If you have had the vaccine....

[Chocolatewins]

Is it easier to feel hopeful? Do you feel different?

I'm not expecting to be vaccinated for a long time. I'm am (like many) finding it difficult to feel hopeful right now, find it difficult to imagine a return to normal, or even close. I wasnt at all worried before but as the goes on I feel more and more anxious. I wondered if the vaccine gives a different perspective.

I felt so unlifted the morning I had my vaccine. I came out, the sun was out and I enjoyed the ten mile drive home - haven't been that far for three months!

Ten days later, I'm determined that I don't get it and pass it on to my family, DH should get his within two months, small chance DD might get hers in earlier if they vaccinate according to job. It feels like we're closer to a better life.

I do feel hopeful. I only know one who doesn't want the vaccine, so moving forward anyone I mix should be a lower risk. Both of us feel reluctant to meet our friend inside who doesn't want the vaccine, but we can still see her outside (more than we can do now) until this thing is much better controlled.

I felt so unlifted the morning I had my vaccine. I came out, the sun was out and I enjoyed the ten mile drive home - haven't been that far for three months!
@starfish4 what a lovely description

I feel hopeful that I’m not going to get really sick if I do catch it.
But I’m still being super careful & mindful that my parents (70’s) and husband (asthmatic) still haven’t had theirs.
I am impressed at the speed of the vaccine roll out in general and that does make me feel hopeful 🙂

@confusedcommum, I had AZ. Hope you're OK :-)

I have had Covid, not had vaccine yet. I thought I might rest easier if I thought that I was immune but the worry is still there about the mutant strains, I can still get them.

Had my first (healthcare worker category) - I didn't ever really fear the virus, but at least it was something other than sitting in the house I could do to try to progress toward getting my kids' lives back to less of an existence and more normality.

That idea of getting my kids lives back to normal feels very elusive. Its been such a long time and the vaccine feels far off if not in a priority category.

@SandyStarfish

I feel worried to get my second dose in case of allergic reaction. And glad to have had it, but a bit anxious about it all the same.

Are you more likely to have an allergic reaction to the second dose then ? I hadn’t heard this.

I had my first dose on Saturday - a spare at my surgery's vaccine clinic, where I'm volunteering. Had a fairly sore arm for 24 hours, but that's all. Really grateful to have had it.

The patients for the vaccine at the weekend were the over-70s and some younger CEV and there's no doubt that they just about all of them were relieved and delighted to be having it done.

I had COVID in April and had my first jab yesterday. Got into bed last night freezing cold and shaking but was actually boiling hot fever. Worst night ever with a banging headache as well. I didn't realise the side effect would be so bad I am now worried to have the second dose

Thanks Mumblechum0 , I recovered relatively quickly but really don't want the virus again 🙈, it was pretty horrible and I could barely take care of my young DCs during that time. I'm taking the vaccine as soon as I'm offered one.

Nurse told me that reactions are more common with the second dose.

My arm is a little sore this morning and I feel weary. But I have another health issue going on so hard to distinguish.

I feel relief but also impatient to roll this out as quickly as possible so we get out of this mess.

Although stories of people testing positive are worrying - if it was picked up on routine screening it means the vaccine has protected them from becoming unwell? We don't know about whether it will protect the spread but we need to stop people from becoming unwell with it - that's why the vulnerable are being vaccination first.

If we can reduce this illness to one which is more cold like in nature then it won't overwhelm the NHS and cause people to die.

That's why I'm impatient to get everyone vaccinated

I had mine yesterday. I have a sore arm and was awake for 4h in the night, but feel absolutely fine.

It will make a difference for me as I've been shielding so I can at least see people 1:1 for a walk afterwards. Clearly I won't change my behaviour and will continue to wear masks, distance etc. I don't want dh and dd getting it!

I do feel hopeful. The vaccine is being rolled out so fast that it must start to make a significant difference soon.

I definitely feel as though some weight has been lifted. I didn’t even realise I was that worried until I had it.

Also, if I’m honest I wasn’t expecting the severity of the side effects. I was quite ill with flu-like symptoms for 48 hours, taking both ibuprofen and paracetamol to keep temp down.
But, I’m really glad I had it. I felt like it gave me a taster of what covid could have been like and I’d much rather have suffered for 48 hours knowing it would end after that, than potentially feel that way for longer and not knowing the outcome with covid. I have health conditions putting me at risk.

@Skyppy

Had mine yesterday and was thrilled. I will feel safer after 3 weeks and even safer after the second dose. As someone who had cancer as well as other underlying conditions I can honestly say the risk of covid to me was worse.

Anyone who doesn't have it because they might get a sore arm or feel a bit achey for a day is obviously not vulnerable enough to have lived in fear of dying of covid for the last 10 months.

Takes weeks for the vaccine to take full effect

I had mine a few weeks ago

Yes it was a relief to go into work having to deal with covid has really been stressful. Knowing if I catch it soon that I’m unlikely to be very ill is a huge relief

It’s given me hope

@dicdicnurse

Sorry, I'm not scaremongering, I'm giving my personal opinion based on what I've experienced. Of course people should get the vaccine when offered and of course it's going to make a positive change to our lives eventually but my initial reaction to the question the op asked is that it's not the game changer I hoped it would be just yet. We are a long long way off from getting out of this situation. For those that asked, two had their vaccines mid December and tested positive in jan, the third tested positive 4 days after her first vaccine.

It's meant to take a good few weeks for the covid vaccine to take effect, so 4 days after vaccination doesn't count as being vaccinated.

I had the pfizer one at the weekend. The nurse said it would give me 50% protection after 2 weeks and then 95% once I've had the 2nd dose. Just feel the same really. Still in lockdown like everybody else 🤷‍♀️

Sorry @Skyppy to have quotes you in error! I was responding to the post before you but somehow must've slipped and got your post by accident!

@GamingNewb I wondered what you meant as I had clearly said I wouldn't be fully covered until after second dose!

I think that even if the vaccines don't totally prevent infection they will reduce the risk of death to someone who is very vulnerable. There are lots of risks in life and I will be happy with that.

Nurse told me that reactions are more common with the second dose.

Oh god, please say its not the case. I had my 1st one yesterday and I started with side effects at 2am. I was shivering and shaking so hard it was making my joints ache, even my teeth. Today I feel like I've got a migraine crossed with flu, crossed with the hangover from hell. I'm seriously thinking I might not go for the 2nd dose.

Maybe if you’ve had a reaction to the first one you might be ok with second one as your system will be used to it.

I’ve had my first dose but don’t feel any different and certainly don’t feel any safer. I’ve got another 10 week until my second jab, and even then the efficacy is nowhere near 100% so I don’t feel any less at risk than I did before.