I'm different now! As of 9.30am this morning I joined the swelling ranks of those who have had a covid vaccination. It's hard not to feel that something quite momentous has taken place. A something that has injected not only a vaccine into my arm, but something else just as important. Hope! Unlike a flu injection which is routine and not thought about much once it's done, there is a feeling of having crossed a great divide.
The centre I attended was as efficient as it can possibly have been and on a par with the reports that others have given about how easy it's all been made.
One way in which I think we the public can help in terms of efficiency is to make sure we anticipate what's coming next and take off our outer wear and roll up sleeves ready to receive the vaccine. As soon as I realised the next step was the actual jab, I removed my coat, but I was a bit surprised to see how many other people had to be told to get ready. Yes it probably is just a few extra seconds, but when a centre is busy and queues are forming it can save everyone a bit of waiting time.
Interestingly I was not asked to wait for 10 minutes afterwards but free to go. I was invited to stay for a few minutes if I wished, but it wasn't required.
I had my Covid vaccination this morning as well.I feel like you Callendersgal that there is hope for us all.I wasn’t asked to wait 10 minutes either.Think it must be their new policy.
I felt this morning when I saw the people waiting outside the surgery for their jabs how it will be great when its my turn and how over the next few weeks more jabs will be going into more arms!
Congratulations on your vaccine Chocolate41. From what later saw on the info sheet I was given, and I only read this afternoon, it's been more usual to insist on the 10-15 minute wait after being vaccinated, if you had the Pfizer vaccine. I don't know about you but I had the AstraZeneca Oxford one.
I had the AstraZeneca Oxford one as well Callendersgal.I feel a bit achy and have a slight headache but nothing too bad.
Early night I think.How are you feeling now?
Good news and I'm pleased for you and thank you for the tips. I'm due mine soon through my work so your news made interesting reading.
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Glad to pass on the information waitingame7. I hope yours goes well too!👍
When I was out walking earlier on I walked past the doctors surgery and there was a line outside waiting to have theirs done and it was freezing and pouring down with rain and wind and those poor people were made to wait outside in that as well!
I walked past there thinking how one day it will be me standing in that line and how I will be called when they are ready for me but not sure when and how great I will feel when its my turn!
How's Kasar getting on? Baby is fine and looking forward to her 17th birthday party in April!
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I think I was very lucky to have had mine done in a hospital setting so that I didn't have to contend with being outside, waiting in bad weather. I'm pleased to hear that people were nevertheless waiting patiently in the rain to get vaccines, and it really does make me wonder about where the big divide occurs in age in being happy and willing to be vaccinated, and being sceptical.
We had ours at 11.15. It was very straightforward and mine was done by one of the GPs at our medical centre. We were free to go afterwards too and I asked the GP should we wait for fifteen minutes in the car and was told that with this vaccine, there is no need - we had the Oxford AstraZenica.
Hi springcross, I too had the Oxford vaccine and have just read on my information sheet that it's only necessary to wait afterwards with the Pfizer vaccine and now someone else has said that you may be asked if you declare any allergies, too.
Hi Callendersgal. I've just found out from a friend and her hubby that they had their vaccines on Thursday evening, same vaccines, the same place as us and they use the same medical centre. They were not given any info either. Her sister and b-i-l in Scotland, again same vaccine etc and they were given the info. As a matter of interest, were you offered a chair to sit on?
Hi springcross, yes, there was seating. Each vaccination was done in a separate consulting room and there were at least a dozen of these operational while I was there. We were given seats in the adjacent corridor which were socially distanced, each right outside the room where our vaccinations were going to be carried out. Each was sanitised between vaccinations, but this only took a few minutes. Each consulting room had two chairs, one to sit on and one to place coats on. There was a one-way system in operation so that on exiting we continued round in a circle and back out through the main doors. I think an awful lot depends on the real estate where the vaccinations are taking place. Mine was done in a city hospital but one which is normally only used for out-patients, a surgery unit, a GP clinic and (in more usual times), the walk-in clinic for small emergencies. It seems that if you have the AstraZeneca vaccine, which I did, there is no need to be monitored afterwards as it uses completely different (old) technology which means there is no threat from serious side effects.
I was interested to learn that you'd had to stand, which I agree isn't ideal, especially for the elderly. I had half expected it though so had put on really comfy shoes as a precaution.
We were swabbed on the injection site and then the GP who did mine had a plaster ready, but clearly I didn't have enough bleeding to warrant it, so he didn't apply it.
