Vaccine and fear

[Itllpass]

I’m getting the vaccine via work but feel too scared to book an appointment as I’ve convinced myself that I will have an adverse reaction.
I suffer from anxiety so that is a contributing factor. I feel miserable as I know I should take it but too scared to

do you usually react to vaccines?

Have you had any reactions to vaccines or medications before?

Does it have to be done through work or is there some way it can be done at the GPs? I don't know how they are rolling them out in the UK as I now live in another country.
But I have injection phobia and I wouldn't be able to have the vaccine done in one of these mass-vaccination centres. What are the alternatives because with your anxiety it would probably be much more reassuring if you could have it done by a GP or nurse at your GP practice where you know that you can be observed for a certain length of time afterwards (obviously you'd have to discuss this with them)

Can you ring your GP for a consultation about this?

I haven’t had the flu jab - so I don’t know if I will have a reaction or not. So far no reactions (known) to medication.

We are being vaccinated in a hospital site-and I believe they ask you to wait for 15 minutes to check for reactions

You are extremely unlikely to have a full blown anaphylaxis reaction, and if you do you’re in exactly the right place to be properly cared for. The two people who were reported to have had a reaction on the first day recovered.

You are quite likely to have some kind of reaction - probably just an aching arm or feeling a bit shivery after a few hours. I had mine (Pfizer) on Saturday morning. By tea time I felt as though someone had hit me very hard on the arm and I had a terrible night feeling shivery and achy. My whole body hurt yesterday so I took this as a sign I needed to sit about and read my book all day . Today I am absolutely fine. Just been for a 7 mile walk.

I’m absolutely delighted to have had the vaccine.

Thank you @WiseUpJanetWeiss that’s helpful. I don’t know why I feel this way. It’s almost like I’ll die if I take this vaccine and I’ll die if I don’t due to catching COVID, don’t know why I keep thinking this

@Itllpass

Thank you *@WiseUpJanetWeiss* that’s helpful. I don’t know why I feel this way. It’s almost like I’ll die if I take this vaccine and I’ll die if I don’t due to catching COVID, don’t know why I keep thinking this

I think we’re all struggling in one way or another and many of us catastrophise about one thing or another. I definitely do, just not about this. It’s not rational at all, but the fears can be debilitating. Mostly I’ve learned to have a word with myself - sometimes literally.

If you’re in the hospital, can you speak to anyone about how you’re feeling. Pretty much every pharmacist I know would happily have a chat with you if they knew you wanted the vaccine but were too scared.

The people who have had anaphylactoid reactions to the vaccine had all previously had anaphylactoid to reactions to other vaccines or medications. It is extremely unlikely that you will have a serious reaction.

It's good that the vaccination will take place on a hospital site as you will be in the best place in the extremely unlikely event a reaction occurs.

I have a few elderly relatives who have now had the vaccination and none of them has reported any reaction at all including any of the more minor reactions such as heavy arms or redness at the injection site.

I’m terrified too. I had a panic attack just passing the vaccine hub today, I’m not even anywhere near the top of the priority list though! I keep hoping I get forgotten and am not offered it. I’m not usually like this at all and don’t know why I’m so scared.

Actually, I suspect it’s a reaction to the past year as a whole. We’ve spent so long planning to get very sick / die (DH is a teacher less than 1m from front row of the class). Checking life insurance etc. I don’t know how to handle a way out, I can’t process it, and just want to run away.

@Lemons1571 I think your point resonates with how I feel. I’ve spent last year effectively preparing to die and my daughter growing up without a mum or dad or possibly both this feels like ‘oh I didn’t plan for this’
And it feels negative as supposed to the positive due to the influx of negative/positive stories peddled about...
I feel very lucky to be offered it but feel very very anxious about having it

I wonder if you’re still allowed the vaccine if you’ve had a few drinks beforehand? Sounds really bad doesn’t it. I’m at a loss as to how I can get through this. Sorry no advice, hopefully someone will come along with some suggestions. Maybe the gp can prescribe something like they do for anxious flyers?

GPs can prescribe medication to help.
I have extreme needle phobia. There's no way I will be getting the vaccine unless I am given something to calm me down first.
Slightly different issue to yours but an anxiety issue nonetheless.

I do think there's something in the fact that we are focussing on a specific which is bringing out all of the anxiety of the past year in one particular place and therefore increasing the fear.

Yes I think GPs can prescribe something to help but not sure it’ll stop my thought process

I had my vaccine today (NHS staff) at a local hospital.

I was really really anxious about it as I had a reaction to one of my vaccinations as a baby and also have allergies to Ibuprofen and egg (not life threatening allergies, but I'm not able to have flu vaccine etc.)

I was fine, very slightly sore arm and that's it. I had mine at a vaccination hub at a local hospital and there were medical staff everywhere and you waited in a room for 15 mins after to check you felt ok - staff were very attentive and I'm sure if anyone had been unwell it would've been dealt with immediately.

Oh thank you @Penguinkeeper. Really glad you had the vaccine. My colleague is having it on Friday maybe I’ll talk to her after to see how it all went- might make it a bit more easier for me to digest

Hi itllpass, was just reading through your thread and was wondering if you had the vaccine, I’m due to have mine tomorrow & I feel exactly the same as you! X