Wibu to take biscuits to my vaccine appointment

[Howcanwehelp]

I've got my covid vaccination this week. I'm very grateful to be getting it and thought it would be nice to take a selection biscuit pack, obviously still sealed. Would this be weird? Would they be allowed to take it for the break out area?

This thread is hilarious. Anyone who has worked in the NHS knows how quickly food vanishes when it is brought in.

I think it is a lovely idea OP and wish I had done something similar but I was post night shift when I had mine and could barely see straight, let alone remember chocolates!

‘ God, really? You are complete angels; when it's my turn I'll be going in armed!’

Yes, a lot of the centres taken over don’t have any of their normal Facilities or staff,
And yes the shifts are long and there’s nowhere really to sit anyway. It’s all geared around making sure that the patients spend as little time indoors as poss. I don’t mind the longish shifts as it busy, buzzy, and we get to talk to loads of people and help those with anxieties in particular.
I walk out at the end feeling knackered but as if I’ve really done something good and useful.

One guy who got vaccinated owns a mobile coffee van and the next week he came back up to our site and made every volunteer and staff member a proper coffee/hot drink for free. It was such a lovely, thoughtful thing to do.

I think it's a lovely thought op. Interesting that all the people working in vaccine centres are saying that they would be gratefully received yet there are lots of others (who don't work in the centres) saying it would be "weird". I really despair that kind acts are often construed as weird. It's such a shame.

Hospital doctor here and we eat boxes of biscuits and chocolates patients bring- we are hungry! They will love it!

Funny how all the 'are you mad?' brigade have gone quiet

but as if I’ve really done something good and useful.
By God you have. Respect.
(and 💐)

Of course it's allowed if it's sealed. And it's very sweet of you. God some people are so miserable it's painful!!

Vaccine centre staff here - at ours they’d be accepted gratefully, placed in break room and demolished within the hour 🤣
It’s a lovely gesture OP.

The last shift I did (12-8pm) I hadn’t managed a proper lunch, grabbed an apple to take and thought I’d survive on the rest area snacks and
Was gutted to find there was nothing there for the first time ever! I’ve boughto a massive sack of choc digestives and for my next one to make sure we’ve got something there...

I'm a Vac nurse & we have been very touched by the cards and donations kind people have given us.

Totally unnecessary of course but a lovely thing to do & we've been very grateful. it's also nice to be able to share biscuits & chocolates with our unpaid volunteers. We couldn't run the service without them & it's nice to show that they are appreciated

On my wifes ICU unit, they have had either a Chinese or Indian delivered for free pretty much most weekends since the pandemic started, she is always trying to work at weekends for the free food

This thread is classic MN

Everyone who works or volunteers in a vaccine centre "Yes, do it, of course its allowed and we love to get gifts"

Everyone else "No, its far too dangerous, one chocolate could kill millions and they won't be allowed to accept anyway"

I do wonder at this attitude:

“why should anyone show gratitude, oh my god that’s WEIRD”

It rather unfortuneately smacks of entitlement when it comes to the vaccine. Which I think is ‘weird’ if anything!

It just seems just an odd way to behave, given how extremely lucky we all are to be getting the vaccine and knowing the massive efforts everyone has made in getting the roll out happening as efficiently as it is. It IS amazing, and it IS worth our gratitude.

Having said that, I’m sure all the volunteers and staff that make up the vaccination infrastructure, would rather people felt they can just come & get the vaccine without any thought or fanfare (when told to of course), rather than people not turn up, for whatever reason... so thinking kindly, perhaps the attitude is coming from a misplaced sense of ‘dont draw attention to yourself, just let it all go as streamlined as possible’?

I just think it’s a shame we can’t all be a bit more kind and well, gracious about thanking the volunteers and others on the front line.

It’s the most massive mobilization in modern times, and one thing that is going right about the Covid response in all the dark times.

It didn't occur to me until we were already there (taking DH for his first jab a while back) so when I went back for my own jab a few weeks later, I wad prepared.

A tray of small bottle of water, a selection of fruit like bananas which have to be peeled and some individually wrapped sweet biscuits were all in the boot.

Explained at the entrance that I had some things in the boot. They thanked me and directed me to drive up to the entrance. People were waiting there to unload. All expressing thanks and practiced enough that this was obviously not a one off.

The nurse who delivered my vaccination was a volunteering on her days off. This was the day the 1% below inflation pay rise was announced ....

The G&B selection box is a great idea for next time.

There's no break out area at ours except the toilets, they do their shift and leave immediately

Should also add that the quiet verbal thank-yous are just as touching as anything to eat!

No, excellent plan
All gratefully received
We have a drinks and snacks station

Also - dressing up and general joyful appreciation gratefully appreciated too. I vaccinated someone who wore a tiara to the appointment recently as she was so excited. Also had a prom dress and a feather boa.

@Parkerwhereareyou

Write a card?

They can't have the Celebrations because the container might be contaminated with Covid.

What special Covid resistant material is your card made of that it can’t be contaminated but a plastic container can?

This thread is utterly bonkers.

Thank you to all you amazing NHS staff. Wish I’d thought of taking you some nice treats but at the time I didn’t. When DH has his though I shall send him with goodies.

Write a card?

They can't have the Celebrations because the container might be contaminated with Covid.'

OMG we can ! Celebrations are the best cos you can pop a couple in your pocket for when you're freezing to death outside marshalling the car PArk!!

@en0la

There's no break out area at ours except the toilets, they do their shift and leave immediately

En0la I'm sorry to hear that, but it is certainly not the situation in the majority of the large vaccination hubs, where dozens of Nurses, Healthcare Assistants, Marshalls and Volunteers are part of the team effort.

I wouldn't be doing 12 hour shifts if it were!

I took a biscuit selection box to my first vaccination appointment. It was gratefully received and I saw it out out in the staff break area.

Of course they can have Celebrations! My DH took along a box of Heroes. Gratefully received.

Most of us are vaccinated with at least the first jab anyway now, front line staff are getting their 2nd now or have just had it. Even volunteers are being routinely vaccinated, whereas before at our place it was only the medical staff/NHS staff getting jabs.

@Howcanwehelp

I had a feeling it wouldn't be allowed and I understand why. Thanks for confirming, just wanted to say thank you somehow.

Def allowed!! And def not weird. Please do it. Practice Nurse here, we love donated biscuits/chocs

I think it's weird that people think it wouldn't be welcomed unless you live on another planet of course.

Last year especially, watching the news or taking a peek on social media, I saw so many treats and grub being offered up to healthcare workers and being gratefully received by the pictures I kept seeing!