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Original poster

Vaccine reactions

35 replies

Cookiesandscones · 18/03/2021 11:58

I have my covid vaccine booked for Saturday and the closer it gets to it the more anxious I get, I have severe anxiety and was never anxious about it until I seen an old friend of mine post a good while back that she had a reaction to it.
Just a small reaction where her heart started racing etc and said (don’t know how true this is) that it was linked to a penicillin allergy.
This has never left my mind as

  1. I am allergic to penicillin I don’t think I am massively allergic to it I once came out in a full body rash when I was really young and have never been prescribed it again.
2. I am very aware of my heart rate at all times being anxious it’s part of my anxiety that I can not control.
  1. I have not done any research into the penicillin claims because googling things makes me worse and send me into a rabbit hole I can’t get out of for hours

So I was wondering did anyone have this reaction or have an experience with the vaccine that has a penicillin allergy?? I think I just need reassurance to be honest because already being generally anxious I don’t want to be going in there for a tiny scratch shaking like a leaf

OP posts:
WolfMother326 · 18/03/2021 12:35

Hi there. I also have a pencillin allergy, I get a bad rash as well. I had the Pfizer vaccine and did not have any kind of skin reaction. With the first dose I just had mild arm soreness. With the second dose I got aches and pains and a headache but it only lasted about 10 hours and I slept it off. I think its important to remember how much worse getting the actual virus would be. I hope the experience is ok for you!

Original poster
Cookiesandscones · 18/03/2021 14:50

@WolfMother326 100% much better to have the vaccination and I am definitely going for it I just can’t help but get myself anxious about it and having someone else apart from the one other person I know say what they experienced will hopefully make me less anxious, thank you for your reply

OP posts:
WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 18/03/2021 14:54

Send an email to your GP to ask specifically about penicillin & the vaccine

There will be stuff online but you're best not to Google any of this stuff.

They'll decide the best vaccine for you & probably do it at the surgery rather than a testing site

Cookerhood · 18/03/2021 14:54

There's no link, they just like to know if you have an allergy. I vaccinate people & we just have to record if they have a penicillin allergy. There's no reason not to give it.
Most people are fine & it's so much better than getting Covid. Any side effects are usually gone in 24-48 hours.

MRex · 18/03/2021 14:57

Where are you going for your vaccine? If you have an allergy then I believe you need to sit and be monitored for 15 minutes afterwards. The bigger sites have a doctor, but a pharmacy won't so you might need to move your appointment.

Original poster
Cookiesandscones · 18/03/2021 15:37

@MRex I am going to a bigger site it’s a rugby club I believe

OP posts:
MRex · 18/03/2021 15:37

That should be fine then, good luck!

QueenOfLabradors · 18/03/2021 15:49

I have been reactive to erythromycin group antibiotics in the dim and distant past. I had AZ on Monday, felt a bit like I was coming down with 'flu on Tuesday (but still made it out for a walk with the dogs) and had a dull ache in the upper arm at the injection site. Yesterday I was still a bit aware of the ache in the arm but otherwise fine. Today I'm 100%.

HasaDigaEebowai · 18/03/2021 15:51

I had mine this morning AZ declared my penicillin allergy and they didn’t say a word about specific issues. My arm aches very slightly but less than it has with travel vaccinations.

oneglassandpuzzled · 18/03/2021 16:08

@Cookiesandscones

I have my covid vaccine booked for Saturday and the closer it gets to it the more anxious I get, I have severe anxiety and was never anxious about it until I seen an old friend of mine post a good while back that she had a reaction to it. Just a small reaction where her heart started racing etc and said (don’t know how true this is) that it was linked to a penicillin allergy. This has never left my mind as
  1. I am allergic to penicillin I don’t think I am massively allergic to it I once came out in a full body rash when I was really young and have never been prescribed it again.
2. I am very aware of my heart rate at all times being anxious it’s part of my anxiety that I can not control.
  1. I have not done any research into the penicillin claims because googling things makes me worse and send me into a rabbit hole I can’t get out of for hours

So I was wondering did anyone have this reaction or have an experience with the vaccine that has a penicillin allergy?? I think I just need reassurance to be honest because already being generally anxious I don’t want to be going in there for a tiny scratch shaking like a leaf

I'm supposedly allergic to penicillin (rash as a small child and I'm not 57). I didn't have any heart racing at all. I felt mildly flu-y the next day and slightly nauseous for a few hours first thing, but the symptoms really didn't amount to much at all. I went for a walk and we drove a (legit) 150-mile round trip.

The following day all symptoms had completely gone.

Lovemusic33 · 18/03/2021 16:13

I had the racing heart thing (feeling of panic), I have a allergy to penicillin, didn’t realise there was a link. I felt unwell for a few days but I don’t regret having the vaccine.

Susie477 · 18/03/2021 16:17

I’m allergic to loads of things (not including penicillin) and I was asked about my allergies before I was jabbed this morning.

