Been offered the vaccine! Please can someone reassure me, feel so emotional!

[Beebityboo]

I had the phone call I've been waiting for desperately, I'm getting vaccinated on Thursday! I have not been able to stop crying and feel completely overwhelmed and just need to talk to someone about it. If I am offered the oxford vaccine will it stop me from getting sick enough to go into hospital if I catch covid? the messages about it in the media have been really mixed so far. Also it's in my married name and I have no I.D in the married name, will they ask for it? Will there be lots and lots of other people there? I've barely left my house since March and have agoraphobia so the whole experience is going to be quite scary for me too.

I could really use some reassurance, have no one I can really talk to about this in real life and just feel completely overwhelmed, don't know what's wrong with me!

Pleased for you OP. Can you bring your marriage certificate and your normal ID to explain the difference in names?

Yes I think that's probably what I'll do Raggie

@Beebityboo

I had the phone call I've been waiting for desperately, I'm getting vaccinated on Thursday! I have not been able to stop crying and feel completely overwhelmed and just need to talk to someone about it. If I am offered the oxford vaccine will it stop me from getting sick enough to go into hospital if I catch covid? the messages about it in the media have been really mixed so far. Also it's in my married name and I have no I.D in the married name, will they ask for it? Will there be lots and lots of other people there? I've barely left my house since March and have agoraphobia so the whole experience is going to be quite scary for me too.

I could really use some reassurance, have no one I can really talk to about this in real life and just feel completely overwhelmed, don't know what's wrong with me!

Fantastic news!

Yes, the vaccine should prevent you from catching it in the first place, but if you do, should mean that your symptoms are milder.

I wasn't asked for my ID. When I turned up, I had to check-in first; I was just asked to confirm my name and give my address. That was all. If you're worried, why not take whatever photographic ID you have, and also your marriage certificate?

There was a whole system in place to ensure that everyone maintained social distancing, and the team there managed it like a queue, so people were moved through only when there was space ahead.

You will be fine! And it's the start of being safe, too.

My mum just had to give her NHS number and booking reference (booked in line).

I should think numbers will depend on where you're actually going. My mum went to one of the big centres at a sporting venue and there were quite a few people, but it was all carefully managed with good social distancing.

I have been vaccinated.

I just had to give my name, address and dob. I went to my local cottage hospital. The vaccination process was extremely well run. There was a designated queue with staff monitoring it, asking people to move up / move back as necessary. There are set screening questions I was asked too. I was asked which arm I wanted the vaccination in, I had the vaccination, was given a card with the date and vaccine batch no. and aftercare info.

I went down a corridor leading to an outside door. I then sat in a SD outdoor, open marquee for 15 minutes. All the chairs were spaced, you were directed to a chair. All chairs were wiped down as soon as someone left. The vaccination area was away from the main hospital area. The whole process took about 25 mins (which included the 15 min in the marquee).

I hope this helps, please ask me any other question you may have.

I'm high risk and I rushed to get it a week ago. It makes a big difference, yes. 90%, once you have had both, although nobody knows how long for. It may not stop you getting the South African variant but indications are good that it will lessen the impact significantly if you do.

Had ours on Saturday. Th is shielding like you and we were apprehensive. In our area it was done well. Details taken at front door , walked to queuing area, told to stand on markers only , called to vaccination desk , no chairs, vaccinated stood up , walked down corridor , didn't have to sit for the 20 minutes we were worrying about , back outdoors . Done.

Really pleased for you.
I'd not worry about I.D. Your nhs number should suffice. I didn't take any I.D when I went for mine. I just took nhs number but they didn't even ask for that. DM didn't get asked for I.D either.
It depends on whether you are going to a G.P surgery or a vaccination hub S to whether there will be many people around.
At our G.Ps surgery there is a steady stream but not masses of people.
Feeling overwhelmed is natural.
Likely a mix of apprehension, relief and excitement!

The GP secretary didn't give me a booking reference or anything, just the time and date to be there.

Congratulations. I'm honestly so happy for you. I've had my first injection and I'm so so relieved. I was quite emotional after.

