Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
WisnaeMe · 22/03/2021 00:50

Drove myself, Pfizer injection received, waited 15 mins then cleared, drove home, no side affects.

second injection in two weeks☺️

ilovesooty · 22/03/2021 01:08

I live on my own and left straight away after the AZ vaccine. I wasn't asked how I'd got there.

1forAll74 · 22/03/2021 01:15

You can go alone, either drive,or walk. You usually have to have a bit of a sit down for about 10 or fifteen minutes,in a different area away from the jab room.. Some people don't hang around after the jab, people usually have a sit down after, because they are told to do so.

You will normally feel ok after the jab. If you are going to have any side affects,it will usually be after a few hours,or the next day.

ineedaholidaynow · 22/03/2021 01:20

Can you get it done at the GP if you have allergies, that is what a relative had to do.

Redsquirrel5 · 22/03/2021 01:20

I spoke to my GP about this. He said as it isn’t a live vaccine there is no need to worry. DH is taking me as I don’t know the town where I have to go for it.DH was told to wait 15 minutes when he had his. He was given it next to where I used to work I have to go 35 miles away.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 22/03/2021 01:22

Given it is so far away and your history of allergies I would ask for a lift to be safe.

CrotchetyQuaver · 22/03/2021 01:38

I have mine tomorrow, I have a recently diagnosed wasp allergy and have epipens now. I asked the allergy consultant about having the Covid vaccine and she said it would be fine, I can't remember her exact words but the gist was that it was highly unlikely I would get an allergic reaction.
So, I'm driving myself and will wait the 15 minutes, maybe longer - I will see how I feel and if I need to get someone out to drive me home, then I'll have to just wait there until they come.

MixedUpFiles · 22/03/2021 04:19

I have adult onset allergies and have continued to develop new allergies so I was worried about my shot. I just had mine and drove myself. I had my epipens at the ready, but didn’t need them.

If I had a reaction and ended up in the hospital, my car would have just sat parked.

MixedUpFiles · 22/03/2021 04:21

Oh and because of my history I had to wait a little longer to get cleared to leave.

en0la · 22/03/2021 05:11

We were told to wait 15 minutes when we booked the appointment but nobody checked. I enjoyed 15 minutes in my car with a coffee and a good book 😁

Gingerkittykat · 22/03/2021 05:40

Take your DH with you, have some emotional support and enjoy a coffee afterwards.

Do you know which vaccine you are having? My friend with very severe allergies was told by her immunologist not to have the Pfeizer one but that the AZ one was ok for her.

Literallynoidea · 22/03/2021 05:45

Just drive. You'll be fine. People who do get a reaction (most don't) are getting my it the following day.

Literallynoidea · 22/03/2021 05:47

Well said @LemonRoses - honestly people are pathetic!

Mummyoflittledragon · 22/03/2021 06:05

I wasn’t asked how I got to the centre or told to wait after having mine. As is, dh drove me.

MargaretThursday · 22/03/2021 06:08

Dh cycled to and from his. Don't think it should be a problem driving yourself.

Oblomov21 · 22/03/2021 06:18

I drove myself. This whole not driving yourself thing is ridiculous.
They make everyone sit for 15 minutes anyway.

Badger2021 · 22/03/2021 06:19

People are pathetic such a lovely response.

She's worried about having an allergic reaction. Her allergies are serious enough to warrant an epipen. Bore off.

BobsDouble · 22/03/2021 06:24

In your situation I would get a lift for peace of mind.

TidyDancer · 22/03/2021 06:25

I walked to mine and back - 2 miles each way. I was told they only hold you afterwards for 15 minutes if you have the Pfizer one due to it being stored at such a low temperature that it can induce a reaction in some people. I wasn't asked how I got there, I was just told I could leave as soon as I'd had it (which I did).

I had the OAZ btw.

joystir59 · 22/03/2021 06:26

I drive too, the vaccination centre was just over an hour away. They make you sit in your car for fifteen mins after to make sure you don't have a reaction. I was fine. I had side effects the next day.

Blockedoff · 22/03/2021 06:27

Had mine, didn't even enter my head to not drive myself there.

Wasn't asked to wait 15 mins either.

HorseChestnutTree · 22/03/2021 06:38

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

I was right as rain for the15 minutes. My side effects kicked in on the drive home. Luckily it was only 5 minutes drive. I managed to get home, but wouldn't have wanted to drive for any longer. I felt bad for the next 2 days! I am not allergic to anything and have never had a reaction to vaccines.
Also, if you do have a reaction during those 15 minutes how would you get home then? Personally after my experience I would advise that you never know, so don't risk it. It only takes one brief lapse of concentration due to an adverse reaction nd you could have an accident.

Inthevirtualwaitingroom · 22/03/2021 06:48

actually it is a day out! that is how we looked at it.

Cattitudes · 22/03/2021 06:51

Everyone saying 'oh I drove the two miles to get mine and was fine' are missing the point. OP has had allergy to latex (I imagine the gloves are latex free), lives an hour's drive away, and is presumably somewhere rural if there is no McDonald's for miles because they are the cockroach of the takeaway world . Her husband's work is flexible, they have presumably stayed local for months now so a change of scenery would be nice for him. As long as there is time to pick up the dc or someone else can pick them up if needed then I would say get a lift. Driving for an hour on country roads if you had a reaction would not be fun, it can be dangerous to stop and potentially hazardous if you feel unwell. I have had an allergic reaction to a vaccine (not covid) and there is no way I could drive for the rest of the day. Yes someone could pick OP up but then a car would be stuck in big town an hour away or worse stuck blocking a B road somewhere. OP could drive there if her dh can work on the go, have vaccine, grab a coffee and then dh drive back. Ultimately OP just do what you are comfortable with.

picknmix1984 · 22/03/2021 06:58

We drove to ours. We're not told to wait 15 mins then got back in the car and drove home! No ill effects thankfully

Swipe left for the next trending thread