Cant get the vaccine

[GrinchnotHinch]

This is not an anti-vax post just to start off before I get a flaming.

On my social media there is a lot of people being very aggressive with how they’re telling everyone to get the vaccine or they’re being selfish. I would be willing to sit and try to get it, but I have probably one of the worst needle phobias you could imagine

No nurse has ever been willing to vaccinate me since my last school jab (which I got by my arm being strapped down and an adult sat on my chest), we’ve tried and failed. I become so distressed they say point blank that they won’t do it.

I’m scared of getting Covid and I’m scared of the backlash from everyone, I’m scared of not being able to travel and go back to “normal”.

Will there be any kind of exceptions for people who can’t get it do you think? I’m more than willing to be frequently tested, or do anything to prove I’m not being purposely obtuse. Is there anyone else in a similar position?

Yeah, get drugs

Double dose of diazepam chased with a Gabapentin and some cough medicine and you'll inject yourself while singing Yankee Doodle

Quicker and cheaper than hypno (which would work by the way - you'd have to have the appointment close to the jab though)

I mean for things that will potentially require proof of the vaccine and also to be honest for the social backlash, I’m worried about people being angry at me

Come off social media if you are that anxious about people on fb being “angry” that you haven’t had the vaccine. What business is it of anyone else’s anyway?
No one can make you have it if you don’t want it, and the pp saying they would judge you for not having it - I’d tell you to fuck right off frankly.

@time4anothername

like another poster said, why not use this as a motivation to get treatment for you needle phobia? Corona vaccine or not, surely your life would be better with the phobia? IAPT if in England, they will happily treat you for it.

OP, Blood Injection Injury phobia is SO common and can be much improved by Cognitive Behaviour Therapy via IAPT (you can self refer to your local service), there may well be a long wait. The alternative is to look at the CBT register for properly accredited CBT therapists (accredited by the BABCP) who you could see privately. If you want to pm me I could help you find an experienced therapist from my network of fellow accredited CBT therapists. Perhaps your graded exposure was where you made a list of the least worrying situation eg ‘seeing a sewing needle’ up to whatever was the most distressing situation and exposed yourself to each situation as you went up the scale? There are other techniques in the armoury but it may be the this wasn’t done slowly enough or the way you think wasn’t addressed enough before the exposure work began. I’m sure your anxiety could be greatly improved so do think about CBT again.

To be honest, for a one-off like a vaccine you could have some tranquiliser. I've got a phobia myself and it gets so much better with a pill. What's the problem with medicating yourself for something like that? It is just one day, not that is going to cause any addiction or anything like that. If you really think you should have it and it is beneficial for everyone

I need 20mg of temazepam to reliably knock me out to sleep, and/or to relieve a panic situation.

I need 30 mg to fly.

I'm oddly resistant to lower doses, but one cup of strong tea keeps me awake at night. God I wish I was resistant to caffeine and susceptible to benzos.

It’s not expected that everyone will take the vaccine. You may have to prove you have had it if going abroad but that’s only talk at the moment

Some figures I have seen seem to indicate they expect a 70-90% take up rate, so not everyone will do it

That said you need to try and sort your phobia. What would happen if you needed emergency treatment?

@ApplePie86

I doubt it.

It's not going to be mandatory but if you ever want to travel abroad some countries may insist you've had it.

More than just “some” countries I should think. And they’re going to be pretty uncompromising about it. Ultimately I don’t see any other way than to get vaccinated. Your GP maybe prepared to give you some sort of sedation.

To give you some hope, there is a nasal spray vaccine in trials. Only very early trials, and of course there's no guarantee it'll make it through, but it's a possibility.

I can sympathise because I have a phobia of gagging and as a result couldn't possibly have a Covid test. Fortunately so far I haven't had symptoms or ever needed to get a test but it does worry me.

It’s not always the needle either when it comes to having jabs. I’m a type 1 diabetic and I inject myself 4-6 times a day on average. I cannot even get into the building where I need to have a big needle in my arm without going dizzy/faint. I have had my blood tests done by finger prick. As a child they came to my house for the standard immunisations but as an adult I’ve always been told no other alternative so it doesn’t happen. I did not find anyone takes it seriously and I get ‘it’s just a needle get over it’ only I’m not sure it is the needle it’s the surrounding circumstances and the flashbacks to a very traumatic childhood experience.

I really want to have the vaccine but I really think I too won’t manage it. Basically I don’t have a suggestion but I totally sympathise with you OP!!