Editing 2402: Into My Veins

Two of the next four comics also contain references to the vaccine, [[2404: First Thing]] and [[2406: Viral Vector Immunity]], and the first of these, like this one, additionally references a common Internet trend.

Two of the next four comics also contain references to the vaccine, [[2404: First Thing]] and [[2406: Viral Vector Immunity]], and the first of these, like this one, additionally references a common Internet trend.

As a consequence of all of this, many people (including, presumably, [[Randall Munroe|Randall]]) are excited for the vaccine, which will hopefully end the pandemic. This comic shows [[Cueball]] clearly thrilled to receive the vaccine. "Inject this directly into my veins" is a meme based on a line (from ''{{w|The Simpsons}}''): in the episode "{{W|A Star Is Burns}}", an alcoholic character wins a lifetime supply of beer, and replies "just hook it to my veins". The meme is typically applied to things that are not injected at all (such as a form of media or entertainment) to express exaggerated enthusiasm.  When Cueball applies the meme to the COVID-19 vaccine, it causes some confusion, because the vaccine ''is'' delivered by injection, but not {{w|Intravenous therapy|directly into a vein}}. The medical staff delivering the vaccine have apparently heard this or similar lines frequently, and appear to take it literally, explaining that it's intended to be administered intramuscularly (usually in the upper arm).  In fact, at least [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34406358/ one study] has shown that inadvertent intravenous injection of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines may induce myopericarditis, i.e., inflammation of the pericardium (tissue surrounding the heart), although [https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/covid-19-vaccines/is-it-true/is-it-true-does-injecting-into-the-bloodstream-instead-of-muscle-cause-tts-or-myocarditis this claim has been disputed].

As a consequence of all of this, many people (including, presumably, [[Randall Munroe|Randall]]) are excited for the vaccine, which will hopefully end the pandemic. This comic shows [[Cueball]] clearly thrilled to receive the vaccine. "Inject this directly into my veins" is a meme based on a line (from ''{{w|The Simpsons}}''): in the episode "{{W|A Star Is Burns}}", an alcoholic character wins a lifetime supply of beer, and replies "just hook it to my veins". The meme is typically applied to things that are not injected at all (such as a form of media or entertainment) to express exaggerated enthusiasm.  When Cueball applies the meme to the COVID-19 vaccine, it causes some confusion, because the vaccine ''is'' delivered by injection, but not {{w|Intravenous therapy|directly into a vein}}. The medical staff delivering the vaccine have apparently heard this or similar lines frequently, and appear to take it literally, explaining that it's intended to be administered intramuscularly (usually in the upper arm).  In fact, at least [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34406358/ one study] has shown that inadvertent intravenous injection of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines may induce myopericarditis, i.e., inflammation of the pericardium (tissue surrounding the heart), although [https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/covid-19-vaccines/is-it-true/is-it-true-does-injecting-into-the-bloodstream-instead-of-muscle-cause-tts-or-myocarditis this claim has been disputed].