Anxious about going for jab at a vaccine hub

[GetItDone101]

I have my first jab booked for the weekend, it’s in a large vaccine hub at a shopping centre. I walked through this shopping centre the other day and the queue for the hub was so long, it was so busy, and I suddenly felt really anxious about having to go there for my jab. I’m not quite sure why - I’m no more worried about catching covid than the next person and I’m not scared of needles nor am I anxious about vaccine side effects or vaccines in general.

I think it’s an anxiety about having a vaccine in such an open, busy space with loads of other people around and if I were to have an adverse reaction I’m in full view of the public.

My local surgery are so far behind on their jabs that I can’t have it there.

I really want to get my vaccine so I need to push through this weird unexplainable anxiety. Has anyone else felt the same and how did you get through it?

It will be fine. Even the gp hub has queues but with 2m distance, masks, sanitiser, disinfectant for any chairs between users it will be fine. The queues move quickly and you probably won't be there for more than 15 minutes.

Do they really do the jabs or in front of everyone? I went to a large vaccine hub and they had little cubicles made from curtains on wheels so you were private.

Where i went you were vaccinated in public, no cubicles but there was hand sanitiser at several points, people wore masks and had to distance and was in and out in 5 minutes. I did not choose the shopping centre option though just a big vaccine hub but by a lido so could distract myself swimming after. I would guess others would just be concerned if you reacted badly and sure the nurses have seen plenty of reactions before.

If you really can't stop worrying you can change venue online.

I went to a large centre.
The vaccine itself is done in a little cubicle with a curtain around it. Then you are shown to a large area with chairs for the 15 minute wait (if it's Pfizer/Moderna) to make sure you're ok. I guess in that area you would be in front of everyone else who's just had their vaccine, but any sudden adverse reactions are really rare and I don't think anyone was particularly looking around - most people were on their phones texting etc.

Everyone else is in the same situation and probably a little anxious but also hugely relieved and happy.

The queue may have been a walk in session. A lot of the vaccine hubs are offering these at set times of the day. I had my second jab at a hub yesterday, they do appointment only until 3, 3-5 walk in and 5-8 appointment only again.

I have a phobia of needles, or more specifically I recently worked out, of fainting as a result of needles/pain/loss of blood as I have a history of fainting in public and in medical type situations. I recently had my first vaccine.

I got the vaccine in a local public hall. It was in view of other people there for the vaccine, no cubicles. But they had places to lie down behind a curtain, so you could ask for one of those? I'm sure there will be that option because there are a minority of us who will react by fainting.

I actually did a course of CBT before which involved exposure therapy so I was used to seeing needles, but it wasn't the needles that was the issue in this case, it was really the uncertainty of not knowing how the system worked. So, I would advise asking on a local Facebook group or similar how it works at your particular venue. What the system is. Where I went the volunteers encouraged my husband to go in with me when they heard I had a history of fainting (presumably didn't want to have to pick me up off the floor!) so that was very reassuring too. I didn't expect that would be allowed.

It was easy and quick. I did feel anxious when I got there and was in the queue and had to concentrate on my breathing etc, not helped by being in a mask. But I didn't get faint, and we were in and out in less than 30mins.

@superduster

I have a phobia of needles, or more specifically I recently worked out, of fainting as a result of needles/pain/loss of blood as I have a history of fainting in public and in medical type situations. I recently had my first vaccine.

I got the vaccine in a local public hall. It was in view of other people there for the vaccine, no cubicles. But they had places to lie down behind a curtain, so you could ask for one of those? I'm sure there will be that option because there are a minority of us who will react by fainting.

I actually did a course of CBT before which involved exposure therapy so I was used to seeing needles, but it wasn't the needles that was the issue in this case, it was really the uncertainty of not knowing how the system worked. So, I would advise asking on a local Facebook group or similar how it works at your particular venue. What the system is. Where I went the volunteers encouraged my husband to go in with me when they heard I had a history of fainting (presumably didn't want to have to pick me up off the floor!) so that was very reassuring too. I didn't expect that would be allowed.

It was easy and quick. I did feel anxious when I got there and was in the queue and had to concentrate on my breathing etc, not helped by being in a mask. But I didn't get faint, and we were in and out in less than 30mins.

Good for you!

I've been mulling an idea. A needle-phobic/health anxious centre. Mood lighting, little comfy cots, curtains, injectors dressed casually, soft music, bring your own blankey/fidget. Time to prep, time to chill, time to talk about it with a counsellor.

I'm basing this on my white coat syndrome and my lovely midwife place that had similar. Would that work for the worried people who are struggling? You'd have to be referred.

@superduster pretty sure I also have a similar phobia, not of needles but of the reaction afterwards. I felt faint when giving blood once (also in a public area, no privacy) which was due to low blood pressure rather than the needle/blood aspect of it and I’m worried this will happen when o get my Covid vaccine, that I’ll feel faint or something afterwards and look like an idiot in front of everyone.

@MrsTerryPratchett
i love that idea, if I could just be in my own little pod for the entire thing in privacy I think I’d be fine.

@MrsTerryPratchett And how is that going to be funded then?

