Feeling nervous about vaccine

I kind of wish I could have some sort of reaction just to prove to myself my immune system was kicking in. I did feel tired last night but that’s not unusual for me. Interestingly in the the trials for the children’s vaccine they will not be given a placebo but a meningitis vaccine so that a placebo effect can be ruled out.

Neither dh or myself felt well over the weekend after AZ vaccine on Friday. Both felt fuzzy, shivery and had headaches and muscular pains similar to flu. Just crashed out and let my body get on with it - My immune system should now be ready. Feeling a lot better today. Glad we were able to get it done. We will still take precautions but nice to think about being able to go out after Easter where we haven’t been all year.

I had the Oxford vaccine last Thursday evening. I woke at 2.30am with chills, shivering and shaking and feeling sorry for myself and spent the day in bed. Better yesterday and fine today. Go for it!

I did too, Juliet27 and Kalu

Several Gransnetters have posted the same.
In fact I have had a slightly wheezy URT ever since which I'd never had before.

DH and I have both had the Pfizer vaccine now and feel fine.

We both had the ‘lurgy’ as we were calling it, last winter. I remember it well Juliet27. So many of us dropping like flies.

A few days before Christmas 2019. DH eventually prescribed steroids Although we had both suffered from flu before we never experienced anything which affected our breathing so badly. It took us weeks before we felt truly well again. When covid symptoms were firstly shared, we ticked off exactly the same symptoms we had experienced.

My daughter (30) had the Oxford vaccine yesterday evening. Rang me in tears because she felt so poorly this morning, temperature, aches and pains and also loss of smell and taste. Took some paracetamol, and about 30 mins later she rang me to say she still felt poorly but much better. They did tell her she may feel like this, so it’s not unexpected.

Does anyone remember how round about last Christmas time (19/20) so many of us were complaining that we had coughs that seemed to go on for weeks. I wonder if any of them were actually Covid.

Mines booked for Monday morning at 8:50. I'll probably end up driving round the block for 10 minutes as I always turn up everywhere too early just in case. I'd like to have the Pfizer but I'll be happy with either.

oopsadaisy That's interesting - I wonder if it will be one of the things we learn over time? I had a similar thing last March too, suspected by GP to be Covid and treated as such but not confirmed as no testing was in place outside hospital then. I know I felt rubbish for months. Husband didn't get anything at all.

WW010 So glad someone sees it the same way! Hope you get yours soon - hoping husband will get his in the next few weeks. Seemed weird having mine before he had his as I'm at home all the time yet he's having to go out to work and mix, but I suppose if they're trying to vaccinate millions of people they can't get too tangled up in the details! haha.

blue25 I understand the worry, but I can tell you hand on heart that any true side effects will emerge in hours to a maximum of days. It's not possible for long term effects ( as in years down the line) to occur because vaccine's aren't drugs and have a completely different effect in the body. All they do and can do is tell your immune system to act and start working when it comes across something similar. Vaccines just create a response, they don't effect or alter the structure of anything like cells or tissues, so they can't cause, say, a mutation which might in years to come cause a cancer, or affect formation of a foetus years after the jab.

I do think anyone with half a brain should ask the question, is it safe? But I also think it's reassuring to understand the answer.

I hope all goes well when you have your vaccine.

It’s natural to be nervous. After all lots of people are having side effects and we don’t actually know how the vaccine will affect us 5, 10 years from now. I’m having a vaccine by the way, so am not an anti-vaxxer, but I think anyone with half a brain would have some reservations.

H1954
I wasn’t warned of any side effects, or given a leaflet ,but I’ll look it up, and report, it may help with research. I had the AZ vaccine everyone I know that had the Pfizer vaccination have been okay. I haven’t had COVID either, to my knowledge anyway. Maybe we’ll know more as time goes on.

I've just had mine this morning. Pfizer.

It was just a 20 minute drive away - my local surgery is a vaccination venue but had no availability when I tried to book, so I thought I might as well just get on with it. Plus, it potentially freed up a walking-distance slot for someone who doesn't drive.

Even though I'd done a recce yesterday, I was still nervous this morning, because I knew from others' anecdotes that the car park is tiny.

I got there just a tad early, to give myself time to drive round the block and find a spot. Although I told the smiley marshall (well, he Sounded smiley) that I was happy to go round, he directed me to a kerb fully Five Yards from the entrance table, and told me just to go for it now, as they were ahead of themselves.

It was very well organized indeed, everyone sounded smiley! and kind and efficient too.

With it being the Pfizer, we all got personally escorted to a waiting room, and given a personal timer set for 15 minutes, and told to sit there until the alarm rang - there was a nurse guarding the waiting room too.
Absolutely couldn't fault the process.

I'm not a natural gusher but I kept saying, "Thank you so much!?" to everyone I interacted with ?

I don't like having injections, but of course this is essential and a privilege to have it. I had the Pfizer, and speaking as a total wuss, it was hardly anything, a tiny scratch, not painful at all. Will have no qualms about having the second, whenever that may be.

That night my arm was a little tender, just avoided lying on that side. Next day all fine, and has been ever since.

