Covid vaccine

[Ilovenotebooks]

I had the Covid vaccine a few days ago and don't know whether I'm being unreasonable. I know the staff are working really hard but:

• The stewards were both rude and one snapped at me when I stood in the wrong place (it wasn't obvious where to stand). The other snapped at people behind me to not block the path (they weren't).

• The vaccinator (nurse?) didn't ask me anything other than my name and which arm I wanted it done in. She didn't ask if I well etc. She didn't explain any side effects and I didn't get any leaflet or anything to explain them. I drove home thinking if I reacted there would be no evidence I'd even had the jab (it didn't come up on app until 2 days later). It just felt rather unprofessional. I was in their 30 seconds. Literally 30 seconds. A pile of ready drawn up needles lay on the desk ready for the next lot of people.

• FWIW I'm probably just grumpy about it as I felt awful for 2 days after it.

It just felt less 'professional' than previous rounds of jabs when you had to hand paperwork etc over and got things explained to you.

I was only asked to wait 10 minutes after my first (AZ) jab, not after any of the others. DS1 was asked to wait 10 mins after his first (Pfizer) - he was also asked to wait after his second, but only because he was hyperventilating and his legs gave way after the jab and they wanted to make sure he was okay! DS2 (aged 9 at the time) wasn't asked to wait after either of his jabs (Pfizer).

I think you're being a bit precious tbh. There's absolutely tons of information out there, you need to take responsibility for your own health. Can you imagine how many people they need to vaccinate every day?? The NHS is massively struggling and the staff are just trying to do their best. We'll miss it when it's gone.

Just sit in your car?

I work as a nurse and recently went for my COVID booster.
I know that a COVID and shingles vaccine (for the over 70's) should be separated by a minimum of seven days as I administer the latter. Not one person I saw being boosted in the pharmacy of seemingly relevant age was asked about this.

YABU for getting another covid "vaccine"

Bitter said it better.

@user1496146479 that was the suggestion but on previous occasions they had asked us to sit and wait!

I would have thought that, as a volunteer, they’d be more understanding. Usually people volunteer for the good of other people. The fact that someone might have been rude to them prior to your appointment is irrelevant.

My health choices are my own thanks and don't need your condescension. I've done my research and I want to get vaccinated. Your choice if you don't want to.

I went yesterday for my 4th and was asked all the usual questions, including had I had any other vaccinations in the previous 7 days. Kind and fast when I said I had a needle phobia.
Waiting process was a bit different. Sat on different coloured chairs depending on booked or walk in, called to wait outside vaccination rooms at the booked time as they became available. That sort of ramped up my needle phobia but I managed not to leg it out the open door at the end . It was all very brisk and efficient but I think if I’d told them beforehand they might have picked me to go in bang on time rather than wait until chosen.

@daisy46 how are other people's health choices your problem or your business? We're living with COVID now, nobody is forcing anyone to do anything so you do not need to criticise others for making a different choice from yours.

Maybe I'm still bitter from being forced to get the first 3 jabs now that we know it doesn't keep you from getting it nor from transmitting it to others. It's all rather pointless.

Do you understand though that it stops you from getting it as badly.

It could be the difference between hospital or not.

I'm surprised they didn't give you a card with the batch number on it.

My last booster was very quick and conveyor belt like but they still asked me to wait/loiter for 5 minutes before driving and gave the batch number. My next booster is due so I'm now prepared to ask!

For all those numpties who say wait in your car...you do realise that not everyone has one right? Some walk, some cycle, catch buses or get a taxi 🙄

@daisy46 it really isn't pointless. It reduces the likelihood of you getting it and transmitting it, and it reduces the risk of severe disease. Were you 'forced' to get the jab because you work in a caring profession?

No more 10 minute wait

Well yes, but they only ask you not to drive for 15 mins. If you're getting the bus, you can just leave.

I was a covid vaccination volunteer for 8 months. I am not a healthcare professional, and worked my own 9-5 Monday to Friday, but I worked every Saturday and Sunday between January and July 2021 for the initial vaccine rollout. It was simultaneously one of the most rewarding yet harrowing experiences I have had.

I can sympathise with what you have gone through. On my second shift I was in the mass vaccination centre and the paid staff there were rude, bullish, unsympathetic to nervous patients, brutal over peoples' paperwork, and generally did not talk to people very nicely. I was also vaccinated that day, as per NHS guidelines, because as a volunteer vaccinator, we were supposed to be vaccinated in order to be with and vaccinate vulnerable patients en masse. I was laughed at when I told the duty staff this, sneered at and it was all in all a horrible experience and in the end I called my GP who called me in to be vaccinated so I could continue to volunteer.
From then on I volunteered in a health centre setting and the experience could not have been better. We were a core team of volunteers and NHS doctors and nurses, and we all worked together, treated the public with compassion, stayed later than clinic finish time to make sure each last vaccine was used. I am no longer needed but I keep in touch with my volunteer friends.

So when I read stories to say people have had a bad time, I will never tell them to suck it up, they are all unpaid volunteers (many are not and are being paid quite well and even if they were there is no excuse for rudeness).
All the best OP, and I hope you get a better experience if you ever need another vaccine. I would have made sure you got one if you had been in our clinic.

@Ilovenotebooks a you got paperwork with a flu jab. I've never had paperwork.

My small local surgery held a drop in flu and covid clinic last weekend. They got through nearly 1000 people in 7 hours. No faffing about. A couple of questions then Jab, jab, done. If people want a slow personalised process they can make an appointment. 99% of people won't look at paperwork they are given anyway.

Nope. Despite being with another person who was driving I still had to wait ten minutes after having the previous three vaccinations. I can see why the OP is puzzled as I would be too.

@TheOrigRights - thanks for posting that screenshot, very helpful.

Hi OP - that doesn't sound right to me. Your local ICB will be in charge of the vaccination programme. If you Google "area + icb" you can find it, or give an approx area and I can.

You can then relay this to them and they are likely to send a clinical team/get someone to do a mystery shop.

You should be offered a leaflet to take away at the very least.

At the 4th jab a couple of weeks ago, it was pretty much the same as before.
Handing out masks before you went in.
Wait in a chair.
Called forward to the first stage - they were looking at my records on a screen but were also checking name, DOB, GP surgery, allergies, if I'd had Covid or flu in 28 days leading up to the jab, telling me not to drive for at least 15mins after the jab - suggesting as we were in the town centre to get a coffee in one of the nearby cafes & if I felt 'off' to get back to them asap.
Move onto 2nd stage - get my details up on screen, confirm name & DOB.
Then they firmly told me NOT TO DRIVE FOR AT LEAST 15mins - like being instructed by a teacher!
Finally I was given the jab.
Interestingly they had whiteboards behind each jab station with the name & batch numbers of the doses so I jotted them down.
My jab appeared on the NHS App within 48hrs.
The centre was really busy but they were still being really thorough about it even though they had all the details from my first 3 jabs. Very comforting.

I’m a nurse who has been working at a vaccination centre for the past two years. We are now giving mainly autumn boosters and are using the same thorough practices that we have always used. The questions may be a bit different as they have been tweaked over time as we have learned more, but everyone is still thoroughly screened to ensure safety. We have a very efficient and speedy throughput on which many patients comment favourably. I have never seen or heard of anybody treated brusquely or with discourtesy and the atmosphere of the centre is great. I hear lots of chat and laughter between patients and staff. I appreciate that not all vaccination venues may be like this though.