I've been mulling an idea. A needle-phobic/health anxious centre. Mood lighting, little comfy cots, curtains, injectors dressed casually, soft music, bring your own blankey/fidget. Time to prep, time to chill, time to talk about it with a counsellor.

I'm basing this on my white coat syndrome and my lovely midwife place that had similar. Would that work for the worried people who are struggling? You'd have to be referred.

I don't think the world has the time, money or inclination for that sort of thing right now.

I’ve fainted after injections before so was a bit nervous. They offered me a bed to lie down on. I said no - just wanted it over with, so it was sitting on a normal chair in a little cubicle made with screens. You get sent somewhere for 15 mins afterwards. I had water and a cereal bar in my bag for blood sugar in case I felt faint but was absolutely fine in the end. The staff were great too which really helped. It was over and done with quickly and people are so in and out you don’t really notice other patients

I was fast tracked through my centre. My issue is face coverings, both on me and other people (sensory and processing issues) A marshal at the queue spotted my anxious body language and asked if I wanted fast tracking and I was in and out in 5 mins and waited it out in the car after. It did help as I didn't get the fear brewing through being "stuck" in a queue as the overheating trips me.

I had my first one two and a half months ago (second due next weekend) and DH had his first yesterday. Different venues as I'm 48 and CV (I had AZ) and he's 37 and healthy (he had Pfizer). Both in large vaccination centres but both seemed to run the same way - short queue which moves very quickly, quick chat with a nurse then the vaccinator jabs you and you wait for 15 minutes. All very efficient and over before you know it.

It was very odd for me, being in a huge room with hundreds of other people - we were still in full lockdown at the time and I'd not been anywhere so busy for over a year. It was busier than any supermarkets I've been to over lockdown. I was shocked by how suddenly uneasy I felt - not because I was worried about catching covid (I wasn't), but how odd it was to be in such a peopley, noisy place after so long. And although it was quick and I have absolutely no phobia of needles or anything, it was strange having a medical procedure (albeit and incredibly minor one) done so publicly. It all made me realise just how things have changed in the past year. It was a weird feeling, quite jarring.

I'm worried now. I have a needle phobia and my 2nd vaccine is at a hub rather than GP led like the first. I know I'll be in a state and I can't bear the thought of standing in a long queue and then having to have the vaccine in front of other people. For my first one I was taken to the front of the queue when DH told them about my phobia, someone was with me the whole time and I laid down in a screened off area to have the jab. I'll have to leave if there's a queue and/or no privacy.

Is there any way I can find out how it works at the hub?

@PinkSparklyPussyCat I’m so sorry if my thread has made you feel more worried
I google image searched my hub to see what the setup was like. You could try asking on a local Facebook group or call the vaccine contact centre they might be able to advise you?

I had mine at a local sports stadium and there were areas, like office cubicles, with partitions. Very private. There was also an cubicle that had a bed, I assume for people feeling anxious or unwell. Best of luck, OP. It’s a big deal, having the vaccine, and I completely understand your feelings.

Not at all, I'd rather think about it now than have a panic attack when I get there! That's a good idea to search on Google and ask on FB. I'd usually think of that but as soon as think of needles any common sense goes out of the window!

I've also just realised the hub also boarders an Indian variant hotspot so I'm thinking I might just wait and go elsewhere!

I hope you are ok when you have yours, anxiety and phobias are crap at the best of times but somehow seem worse at the moment.

Pink If you had the first GPled you should be able to get the second GP led - I would ask GP. If not mine was in the open but only a queue of 1 then a waiting area then tables were you sat whilst you had it then out and it was 5 mins start to finish. You could take a person with you everywhere in that one if that helps. No-one was really watching anyone, most people were on phones or staring into space and my one was a long way a way so no-one I'll ever see again anyway.

Thanks @Silkiecats. I’ve cancelled my appointment now, partly because of having to go to an Indian variant hotspot - it seems a bit counter productive! I will definitely have the jab but I need to go to the smaller centre if possible.

[quote Rosehip10]@MrsTerryPratchett And how is that going to be funded then? [/quote]
Could be like a travel vaccine clinic, and maybe a sliding scale based on income.

Or free at the point of delivery because it's MH support.

Update: had my vaccine today. Felt a bit panicky in the queue but once I was in there and waiting, it was fine. Didn’t even notice it being done as the lovely lady was chatting about possible side effects then it was over!

Will have no qualms about going for my second got a bit of a sore arm tonight though.

I'm glad it went well @GetItDone101.

I'm checking daily for a different venue, if not I'll wait until I'm called -in the end the hub being in an Indian variant hotspot made the decision to cancel quite easy!

If you say (roughly) where you are people may be able to recommend a quiet venue. Ours is quite small but it is all out in the open, although you can request a screen or to lie down in a side room. It's all over very quickly.

I've been mulling an idea. A needle-phobic/health anxious centre. Mood lighting, little comfy cots, curtains, injectors dressed casually, soft music, bring your own blankey/fidget. Time to prep, time to chill, time to talk about it with a counsellor

Sounds lovely but some phobic people wont be able to bring themselves to book an appointment, or show up for it. That is half the battle.