Feeling nervous about vaccine

This is where to report adverse or unusual side effects to the vaccines.

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From reading, it seems to me that there are lots of anecdotal accounts of reactions to the Astra Zeneca vaccine but not so many to the Pfizer one.

For what it's worth, we had the Astra Zeneca one yesterday. DH who is one of those people who never catches anything is flushed with a sore arm, high temperature and headache this morning. I have a mild immune dysfunction, I've got a headache, prickly throat and am a little hot. I usually catch everything going! I won't feel secure until I've had my second jab.

Erica23

Had my vaccine on Friday, not bothered about the jab which was fine. I was more worried about the side effects. I must have known because I felt very ill yesterday, started with a headache 4 hours after receiving the jab, got progressively worse through the night not much sleep,then felt dizzy and sick all day. By about 5pm, thought I must be through the worst when the shivering, high temp and diarrhoea started. Don’t think my body likes this vaccine. Dreading the next dose !

When you were assessed and received the vaccine you should have been given an advice leaflet explaining possible side effects. Were the side effects you actually experienced listed? If not, perhaps you should follow this up and try to speak to your GP.
Hope you feel much better now.

Had my vaccine on Friday, not bothered about the jab which was fine. I was more worried about the side effects. I must have known because I felt very ill yesterday, started with a headache 4 hours after receiving the jab, got progressively worse through the night not much sleep,then felt dizzy and sick all day. By about 5pm, thought I must be through the worst when the shivering, high temp and diarrhoea started. Don’t think my body likes this vaccine. Dreading the next dose !

had the pfizer on 19 jan. no side effects at all. am still following safety precautions of course, even after the second in few weeks time. will always where a mask when in shops and keep distance from others from now onwards.

I think the idea of being half done is too pessimistic. Certainly only half the course has been given but most of the data so far is showing that the first dose gives more than half the effect that 2 doses will give, and that the second dose is helpful for longevity.

The rate of people vaccinated is almost certain to slow down as people have to get their second dose but we now have the infrastructure to do half a million doses a day. Supplies are forecast to dip a bit over the next couple of weeks but then we should start to see supplies rise again, especially if we get supplies of Moderna and if J&J is approved.

So I think things will slow down, but in the meantime 15million people have good protection.

Franburn no you aren’t the only one, everyone I’ve spoken to understands they aren’t in the clear yet.

Franbern, I'm with you. I will continue to shield, apart from essential medical appointments, until I receive the second dose. It would be madness to do otherwise.

Am I alone in feeling that until I have received the second jab, I am only really half done???
Whereas it is wonderful that something like thirteen million people have now had their first jab, to report that so many have been vaccinated is not really good reporting.
I am still a little concerned as to how the second jabs which will need to start taking place very soon (even on the 10-12 week between doses, works out. Probably will mean that the number of those people who have not yet had their first jab being able to get that will just ramp up.
Do not think it will matter whether people are given a date for second jab or wait to be contacted - during April and May most of that thirteen million are going to need to attend again.
I do have friends in London-well into their eighties who have already received both doses, but most of us are waiting.
Anyone here had full vaccination (ie both doses)??

Wehad the pfizer one yesterday ,in the same community centre where we had our flu jags.My OH's appointment was 10 minutes before mine but the nice man on the door told me to go through to the waiting area where I was surprised to see all the over 60's in my street .Over 20 of us.
Socially distanced of course .taken through in 4's and sent to the station for our own practice then we all had socially distanced seats for 15 minutes and a chance to catch up on each others news..Well done to the team who were lovely ,friendly and efficient .The post code thing is a great idea

I’m back. Thanks everyone. Colleywobbles gone. It was very well organised, we didn’t have to wait long and were socially distanced and both of us went into the doctor’s office together. Hardly hurt. It was the Astra Zeneca. We were told to wait 15 minutes before driving home. And we can have a glass of wine with our dinner. Dog was fine - dd taken her off for her jab now so all 3 of us have been done!

I would hope you would have discussed this with your GP or consultant in advance. I was in a similar position, albeit not quite having as severe reactions as you had, but they did result in hospital stays. I contacted my rheumatologist, who told me the risk of dying from Covid was greater and advised me to have the vaccine. If you have your EpiPen with you and you are vaccinated by a doctor, who is aware of your medical history, would you not consider it? It is your choice of course.

Jaffacake2 your worries are perfectly understandable and reasonable given your medical history.
Have you talked about this with your GP? What do they advise you do?
You'd definitely need to tell the medical staff at the vaccination centre when you book your appointment and when you arrive.

I am so very nervous and am debating whether to have the vaccine. I have had numerous anaphylactic shocks to different drugs and foods over the past decade and been in ICU due to them. I have been told the Oxford is best for me and to notify the doctor of my history. So scared.

Just think, it has been a long, nerve wracking year and the vaccine is the way out. I was very anxious awaiting the call. Then so excited when it came. I wasn't nervous but was surprised that I felt weepy when I got there, I could have sobbed. It was all so focused and positive with so many people working towards it being a success. Wonderful.

My friend had Whiter Shade of Pale followed by the Hallelujah Chorus played on the organ at Salisbury cathedral. That would have been good.

My over-riding feeling was that of excitement, relief and most of all, gratitude to all the wonderful clever scientists who have worked flat out to produce these vaccines for us all in the shortest possible time.

The pharmacist who did mine said so many people cried with relief- some of whom told her they had barely left the house for the best part of a year, and saw the vaccine as the way to freedom.

She said some people’s stories brought a tear to her eyes.

By now 25Avalon you and your DH will probably have had your jabs and realised there is nothing to be worried about. The people who should be worried are those who just refuse to have them!

I was a bit nervous but it was all over so quickly. I had barely removed my coat when the needle went in. Didn't feel it. I was tired the day after but nothing worse than that.

We had to wait 15 mins if driving or 5 if not, this is regardless of which vaccine, as some people faint.

Oh so pleased someone else feeling nervous, thought it was just me. I had mine at lunchtime today, it was so easy, the worst part was waiting outside in the cold ?. Now I’m waiting for the side effects to start, I’m such a wuss !

How did it go 25Avalon?

Charleygirl yes DH had the AZ vaccine, the surgery phoned me last night and my jab is at 6.21 which seems very precise and I’m not to arrive more than 5 minutes before and I’m to walk to the marquee 2 minutes before.
DH will drive me there as I’m hopeless at trying to park in their small spaces and if I only have 3 minutes to do it...........I could well be late!

Cressida would you consider going with a volunteer driver? I think if you phoned the surgery they may advise.

DH had the aZ one this morning. They said as he had walked to the surgery he did not need to wait .

We were asked to sit and wait after our jabs we had
Astrazenica .Cressida why don't you ring to see if you can have jab at home.

Any patient who has had a reaction to ANY vaccine will be advised to wait for 15 minutes regardless of which Covid vaccine they receive. Also, anyone who will be driving will also be advised to wait
Our practice made everyone wait for the full 15 minutes after the inoculation, whether or not they'd had a previous reaction. That was after Pfizer one.