Hi Callendersgal, thanks for the reply. Quite a bit different from ours then, so maybe it was that the operation was held at the local rugby club, probably more for parking reasons than anything else? It was literally in, answer a couple of questions, injection, less than one minute to say what may happen and what to do and then out and then as I said, no info given whatsoever - cattle comes to mind! 😁
Interesting that you were told no need to wait. In the U.S. at my doc's clinic, I was given the Moderna so don't know if that made a diff. for the two other patients and me being told to wait the 15 min. We were taken to a large conf. room for the vacc and sat at very spread out tables. No lines, thank goodness! Was in and out the door within 30 mins total.
We had to stand which I thought was quite off, not that I mind standing but it's not usually the way. After the vaccine we were told very quickly what could happen afterwards and to take Paracetamol and a few other instructions and that was it. It reminded me of being on piecework years ago. We were in and out of the door in about eight minutes, we had the Oxford AstraZenica, no arm swabs before or after and no plaster on the injection site. Cost-cutting? !!
Springcross, Having to stand rather than sit does seem a odd. Maybe to move patients more quickly? I was swabbed and a tiny bandaide was applied and we were given info. sheets. Amazing all that has to be available and extra $$$ involved in getting those vaccs into arms. Kudos to the many great minds at work who have worked so hard in a very short time to disperse this death preventing vaccine!
Yes! That first Covid shot brought such relief, and an almost surreal feeling of hope for me as well. Really thought I'd been very upbeat and positive throughout this long ordeal we are all experiencing so was really surprised at the added confidence having the vacc brought.
My clinic in the U.S. required the 15 min wait afterwards and the whole experience was smooth as silk. I'd worn a sleeveless dickey under my wool long sleeved shirt and like you, was surprised to see two others delay the process by having to bare their arms. That delay multiplied by those waiting in long lines can make a difference over a day's time in how many can get the vacc. No soreness at all after the vacc and looking forward to my 2nd the first week of Feb.
Reports here this week cautioned against taking an NSAID Before the vacc because it might interfere with efficacy but a nurse told a friend, yesterday, that she could take one if she experienced lingering soreness afterwards.
Really interesting to hear how the procedure is going in US FlowerPreciousLover. I've not heard anyone here mention NSAIDs and I am taking one regularly at the moment, so here's hoping that won't cause any after effects! I haven't had any kind of after-effect but wondering if I might feel a little tiredness tomorrow maybe. (But don't want to talk myself into feeling that! 😊). I think you are very fortunate in being able to have your second dose so quickly after the first and glad to hear you've had no site soreness! Best wishes for becoming completely vaccinated in early February!
No, not this morning. After I had the phone call early this week inviting us, I suddenly realised afterwards that I hadn't asked her which one it was so I rang back and was told then. x
Fantastic news for you MadBunny. All the best for next week. It really is surprisingly exciting. Even my husband who still has a wait for his, (being younger than me), announced in the supermarket to all who would listen, that I'd had my jab! 🤣
It must be an incredible feeling of reliefThe whole world is waiting to be vaccinated
Also fortunately U.K. has the supplies to vaccinate the U.K. population
There is a shortage of the vaccine in many countries so one hand you are fortunate in U.K. to have mass supplies of the vaccine but also everyone should be given the chance of a vaccine
It does feel really good to have had the first dose Roukaya, and I will feel even more excited when the second dose comes along! We will get there and are moving really quickly to get our population vaccinated asap. We can't all have it done together, but I'm pleased and comforted to read that the intention is to include less fortunate nations as soon as it's practical, and without profit being made from it too.
You're not a pest Md. In one way yes but I was a bit like you as I didn't know which one would be the best. There are things to take into consideration but have a read of the link below and see if this helps. Also, with the Oxford AZ, we were told this morning at the centre that it would be about twelve weeks until the next one but the other vaccines may not have such a long wait (although I'm not sure about that). x
Hi Sue really pleased for you my mam had bit arm pain but not for long took some paracetomal my sister gets hers Tuesday she's 6o but on beta blockers so is getting it early the other people I know no side effects I'm sure you'll find a nice way to celebrate some more nice food perhaps lol were ordering fish n chips take away tonight from Morrisons pixie will be happy lol enjoy rest of your day 😸🌟xx
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That sounds nice fish and chips from the Morrison's cafe for take out!
Tonights dinner here will be pasta and carbonara sauce!
Last night we had Chinese from a place we had never tried before as our usual Chinese is shut until further notice which we enjoyed and will order from them again in the future.