I’m fine.

Original poster
Cookiesandscones · 18/03/2021 16:28

Yeah I don’t think it’s so much the after side affects that has my anxiety going don’t get me wrong this will also play a factor because I over think everything to do with my health, it’s more if I have a reaction there and then I think that’s scaring me but I know there is people there to help and the vaccine once I have had it will make my anxiety that has been terrible this past year, will hopefully stop panicking over every little symptom of something my body has

OP posts:
MRex · 18/03/2021 16:32

Hopefully you'll feel light and calm afterwards. If not, it's worth having a chat to your GP @Cookiesandscones. They can refer you for advice and CBT; even some really small changes can have a huge impact on how you feel.

Cookerhood · 18/03/2021 16:51

@Cookiesandscones the centre I vaccinate at has had about 20000 people through the doors and no sudden reactions or medical emergencies. The only one I know of (elsewhere) was someone who turned up with quite bad symptoms of Covid & they had to call him an ambulance.

murasaki · 18/03/2021 16:54

I'm the same as Hasa, declared the allergy today, and apart from a slightly sore arm, which may be psychosomatic, I'm fine.

notrub · 18/03/2021 16:55

My understanding is that if you are known to be allergic to other medications, they are trying to be prepared just in case you have an allergic reaction to this one.

e.g. I suffer from allergic rhinitis - hayfever all year round! When I had a kidney scan once they injected me with a dye that triggered a similar but much more intense reaction - because it occurred in a hospital they had antihistamine ready and were able to inject me quickly to calm the attack and all was fine.

There's no particular reason to suspect an allergy to penicillin will mean you react to the vaccine - but if it does, they'll be able to deal with it.

FYI they recorded just 21 cases of anaphylaxis (which is the main concern) among just under 2 million vaccinations in December. All made a full recovery. So it's really nothing to worry about - just let them know about your allergy and they'll be ready should you have any reaction.

pullingmyhairout2 · 18/03/2021 17:12

I had mine last Saturday. I'm allergic to a few medications including penicillin and they just note it down, there were no worries about me having it. My anxiety was through the roof before I had mine, not helped by a friend who had it the week before and was quite poorly with it. But I kept telling myself that even if I did get side effects it would still be a whole lot better than getting covid.
I had a temperature the first night and then felt like I had a mild dose of flu for a few days.
The people doing the vaccinations are brilliant, if you are worried about anything, just ask them.

Salamander91 · 18/03/2021 17:17

I'm allergic to penicillin. I had mine this afternoon and no reactions so far.

Original poster
Cookiesandscones · 18/03/2021 17:58

You have all put my mind at so much ease thank you so much and I know not everyone is the same and there will be some people who have reactions. Just like I say it was just that one comment about the penicillin that has stuck in my mind but I honestly really want it to turn that corner and try get some normality back into everyone’s lives

OP posts:
Original poster
Cookiesandscones · 18/03/2021 18:01

@pullingmyhairout2 yes this is the thing for me and to be honest having anxiety I can manifest symptoms I have done it quite a few times convinced my mind into thinking I had COVID and all of a sudden had a whole rang of symptoms all because I felt tired or achy 🙄

I do already have CBT and medication for my anxiety and I normally have it under control but the time of the month and silly one off things can really trigger it

OP posts:
INeedNewShoes · 18/03/2021 18:09

I had the Oxford vaccine this morning. I have Anaphylactic reactions to certain foods and I'm mildly allergic to penicillin (confirmed by blood test).

The staff took great care of me and I had a nurse keeping an eye on me and a couple of other allergy people in the waiting area after the jab. They made me stay for 30 minutes.

There was a GP in charge and most of the vaccinators are nurses so even if you were to have a reaction you couldn't be in a better place.

I was fine immediately afterwards and still feel normal 6 hours on.

Bod1 · 18/03/2021 18:15

I have a penicillin allergy but was told this has no effect on having the AZ jab. Vaxed on Tuesday. Flu symptoms started at vaccine plus 10 hours. During the following day ( yesterday) I had swollen glands and aching limbs. Today I am fine. Flu-like symptoms are to be expected, but nothing to worry about.

CyranosBestie · 19/03/2021 18:27

Hi, I am also having my first jab tomorrow and have a penicillin allergy. I am very anxious about having the jab, but I know it's the right thing to do. It's ok to have vaccination if you have a penicillin allergy. Good luck!

Sadless · 19/03/2021 18:38

I have a allergy to penicillin and had my jab on the 7th of March I wasn't even asked about allergies. I was fine till about 6 hours after then got the chills which soon turned to a temperature and aches. Took painkillers went to bed and was back to normal by morning. Good job really as it was kids first day back at school
I was told to rest and drink plenty of water by the lady doing the injection she said she had hers and got side effects but said she got covid last years and spent a week in bed with it so denifently better taking the jab instead of getting covid.

Sal