Covid-19 vaccine my GP surgery surprised me!

[Topcar]

Hi all I'm 64 with & had a call from my normally fairly hit & miss surgery on 28th January to attend for my astrazeneca jab that same day!!! Had to queue for a short while outside good job it was pre snowfall!! But the roll out was like a well oiled machine, much to my surprise, very impressed for once with my surgery. No ill effects from the jab other than a sore arm for about 4 days. My hubby who's 72 & attends a different surgery didn't get his until the following Tuesday and was very jealous!! Woohoo!! From reading people's experiences on here & in the news it's looking like most of the UK is on track with vaccinating everyone more or less within the planned time scale, keep safe and well everyone 🤗

[piglette]

When I went there were about sixteen ‘stations’ for vaccination. Besides myself there was one other person there for their jab at 2.30pm in the afternoon. They said they had masses of spare slots. They thought that people were double booking with their GP surgery and then with the government letter. It seemed such a pity that they could have been vaccinating so many people.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Hope the vaccines weren't wasted though.

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

They were Astra Zeneca, so I don’t know. Another vaccine hub nearby say they are getting a 20% no shows.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

They could offer the spaces to anyone who wants to turn up and wait! I would ...

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

I agree, but they seem totally opposed to that in case a 20 year old gets in before a 70 year old. Crazy. They have even been chucking vaccines away.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Did you see the headline about Japan. They don't have the special long needles to get 6 doses out of the bottles - and the report claimed the vaccines would be chucked! But any country can get 5 out of the bottles which was the original intention ...

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

That is awful. I think UK were throwing away the sixth vaccine too. It was mentioned on the news recently so with any luck they may have stopped.

[Abbey17 in reply to piglette]

My GP said they have to do in priority order and any vaccines left are sent to other areas not thrown away to ensure all priority groups are vaccinated. Our area is fairly small community wise compared to big cities and most places are well ahead with the vaccines - I can only speak for my area (although on the crossroads of both Lancashire & Cumbria - same Health Authority) they are very efficient. Originally it was anticipated everyone vaccinated by September now it’s looking like we’ll all be done my May. Massive logistical exercise.

[piglette in reply to Abbey17]

Do they use Astra Zeneca? I am not sure you can do that with Pfizer as it does not last long out of the freezer. I assume in Japan as they do not have long enough needles they have to send it to some other country who have long needles.

[Abbey17 in reply to piglette]

They use the Oxford one

[piglette in reply to Abbey17]

Ours has the Pfizer one

[Abbey17 in reply to piglette]

I will be glad to get mine but bit worried about the side effects, lots of people react badly for a few days - but better than getting it!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Think it is 6 hours once reconstituted but most GP practices get the AZ one.

[PMRCanada]

I’ll be waiting for months here in Canada (sigh). Only 58 years old and we are delayed due to shortages of vaccine shipments from all suppliers.

Talked to my GP who recommended I get the vaccine when offered despite the fact my immune system is compromised and likely won’t produce the same amount of antibodies as someone who hasn’t been on pred for 3 years. I asked if I could get tested for antibodies after I’ve completed the vaccine, however it only provides an”yes” or “no” regarding antibodies, not a quantifiable number. He did think it would be an interesting “experiment” though. In the end he thought it better to have “some” antibodies than none...said it may be the difference between handling Covid at home vs. being hospitalized should I get the virus.

So now just a waiting game for me. I will say it is somehow reassuring to read positive outcomes as folks who got the virus (who have PMR/GCA), recover. And not many negative side effects from folks on here who already have one or both shots/jabs.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PMRCanada]

What a strange attitude from your doctor - here the emphasis is that even if the vaccine doesn't provide the same claimed 90% plus preventative cover for those of us on pred, it is very likely to provide a fair bit. Most vaccines get approval for 50-60% cover so that leaves a fair margin! There was someone from the UK on the TV this morning saying he didn't know if it would work - but isn't the argument then that if it doesn't work you have lost nothing except maybe a sore arm - but if it DOES work you win hands down?

[PMRCanada in reply to PMRpro]

His attitude is as you’ve described above, that’s why he recommended I get the vaccine. Just no way to actually measure the “amount” of antibodies produced. I was the one questioning the risk vs. benefits as I was wondering about a possible flare from the vaccine that may not provide as much benefit given my compromised immune system. We also discussed research and I shared what I’ve read here on the forum from links provided, as those with suppressed immune systems are not the same as subjects in trials with more robust immune systems. After a thorough and lengthy discussion he said if he was in the same situation as I, he would definitely have the vaccine. In the end he mentioned it’s better to have some protection than not have any by refusing the vaccine.

I did not find his attitude strange at all, rather he spent the necessary time discussing with me an important decision about my health...as he always has.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PMRCanada]

I just overthought the first sentence ...He sounds good - but you have used him for much of your PMR journey haven't you? Must be worth it.

[PMRCanada in reply to PMRpro]

He certainly has been very helpful since he first diagnosed PMR almost 3 years ago. I think in part because his colleague has PMR, and he did share he has two other patients with PMR (which I was surprised at given our small town has only 14,000 people). I'll take him overseeing my care instead of the crappy rheumy I experienced in the early days. We are a team!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PMRCanada]

We are a team! - which is what matters.

[Mazxstitch]

I got a phone call on the 18th January at 16.15 "can you and your husband come to the surgery for vaccination at 17.45". A clinic hadn't used all of the Pfizer they had and it was delivered to the surgery. We are in Aberdeen Scotland.

[York54]

Our surgery is not the best organised either but we received the call on Thursday. We are both having our jabs on Monday morning, the Astra Zeneca. I’m almost 67 and hubby almost 68. We both sighed with relief .😀😀😀

[artfingers]

I queried the woman giving me the second shot (sorry if I've said this elsewhere) of Pfizer vaccine. She said they only take out 5 doses, not the 6th, I assume not having the long needle? I thought that isn't right...but I was also told prepared doses aren't wasted at the end of the day, they have lists to call for folks waiting and are careful not to set up too many vaccines toward the end in case of no shows. So that, at least, made me feel better. Oh, also two days ago one of our major pharmacies, Rite Aid, got lots of Moderna vaccines so I was able to go online and sign up FIVE relatives (over age 65) here in various locations in the U.S. including my husband for first dose and also tell others. The appointments went like wildfire as friends told friends, wonderful! So glad you got the vaccine.