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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to drive myself to covid vaccine appointment?

98 replies

MarySanderson · 21/03/2021 23:55

It's booked for Friday and is just over an hour away.

YABU - you should get a lift in case of illness (with DH)
YANBU - just get in the car and drive

I have had big allergies in the past although never to anything medical (apart from latex but that doesn't really feature). Will take routine antihistamine as normal and always carry eye drops and epipens.

OP posts:
Cleartheair · 21/03/2021 23:56

I would say get a lift if you can so you at least have someone with you

LouiseTrees · 21/03/2021 23:57

Why can’t you get a lift with DH? Could he not make up the time off work later that evening?

IHaveBrilloHair · 21/03/2021 23:58

I did, but mine was 5 minutes away.
I'd be careful about an hour away.

HoneysuckIejasmine · 21/03/2021 23:58

You have to sit for a bit afterwards to check no immediate issues. .

Do you think you'll react to it? Have you spoken to your GP?

HollowTalk · 21/03/2021 23:59

You should mention the allergy to latex but I think it's the Pfizer vaccine that reacts badly to that, not the Oxford one.

TheSmallAssassin · 21/03/2021 23:59

If your husband is free, I'd say take him with you, just in case. You also get company on the drive and it's the closest you'll have had to a day out for a while!

5foot5 · 22/03/2021 00:01

DH had his vaccine a few days ago and they asked him how he had got there. When he told them he had walked he was allowed to go straight after.

Someone else I know drove herself and she had to wait for 15 minutes to check she had no reaction then she could leave

steff13 · 22/03/2021 00:04

I got my first dose on Friday. I was told if I had a reaction, I'd be treated at the vaccine site, then taken to the hospital for observation. Is that not what they do there (I'm in the US)? I wouldn't bother with a ride personally.

steff13 · 22/03/2021 00:04

They did make everyone wait 15 minutes after the vaccine to see if we had a reaction. I thought that was standard.

LemonRoses · 22/03/2021 00:06

Why on Earth would you infantilise yourself and not drive? There are hardly people dropping all over the place. Big girl pants on and off you go.

HeddaGarbled · 22/03/2021 00:07

I drove 40 minutes to mine. And I stopped off at Sainsbury on the way home and did some shopping, as I was out that way! It was fine. Lots of people don’t have partners to drive them, nor live in towns or cities with vaccination centres. I did feel ill but not until several hours later. They do tell you not to drive for 15 minutes just in case you have an immediate allergic reaction.

Original poster
MarySanderson · 22/03/2021 00:07

@TheSmallAssassin

If your husband is free, I'd say take him with you, just in case. You also get company on the drive and it's the closest you'll have had to a day out for a while!
He works but is very flexible. And yes, we've already chatted about it being quite an 'exciting' trip out to the city - possibly getting a coffee from the drive through close to the vaccine centre (we live rurally so nothing like that within 30 miles other than a McDonalds).

Thing is though, if I did react (and I really don't think that I would) he' have to leave me there to get the kids from school anyway.

OP posts:
saraclara · 22/03/2021 00:10

Why would you not drive yourself? There are loads of us out here who are single/widowed and don't have a choice. It would never have occurred to me not to drive myself, any more than it does if I go for a blood test or a flu jab or a hospital appointment. And I got my vaccine a 40 minute drive from home.

As others have said, if you're driving they just make you sit for 15 minutes before you leave.

Mylittlesandwich · 22/03/2021 00:10

I went myself. DH was just at home with DS so they could have come, my appointment was closer though. Just a 30 min drive. They had me sit in my car for 15 mins to make sure I felt ok to drive home. I believe any severe allergic reaction would have showed up by then.

Thatwentbadly · 22/03/2021 00:13

@LemonRoses

Why on Earth would you infantilise yourself and not drive? There are hardly people dropping all over the place. Big girl pants on and off you go.
In case she has major allergic reason while driving. The vaccine has been linked to major reactions in those who have already experienced them.
wildthingsinthenight · 22/03/2021 00:17

I had mine yesterday and we weren't asked to sit for a while. Straight in and straight out

saraclara · 22/03/2021 00:18

@Thatwentbadly only the Pfizer one has resulted in (a tiny number) of bad reactions. There's hardly any Pfizer around at the moment so it's unlikely that's what she'll have unless there's a medical reason for it.

When I went for mine (I too have allergies and carry epipens) it was made clear to me that the sort of allergies I have weren't going to be a problem. It's only a very specific sort, and OP has already said that hers are not of a medical variety.

Grenlei · 22/03/2021 00:19

I'd go with your DH. It's nothing to do with infantilising yourself Hmm it's a sensible precaution. Whilst the risks are low, they are not non-existent. There's a drive through centre locally, and that advises people to be driven there/ back. I also know a couple of people (different area and I should preface this by saying they are quite elderly - 80+) who became quite unwell whilst driving themselves home. If I had the choice, I wouldn't risk it.

Original poster
MarySanderson · 22/03/2021 00:22

@saraclara do you know what the 'very specific sort' of allergies are? I don't really know what triggers most reactions unless it's obvious like someone's perfume or strange animals. The anaphylaxis was diagnosed as idiopathic, but skin stuff is sometimes from touch or pressure.

OP posts:
safariboot · 22/03/2021 00:24

You know yourself best. I have a record of fainting after injections so I absolutely would not be safe to drive myself. (My own GP is about a 5 minute walk away, if I'm forced to go somewhere further I'd have to get taxis.)

saraclara · 22/03/2021 00:26

[quote MarySanderson]@saraclara do you know what the 'very specific sort' of allergies are? I don't really know what triggers most reactions unless it's obvious like someone's perfume or strange animals. The anaphylaxis was diagnosed as idiopathic, but skin stuff is sometimes from touch or pressure.[/quote]
I told them about my allergies (wasp stings and crustaceans) but they were only concerned about if I'd had an allergic reaction to a vaccine before. I didn't ask further, but I assumed that it must be something to do with an ingredient in the carrier fluid.

AlwaysLatte · 22/03/2021 00:27

I drove to mine and it was fine. That's why they ask you to wait 15 mins before leaving. Just call him to pick you up if you feel iffy.

Midlifephoenix · 22/03/2021 00:31

They didn't ask me to wait, just that I shouldn't drive for 15 minutes so I sat in my car. But many just drive off.

tumpymummy · 22/03/2021 00:38

I had mine on Friday. I was straight in and out. No waiting after. As it happens I walked home as I wanted the fresh air but noone asked me how I was getting home. I could have come straight out and driven home.

SixDegrees · 22/03/2021 00:45

I drove myself, but I don’t have a history of allergic reactions or problems with injections.

If you’re concerned about it then there’s no harm in getting your DH to drive you. Hopefully it’ll be unnecessary, but it’s one less thing for you to worry about.

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