wallpaper.)
Once you’ve secured your spot and are ready to go to the vaccination site, you may be so excited about your first dose (and leaving the house in general) that you leave the house without thinking about what you are carrying . Or maybe you’ve spent hours choosing the perfect outfit that will pop your eyes in that vaccine selfie you’ve been waiting for months. (That’s roughly the equivalent of 500 “I voted” sticker posts.) Or, you’re accompanying a parent, grandparent, or neighbor to their vaccination deadline and want to make sure things go as smoothly as possible.
Regardless of how much (or little) thought you’ve put into your Vax Day ensemble, there are a few things to keep in mind when getting dressed before your long-awaited appointment.
Wear something with short / no sleeves (at least as a base)
Unless you’re doing anything else, plan on wearing something that will make your upper arm easily accessible to the person giving you the vaccine – be it short sleeves, sleeveless, or easy to slip off your shoulder (like the elegant lady in the photo) above).
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With so many people in need of vaccination, you don’t want to waste time grappling with an uncomfortable arm-in-arm configuration. When it is your turn to act, you want to be naked and ready to go.
So, if for whatever reason you’ve got your heart set on snapping a vaccination selfie with a long sleeved turtleneck, then you should reconsider your outfit. This could be the ideal time to break this out cold shoulder top This has been taking up space in your dresser drawer since 2016.
This doesn’t mean you have to wear a seasonally inappropriate summer shirt in the dead of winter –Layer on and stay focused for every part of the process. If nothing else, at least put on an undershirt, because …
Suppose the vaccination takes place outdoors
Unless you have been specifically advised otherwise, it is best to assume that you will receive your vaccine in an open, semi-public space – such as a stadium, high school, pharmacy, or hospital corridor. Sure, there may be some kind of privacy / humility barrier available on the site – or you are lucky enough to get the shot alone in an exam room – but when you plan your outfit and your shifts, think that you are at least partially familiar with other people will undress around. (If it doesn’t, it’s a nice surprise.)
Or if you’ve always wondered what it would have been like to model for Botticellithere is this option:
Be ready to wait in line
There are tons of facilities for COVID vaccination centers and some of them involve waiting outside. In the winter. Somewhere like for example Massachusetts. Regardless of your geographic location and whether you’re waiting inside or outside, do yourself a favor and wear comfortable shoes. (And pants – might as well go with something soft with a little stretch.)
And if it’s even possible to have to wait outside, wear a warm coat, socks, hat, gloves, and scarves – whatever makes the waiting more bearable.
Don’t forget your face mask
At this point, you should be used to wearing a face mask when you leave the house and your vaccination appointment is no exception. When you wait outside, a nice cloth mask will keep your face warm.
