Who do I speak to about mild allergy reaction to first jab?

[LemonSwan]

I had the first jab in December (Pfizer). I filled out a yellow card but didnt think the reaction warranted a trip to anyone. It was mild and didn't effect my day to day functioning.

I am due for my second jab in the next few weeks and have been trying to contact someone to check whether I need to have the Pfizer again with a longer observation period, have the Oxford instead, or see an allergy specialist.

I called the GP - nothing to do with them, they said ask work.
I asked work - they said nothing to do with them
I tried calling the site of the vaccines - no one picking up.

WWYD?

*site of vaccinations

Go to your appointment and discuss it there.

I don’t think you can have a different booster as yet - there is a trial to see if it’s ok to mix jabs but it’s only just started.

queen
I am going to have to do that if I cant find an answer before hand but thats a last resort as I don't want to waste a session, visit a hospital unnecessarily at this time or just be jabbed by an assistant who doesnt know anything about this and have a worse than last time reaction.

rose
I searched online a few weeks back and they said you could have the oxford instead. I am trying to search for it but I cant find it anymore and have instead found the 'Greenbook' which is saying if its a systemic reaction you cant have it.

Does anyone know what is a systemic reaction?

I don’t know the answer to what you do about the vaccine but systemic means (whole) body system I think - rather than a local reaction.

Phone the Gp or email them I had tingling lips and rashes after AZ but I took my extra antihistamines and it didn’t get serious. GP was emailed and I’ll have a second dose but not go straight home.

Ring the GP, it's a medical issue and they can't say it's nothing to with them!

They can at least advise on who you should contact to discuss further

Is face/eye swelling at the same time and hot rash and itching on arms, stomach and legs systemic, or is that not because its one organ (skin)?

I am going to have to ring GP again but unfortunately they are particularly poor at the best of times. I am out of catchment for all the good ones.

Ahh email! Thats a good one didkt

Then its been officially noted and less likely to be brushed off.

Great idea. Never thought of emailing a GP before.

OMG my googling of rashes has lead me to a bizarre discovery! I think I have mastocystosis! I have two weird spots on my body (one arm, one stomach) which come and go occasionally. I just tested my one of my stomach with the Dariers test and now I have a giant red rash!

I have no idea what this means but pleased to have learnt something about myself today.

Can I ask what your reaction was?
I had Pfizer a couple of weeks ago and I was convinced my tongue swelled up a bit which in turn made it harder to swallow, but it was a few hours after the dose and in hindsight I’m not sure if I was just imagining it anyway.

I didn’t mention it to anyone (other than DH). I got my appointment through work rather than my gp so not sure who I’d mention it too anyway.

Call 111 or 119? Have you reported it on the Yellow Card website, not sure if there's info on there as well as reporting facility?

I would call 119 and ask their advice.

If you got your jab through work as a hospital NHS employee, your chief pharmacist/ pharmacy department involved with the vaccine roll out may also be able to give advice.

house
I had a high heart rate and light headedness about 4 hours after but it was an unusually stressful day at work so I didnt think anything of it and may be unrelated. I then had face and eye swelling for starting a few days later - think waterlogged 'ugly cryer face', which went after a few weeks.

I then had the jab site reinflame with hot itchy rash which would quickly move to my other arm, stomach and legs before disappearing as quickly as it came on. There was no rhyme or reason to it. It was very sporadic and that lasted about 4 weeks (so week 2 -6 after jab).

I also had headaches which I never get and dead arm but thats all part of the expected side effect list. Didnt feel flu-ish or under the weather or anything.

I wasnt too worried at the time as it didnt effect my day to day - I would have been worried about tongue swelling, swallowing issues! I would try to mention that to someone!

Jan I did do a yellow card

maggiso I work in a care home - they have no idea.

I have just applied for private consultation with allergy specialist and if necessary allergy testing as my health insurance will cover it.