This is a lovely thread, so happy to read about all the other AstraZenica vaccine recipients who share my own gratitude, relief and sense of renewed hope.
Had my first AZ jab 8 weeks ago, no reaction at all the first day, so it was a relief when the site of the injection became slightly hard and a bit sore after a couple of days, reassuring me that some kind of reaction was taking place. That was the only evidence that I'd had the vaccine at all.
Going to the vaccination centre was my first excursion outside the house since lockdown started. I was impressed by all the lovely people volunteering to show us where to go, check our details, give us all the necessary information, and make the experience easy and friendly. It was a lot faster than I expected and somehow almost festive. I need a stick to walk, and don't go very fast, but inside I was dancing as I left the sport hall via the back doors (one way system) and said thank you to everyone one of the stewards on my way back to the car park.
Counting the weeks to my second dose, and then three weeks after that when I intend paying for an antibody test, since my immune system isn't reliable so I'll feel a lot more confident with proof that it has taken effect.
It's heart warming that the vaccine is being made available on a non profit basis, and that it is as easy to distribute and administer as ordinary flu vaccine so that it can be made available in rural areas in undeveloped countries.
Thanks for the link to the donation website, what a clever idea, I bet a lot of us who got our own vaccination for free will be happy to contribute towards bringing that same sense of hope and relief to others in less fortunate circumstances.