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That's nice I had pasta last night it's on the food site it doesn't fill me tho and I had a piece ginger cake then bit later double decker 3 rich teas 2 ginger biscuits crisps salmon paste sandwhich woke up at one I'll lol soposed to be taking it easy today had so far 2 toasts with half avacado some left over pasta 2 ginger biscuits this is a low food day I think I'll have couple Jaffa cakes were going to look up procedure on Morrisons mam thinks ring up then collect park shuts at 4 will have to go on electric bike lol I bet we don't bother if not I'll have frozen crinkle cut chips fish fingers mushy peas I'm not even dressed lol mam's looking out the window counting people in park 3o just saw in view I'll do a street walk in the dark xx
😸
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We got it did power walk in the lorry part no one there for fifteen minutes straight in out chips were bit steamy fish nice tho got some big silver baking trays it was packed in which we will use again pixies flaked out for some reason lol have a good night 😸😋xx
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He will soon wake up when he smells the fish!
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He's had it he had tuna too then some of mine and the skin he will wake up tho in coue hours and want more he will get a few of his biscuits and go back to sleep I'm tired now after eating all that I had 2 sleeves bread I like to make fish n chips sandwhices lol I love bread xx
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Hi Mandy, glad your mam didn't suffer any side effects with her vaccination and that your sister gets her first dose soon too. Oh yes, fish and chips sounds like a great celebration. I might treat myself shortly 😆🍟🐟
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Hi thanks my sister is allergic to all all meds so if the vaccine is the Pfizer one she can't have it and won't know which one until the day my friend gets hers Tuesday as she works with special needs children the job I do bit as I left as I mentioned temporarily until virus goes down I emailed work said I will go back 3 days when my mam gets her 2nd jab, but not heard from them I keep checking my email I guess I won't get jab as I'm not working at moment but I'm not going back until I've had the jab enjoy your supper it's tired me out and pixie too for now lol 😸🌝xx
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Hi Mandy, I count myself lucky that I was told I was getting the Oxford vaccine on the day I got my call with an appointment. And the GP who did mine did point out that the Oxford vaccine can still be given if you have one of the more common allergies. Glad you and Pixie are feeling contentedly tired now! 🌈😺😊
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Oh that's good I guess the longer I wait the better the vaccine hopefully, if there's any left lot disputes going on I don't watch much news just going by what mam tells me night night 🐆🛌🌝🌟
Quite right too Bkin. Both of the current vaccines give good protections and I wouldn't have hesitated to be given either. I was lucky that I was told it was to be the Oxford vaccine for me, on the day I received my appointment! 👍
Another way to help would be to turn up. Vaccine being disposed of because of no shows.
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Actually shocked to find out that anyone would do that Hylda! I wonder if you found out the same way that I did, as you live not so far from me, that bus drivers and ferry crew in the IOW are getting theirs early because of leftover vaccine for this very reason!
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Daughter’s friend works at Southampton General, they’ve had no shows.
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Awful Hylda!
That's excellent to hear Sue and you are completely right to be prepared and take your coat off and roll your sleeve up ready when know it's getting near to your turn.
Our eldest daughter also had her jab this week, she had it on Monday (she's a voluntary member of the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team) and she said they had it running very smoothly.
Let's just say this is making history.
Alicia 👍🙏😊
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Indeed Alicia.... history in the making. Glad to hear your daughter has had her first dose too!
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It really is Sue. I'm glad our daughter has had it as she was out on another rescue today, second one this week. Today's rescue turned out well.👍
Congratulations on getting your vaccine date Mydexter. (Who knew we'd ever be offering congratulations to each other for being offered a vaccine). Maybe not the most convenient to have two separate days and a longish journey to get there, but well worth doing! Interesting to read about the wait and allergies. That makes sense. It's really good to collect all these tips on the whole process. It should be reassuring for those who come after us in the queue for vaccinations.
Thank you Jerry! I'll be so happy for you too when you get news of yours. You've been so good at promoting all of the vaccines and keeping our members cheered up and motivated by promoting all the positive news articles about vaccination! 👍😊
Lol pixie woke at one I had pain in my upper intestine I managed to get back to sleep I didn't want to wake mam for a lanzaprozil think as I was so tired I was ok but still dodgy when woke again I had 2 chamomile tea bags in a mug I won't do that again I used to find red wine sorts it lol I'm just closing down here now and getting ready for my comedy hope your feeling better and get some sleep I am just digesting the fish n chips lol Yul see picture on here night night 🛌🌝🌟🐆xx
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I have mine next Thursday 
Just something light hearted before bedtime 🙂
For any and all who love to learn something new and exciting -
The COVID vs the Human race tug of war intensifies.