Attending your Vaccination in the UK

[MaryF]

Hi, This is the letter going out in my area of the UK, regarding attending your vaccination. This part of the letter is very relevant to those on Warfarin, and is probably the same UK wide.

Please do not arrive more than 5-10 minutes before your appointment time. Because if you do, people have to queue for longer and social distancing becomes more difficult.

Have your NHS Number or invitation letter with you. Your NHS number appears on various NHS documents and letters you may have received related to your healthcare or medications. Please avoid calling your GP to ask for your NHS number as their telephone lines are incredibly busy and should be kept clear for patients who need to make appointments.

If you are on anticoagulation medication (blood-thinning medicine such as warfarin) please take your ‘yellow book’ with you to your vaccination appointment. You will be able to receive the vaccine if you are up to date with your scheduled INR testing and your last result was below the upper limit of your target INR range.

MaryF

[Ray46]

I'm guessing we can just take recent dosing letter (mine lists last 4 or 5 results) instead of yellow book? I don't even have current yellow books anymore, let alone filled in - filled all mine up years ago, keep my own records (spreadsheets) from self testing.

[MaryF Administrator in reply to Ray46]

If required I am sure that will be fine, this was a letter from my specific area, Suffolk and Norfolk, best of luck. MaryF

[tiredmum]

Thanks for that, that’s the first time I have heard about it.

[Dartsnerd]

Hi MaryF,I took my yellow book with me Wednesday when I had my first vaccination. Offered it to the nurse but it wasn't wanted. A doctor just popped over to check whether I was on steroids or not. The nurse explained she would press down on the injection site for a little longer to ensure bleeding had stopped.

I don't know if this will be the same everywhere, but they weren't worried about my INR and didn't ask any questions about it.

I had no side effects at all from vaccine.

[MaryF Administrator in reply to Dartsnerd]

I am glad it went well for you. MaryF

[Dot69 in reply to Dartsnerd]

I had my vaccination on Wednesday I was quite apprehensive about It but was reassured from medical team it should be alright I was asked if I was on anticoagulant I said Warfarin they asked when I last had a blood test and what was my INR at the time, I’ve felt much better than I expected 👍 as I know of many people not, the only thing I got was large bruise

I had the Pfizer jab if it helps

[WendyWoo50 in reply to Dartsnerd]

They weren’t worried at all for dad. I’m on Apixaban now. They didn’t flinch. Mum asked why they asked about blood thinners. The dr said oh some people get worried when they get a big bruise. But most of us are used to that! No other reason just to warn of a bruise! X

[kiminabmw in reply to Dartsnerd]

What is the concern of being on steroids? My nephew (CAPS) has been on a steroid for 20 months, as high as 80mg daily, but has been weaned down to 5mg daily. He is also on CellCept and Plaquenil, and Lovenox is his blood thinner.

[Jianna35]

My INR is never stable!! 2.6, increased dose dropped to 2.3, another increase of .5 and now 3.2..... I get venous sample every week

[Sher78]

This post made me giggle slightly. When the vaccines first came out, I was very apprehensive about having one as I had read a lot of research between the jabs and blood clots, obviously with having APS, as well as a whole host of other AI's. Luckily, when I went for my first jab, there was a doctor there who was a bit undecisive as to whether I should have it or not. After him making a few calls, he said I should be ok, just to watch my INR. Had the vaccine done and INR checked a few days later, which had suddenly gone absolutely crazy (dropped right down, then went really high and took months to stabilize again). Fast forward to the second jab, again, INR went crazy. Ended up in A&E with a suspected clot (INR dropped wildly again, but luckily, no clot). Third jab, INR went absolutely crazy yet again (up and down for at least 4 months after) and it also put me into a massive lupus flare which lasted weeks and left me bedbound for the first week (something it hasn't done in years). Also, my malar rash made an appearance for the first time in God knows how long. Apart from the first time I had the jab, nobody has been interested when I've mentioned being on warfarin and having had a stroke, blood clots, APS etc. For me personally, the more jabs I have had, the worse I have been after each one so no more for me. I understand the importance of being protected from covid but for me personally, I can't keep putting my body through this every time.