Covid jabs in the thigh if you haven’t any axillary lymph nodes?

[ChristyAnne_UK]

For ladies (or men) who have previously had their lymph nodes removed from under their arms during breast cancer surgery. I had that on both sides in 2008, and have had a heck of a job trying to find out if I can have the covid jab in my thigh (which is where I have all other vaccines, following medical advice). Btw, I now have CLL. I know. Poor me. 🙄

What I’ve discovered by digging hard enough is YES, you can! Just ask when you go for your appt. (Source: 119 phone service and Cancer Research nurse info service. who provided me with a link to government guidance specific to this question. Ask me if you’d like the link.)

[Jm954 Administrator]

ChristyAnne, that's hard having had axially nodes removed from both sides. The reason that any sort of injection or venepuncture is avoided is that it may lead to the debilitating and painful condition lymphodema.

I'm sure knowing you can have the vaccination in the leg will be useful to some members.

Thanks

Jackie

[ChristyAnne_UK in reply to Jm954]

Thanks, Jackie. I hoped it would be helpful, as I had such difficulty accessing the information myself.

[morepork in reply to ChristyAnne_UK]

Something I hadn't thought about till your post is - what depth does The Jab" penetrate to? Is it intramuscular or subcutaneous or what? Someone who's had it will hopefully know - I haven't been able to find such specific information.

[LeoPa in reply to morepork]

What I saw on TV its the length of the needle. They stick it all into the shoulder muscle. I was wondering how come in skinny folks with nearly no muscle they don't hit the bone.

[ChristyAnne_UK in reply to morepork]

Yes, that thought had crossed my mind. For my purposes, it needs to he IM, into the vastus lateralis muscle (outer thigh), and my chubby thighs are already pretty vastus. They’re gonna need a bigger needle.

[morepork in reply to ChristyAnne_UK]

Ouch and good luck !