Worried about catching Covid at vax appointment

[aibusux2u]

My parents have been shielding as they are CEV.
Today they went for their first vaccines and were surprised at how close they were put to other people.
They had to wait 15 mins in chairs that were only about 4-5 feet away from others, albeit they were sitting in rows behind each other and not face to face. People were wearing masks.
The nurses coming to check on them were also obviously a lot closer than 2 metres, but I presume they would have had lateral flow tests??
I feel worried. This is the first contact they have had with people since last March and I thought it would be safer than this.
Am I over-reacting?

PS. Cases here are about 150 in 100k.

There has been some speculation about this because there have been accounts of some centres offering tea & biscuits afterwards, poor ventilation, lots of people etc.

All you can do is wait & try not to worry unfortunately

I understand your worries, but I'd look at it as a means to an end.

Had mine today, all wearing masks all 2m apart.

No tea and biscuits either.

I think you’re overreacting. What you’ve described sounds quite safe to be honest but I’ve been out in the world going to supermarkets

@Idontgiveagriffindamn That's the sort of perspective I am looking for! We have been so sheltered and careful that this is a bit of a shock to the system. This is one time where I would like to be told I am over-reacting as then I can stop worrying!

I've been shielding too, and I had mine a few weeks ago so I understand your concern. However, being sat quietly, 5 feet away (which is only just under the 2m), with masks while waiting for an injection is highly unlikely to facilitate the passing on of Covid. Cases are high here too, well lower now, but in Wales they have been sky high.

Worrying is so blinking destructive, it doesn't do anything, doesn't allow you to change anything. I was cautious about mine too, but blinking delighted I've had it.

It's done, and the likelihood of them contracting it is miniscule, and a fortnight from now reduced even further.

My parents (in their 80s), had their vaccines a few weeks ago, both okay.

I also think what you've described sounds quite safe and it wouldn't have crossed my mind to be worried about it. My dad is nearly 70 and has cancer but continues going to work every day, I've had to get used to that and let go of any worry I might have had about that. The circumstances you've described really wouldn't bother me. I hope you can put your mind at ease

Just to add my mum had hers today. So I’m not being dismissive for the sake of it. Whilst there are no guarantees it sounds like they’ve done all they can to mitigate the risk whilst getting the volumes done

I understand op. I had mine today and felt overwhelmed by the amount of people in our fairly small surgery, sitting on chairs placed about 1m apart. Everyone wore masks obviously but I think the reason it came as a shock was because I've been shielding most of the year so to be somewhere with people overwhelmed me a bit. But I'm really happy to have had it so I'm just concentrating on that. I'm sure they'll be ok OP, try not to worry.

Also most of the people there will also be high risk so will have been shielding or at least more careful so less likely to have it to pass on.

Not re Vaccinations, but I went with OH to see his oncologist last week and was very surprised/worried that we had to sit in chairs along the side of a busy corridor, with people walking past far less than 2 metres (the corridor wasn't that wide) for almost an hour, no ventilation, and a succession of other people coming and going around us (outside the blood test room, so people were sitting in the same place waiting for that). Crazy when we walked past the empty out patients waiting room at the end of the corridor which was huge, with no one sat there. We ended up going back to wait there as it felt a lot safer.

I doubt the nurses have had lateral flow tests. Nobody in my area has them

I'm not trying to put you off at all but I went to a mass vaccine site and felt the least safe I've felt throughout the whole pandemic. I have been extremely careful since March working from home and only going out if essential and exercise. At the mass vaccination site you queued outside until you got into the registration hub which was absolutely crowded! It was zigzag queueing so you had people behind in front and either side of you, it was ridiculous. Then one of the ushers were telling people to move closer together as it was 'cold outside and people needed to get in' I was shocked. But then as pp said its a means to an end and there's no other option.

Someone I volunteer for was fretting about this too at his vaccination appt: "so many people!"

It's because he hasn't been near anyone else hardly for 11 months. Not because the situation actually was risky. The vaccine centre is near my home & I can see how crowded it is -- less than supermarkets much of the time.

Thank you, everybody. I really appreciate all the responses. Will try not to worry. Going back to normal life when this is finally over is going to feel so weird!

@lljkk

Someone I volunteer for was fretting about this too at his vaccination appt: "so many people!"

It's because he hasn't been near anyone else hardly for 11 months. Not because the situation actually was risky. The vaccine centre is near my home & I can see how crowded it is -- less than supermarkets much of the time.

Yes I think this is probably very true - if you've avoided people for nearly a year, any group of people is going to see like a lot of people!

As a pp said, it's a means to an end.

From what I've read, I would be wary of the mass vaccination centres for someone who is highly vulnerable. If that person has a lifestyle which involves hardly any contact with others, I would look into whether there might be a smaller more local centre available if vaccination is postponed for a couple of weeks. I think the risk balance is different if the vulnerable person has a lifestyle which already involves a lot of contact with others (eg because they have to attend lots of medical appointments).

I am ecv too and am shielding from work I wouldn't go to a mass vaccine centre given the fact I am shielding from work because I want to avoid people who won't have been shielding .We have a local hub I will be going to.

My experience totally diff at mass vaccination site in a major city. So so well organised, quiet, no waiting in and out so quickly. Couldn’t fault it at all.