We really struggle to get my mum out of the house,even before covid, she had her vaccination and hasn’t stopped going on about how well organised it was, she was in and out very quickly. No after effects, not even a sore arm .

You will be fine Op xx

Can't stop crying, think I need to go to bed

If you made the appointment with your GP I wouldn't have thought you need a booking reference. My mum booked us the national on line booking system - she could have picked different locations, so a reference would make sense.

I volunteer at a couple of vaccination sites.
You don't need ID, not even your NHS number. (That is a myth spread on Social Media).
We are super careful to weed out anyone with any Covid symptoms; before they are even allowed inside!
Everyone is told to wear their masks properly. No "under the nose" mask wearers!
If there are chairs they are spaced apart. Each chair is cleaned between patients. Social distancing is enforced stringently.
If you need to take a carer or someone to support you, that is allowed on our sites.
If you have the Oxford vaccine, there is no waiting time afterwards, so you'll be straight home.
I love volunteering there, it feels so positive. The 85s and over were a hoot to work with. So, so excited to get their jabs.

Take this opportunity to make yourself safer.

After being ill with Covid for the last 3 weeks I am delighted to hear about every new person who gets vaccinated and is safer from going through what my family and I have just suffered.

I didn’t need any ID or reference, just my name and DOB. They had actually booked mine in my maiden name for some reason but said it didn’t matter at all.

I'm worried about it catching it getting the vaccine. I am so so grateful but I've been so scared for so long, my brain doesn't know what to do with the idea that I won't have to be so scared anymore!

You need your NHS number and proof of ID.

Good luck.

The vaccinators are probably so practiced, you probably won't feel the jab as it goes in, but you may react afterwards.

Mine (Pfizer-BionTech) started to feel sore within a few hours and ended up feeling like a bee sting for a couple of days.

Congratulations. Wear a mask.

Why are you so upset? I had it (Astra Zeneca) a while ago. It was better than the flu jab (if you have that). I was offered it 4 times so you don't need to take the ''first offer'' probably.

@Beebityboo

The GP secretary didn't give me a booking reference or anything, just the time and date to be there.

We got a phone call from GP with appt time and took no ID(not asked to show any).We did feel it was a big emotional moment to get the appt; I think everyone does.

It was all superbly managed when we got there; met by person who checked our names against their list; told to wait in our car (in GP carpark) then called in (wearing our masks) by another nurse; Dr met us at the open door, (all doors propped open so we touched nothing) . In his office he checked us again against another list ( asked for DOB/full names.address) ran through a medical checklist, jabbed us, (standing up, no chairs) then back out to wait in car for 15 minutes (normal vaccine precaution). All fine so drove home. We could see other patients being processed the same way but none got anywhere near each other.
The ONLY person within 2 metres was the Dr who jabbed us and we touched nothing at all in the building.

Congratulations. You;re going to feel much safer and happier once you've had it.

I'm not upset, just feel like I needed the release of a good cry! It's been such a scary period and I've literally been on edge since last March, barely left the house, developed insomnia etc. Feels like the possibility of having some semblance of a life has come back!

@Beebityboo

The GP secretary didn't give me a booking reference or anything, just the time and date to be there.

I think the booking reference is for vaccination centres so if you're at a hospital or surgery you might not have one.

OP I think some of us who have practically been alone/indoors for a year will find it hard to adjust again to the ''normal''. It may be a gradual process. When I had the jab I was actually outside a very nice doctor did it and it was like an outing for me. But I had to walk home as the minicab driver I took going there did not keep his windows down and also had his mask hanging off the ear and a few other things so did want to repeat that!

Yes I am considering the safest way to get there too as I don't drive. Honestly considering getting my walking stick out and attempting it on foot but it's a 45 minute walk and ten minutes in the car.

I work in healthcare and thought I was going to get a bit emotional about getting mine. Beginning of the end, and all that. This year has felt like such a hard slog and getting the vaccine seemed like a very big deal.

In reality - I was a bit worried about remembering my proof of eligibility, the doc vaccinating me didn’t laugh at my jokes about wanting a sticker and it was a bit of an anti climax. Though - don’t get me wrong, I’m dead chuffed to have had it and would strongly encourage everyone to take up the offer of a jab.