It was such a relief after a year of living in uncertainty and, at times, fear.

From what I saw on my visit, the Saskatchewan Health Authority has the procedure of getting us vaccinated down to a science. The only hiccup during my visit was being told I put my mask on inside out. I, um, just wanted to see if they were paying attention.

I hate needles. I take the fear far beyond regular needle-fearing people.

I had spinal meningitis went I was an infant. I still remember the doctor making house calls and the needles he took out of his doctor’s bag, and poked into my skin. I am forever grateful that a nurse living two doors down told my mom that I had worse than a flu, and she should take me back to the doctor.

My fear of needles took hold though.

Back when I was in elementary school, we got our needles in the gym. We would line up from the gym doors and all the way down the main level hallway. We inched forward until we got to spot where we got a prick in our arms. I am not sure I phrased that properly, but you know what I mean.

I remember the absolute terror of fainting or crying in front of my school mates. The needle was at least six inches long. It went right through my scrawny little arm and came out on the other side.

Trips to the dentist were torture. This is off topic, but I had a dentist who would slap me when I expressed my fear. I never told my parents. The dentist would have needed dental work had I told my father. He had a quick trigger.

Back in the day, people had to take medicals before they could get married. Sandy and I went to my doctor together. He was a great man who had delivered me about 22 years earlier. He wasn’t the meningitis guy or the dentist.

I told Sandy I didn’t think I could do the blood test.

She said I had to if I wanted to marry her. I said I would climb the deepest sea and swim the highest mountain for her, but a blood test was out of the question. She pleaded with me to take the test. That is lie. She could have said “there are a lineup of guys who would marry me, so suck it up, Cameron.” That’s pretty much true.

At the doctors’ office, we were each put in a little room, just like doctor’s offices have nowadays. Sandy got her medical first. That gave me time to get the lay of the land.

My biggest fear was throwing up, so I located the garbage can. When Dr. Harris came him, I told him of my fear of needles. He said it would be easy. I said that was easy for him to say.

He poked the nine-inch needle into my arm and extracted half of my blood. I was going to ask for some of it back, but that would have required another needle.

I was proud that I didn’t faint or throw up. It was a turning point in my life. Sandy and I have been married 42 years, and I have had many successful needle experiences over the years. I remember a tetanus shot being a son of gun though.

Now, back to the present.

I got the AstraZeneca vaccine. It seems to be getting a bad rap. As people came out of the vaccine centre, as some of us where entering, they were asked what vaccine they were given. People did not want to hear the Astra word.

A number of countries in Europe suspended use of the vaccine a month ago after some people reportedly developed blood clots after receiving the vaccine. The countries said it was a precautionary measure, although Denmark said it will no longer use the vaccine.

In Canada, our health experts have said there is nothing wrong with the vaccine, and we should roll up our sleeves and take it.

It didn’t matter to me what vaccine was used. It has provided me with some peace of mind. I had a sore arm for a day and was really lethargic the day after. Sandy didn’t notice a difference. Good one.

Trust me, getting the needle was easy. It was so small it didn’t pass through my scrawny left arm.

-Cam Hutchinson