Two weeks later OH had the AZ. He had more of a reaction that night. He was icy cold and could not stop extreme shivering, and had a weird headache. It was like a fever really. Next day he felt better, I made him sleep in the afternoon to catch up, and had some paracetamol. All fine since. Again he will happily have the 2nd, but will take paracetamol immediately if he feels any reaction.

We are both relatively healthy and I am not aware that we have ever had Covid, we have been keeping well away from everyone.

I feel relief that if I did get it now, I would hopefully not be so ill, and maybe would not have the risk of being taken to hospital.

My 20 yr old son [ CEV ] had his on Friday, the Oxford one. He had to wait 15 minutes after having it.
No side effects so far apart from a sore arm and a bit of a headache.

NellG I’m positive it’s the immune system kicking in. The vaccine isn’t live so it’s can’t be anything else. Can’t wait for mine. They’re doing over 65s now via the NHS link so lots of people I know getting it done. ? over 60s are soon!
www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

nellg I wondered about that too, DH was very poorly with a chest infection last March just before Lockdown and hasn’t really been 100% since, although as I only had a bit of an Asthma problem and didn’t catch whatever he had, I assumed it was a minor infection, although he was ill for 6 weeks or so. He only had telephone consults and was eventually put on stronger meds for pneumonia.
Maybe that was Covid?

I had mine (AZ) on Thursday and initially felt fine, didn't feel a thing! By Friday evening I was feeling pretty rough, very achey and tired. It's wearing off now.

I'm very much of the belief that this reaction is less a side effect and more the immune system showing an appropriate response.

A friend, who's a bio chemist suggested that a stronger reaction might show up in people who'd already had Covid. No idea about that tbh, but an interesting thought.

DH was very unwell with his jab , I had mine on Thursday evening and so far I am absolutely fine , we both had the AZ vaccine.

I’ve heard the opposite, people I know were OK with the Oxford AZ (including me) but had bad headaches with the Pfizer. I’ll be careful till the second dose and beyond that, in fact I think I’ll be careful for ever!

All you lucky people getting the vaccine wished it was me!!!

Just an observation - when I’ve had flu and pneumonia jabs the nurse has always told me to press hard on the cotton wool and I’ve developed bruises after (maybe I pressed too hard!!) With this Covid vaccination there wasn’t even a plaster. I guess a lot depends on the way the injection is given?

I have reported the side effects, but it took forever, as I had to list my medications, all twenty of them.
I'm happy to do so, if it helps research.

I agree Jennifer , we were pleased to ‘get out’ for our vac, my husband has been shielded on and off for nearly a year and we were relieved when we got the call, just a sore arm to show, I guess there will always be people who get bad after effects whatever medication they get and so expect it to happen.
We still Stay in and try to Keep Safe, it’s not a magic bullet.

Like many I was surprised at how emotional I felt when I received mine last Friday! Like many I realise it's not a golden bullet and have to continue to follow rules rigorously.
My area seem to be ahead of themselves as I am group 6 but received the text to book on Thursday. I didnt know which one I was having.
It was the Pfizer one. The venue was extremely efficient temperature taken,lots of questions asked about allergies and any recent vaccinations. The injection itself was quick and painless. After expected wait skipped out of door. ! The only side affect was tenderness to the injection site which disappeared after 24 hours.
Cressida I so sympathise with your concerns. I dont know whether you are officially shielding or high risk and being careful.
I was in a similar position to you and until January had only left the house once or twice.
A lot depends on your local area and circumstances.
In December I got a job which was to good to turn down. On the whole I would be working from home but for the first week I had to go into the office. It's with the civil service so I knew the environment would be as covid safe as could be,and it was.
To access it however I had to go buy bus or taxi. Taxi was the quickest and safer alternative.
As suggested above sit behind driver,mask up. Even open window. Drivers have to wear masks. I also asked for a taxi with a partition and card machine.
I completed 10 taxi trips and have survived-I hadnt even felt safe enough to have my flu jab before that.
Yes,take every precaution. Consult your GP practice, it may be that you need to have the vaccine at home,although this does only seem to be in a limited amount of cases. It could well be your surgery is working with a taxi company they have vetted or can recommend a volunteer driver.
Do whatever makes you feel safe. I take the minimum amount of things I need with me. I used hand gel as soon as got out of taxi. On return home I immediately changed clothes,putting ones I had worn in wash. I had a shower. Items I took with me put somewhere for 3 days.
Whilst out dont touch your face!
The above may sound extreme to some but it's worked for me.! At times I have felt slightly ridiculous. In retrospect I could have gone out more last summer.
I was astounded myself that after such caution I was going out into society at a time when the second wave was at its peak and worse than the first, but I survived it!
I'm a firm advocate of everyone sticking to the rules and I will continue to do so. I do however wonder if the ongoing campaign to educate those who disregard the rules has had a negative affect on those that do. To me it got to the stage I felt I would be struck down with covid if I ventured into a public place.
Yes,consult your GP practice. If they say you need to go to a vaccination centre take all the necessary precautions and do it! You will be fine.