Upset after vaccine

[mangojango]

I had the covid vaccine yesterday and I'm upset about it. I couldn't stop crying yesterday.

I was slightly scared about catching covid but I also think my mind wasn't clear about whether or not I wanted to get it as the narrative seems to suggest we'll have to have vaccine passports etc.

Family and friends have all had the vaccine and I didn't want to be left behind. I felt pressure to take it even though it is not mandatory yet.

I don't know why I'm typing this. Anyone else feel like this?

@mangojango

This won't be over with the vaccine btw. There will be variants and constant vaccines - which we will have to take.

Variants are more likely to mutate the more people contract covid.

You don’t have to take anything, certainly not due to a fear of missing out.

Do you suffer fro mental health issues, anxiety, depression etc. Your reaction is extreme and quite concerning which indicates there is more at play here?

No mental health issues and there is a real fear of missing out as there is talk of a vaccine passport - everyone I know has also taken the vaccine - businesses are talking about not hiring people unless they take the vaccine - concert halls are considering vaccine passport. Where's the opposition?

I don't know enough to talk about immunity in detail but I do know you can have herd immunity without the vaccine.

International travel won't be normal for a while but that's largely because most parts of the world are miles behind in vaccination

That's not true. Most developed nations such as the EU and the USA are well into their vaccination programmes. The issue is that lesser developed nations are not, and rather than ensuring they had their fair share in the first place, wealthy nations have put themselves first. This in turn has resulted in variants developing and being brought to UK etc.

Your kind of nationalistic view of the pandemic is why we're still in varying levels of lockdown. The pandemic will not be over until we support those countries with less resources than ourselves.

@mangojango

You don't need the jab to contribute to herd immunity.

Ah, the game continues. This time "regretting" a jab. Sure.

Have a nap, then go outside and just live your life. This approach won't bring happiness for you nor anyone else.

OP I totally understand being upset

I have to go as I'm out for the day but just wanted to say, yes, I understand

@MRex what game?

It's OK to feel how you feel OP. You don't need to justify it. You asked if anyone else felt that way and yes some people do, for lots of different reasons. My neighbour was very pro-vaccine but felt really depressed after hers because she said it someone represented how shit everything had been for the last year and it triggered a load of pent up emotion she hadn't realised she was holding in. I only know one person who's chosen not to have it because she felt it hadn't been fully tested. and she's becoming increasingly wound up now about what she may not be able to participate in going forwards if she sticks to her decision.

@Shadowboy - needle phobia is rubbish to deal with. This was the best experience I've had with the whole thing, When I got to the vaccination centre I said what I needed to happen in order to get me through the door (no waiting, no sight of needles and I had to be lying down for the vaccination) and they just sorted it straight away, no attempts at persuading me otherwise or treating me like a wuss. they just want to get it done and I think they've probably had to peel enough of us the floor now to not bother having a discussion about it. Ask for what you need.

I cried my eyes out the night I had it. I’m not really a big crier and I don’t regret having the vaccine so I can only assume the tearfulness was a random side effect.
You’ll feel better in a day or two. You’ve had it now so you can’t go back. Just distract yourself today and try not to dwell on it. You’ll only upset yourself

I don't know enough to talk about immunity in detail but I do know you can have herd immunity without the vaccine.

How though? Unless you mean the way which involves millions and millions of people dying?

I understand this feeling one hundred percent. I was upset because I couldn't decide for myself and I felt bullied on both sides.

I'm not in the UK. Where I live, things are all pretty much open but we are using the vaccine passport system. So my DH, whilst not keen on the idea of the vaccine, he jumped at the chance knowing he wouldn't be able to do anything without it.

I am slightly younger than him and had to wait longer to get mine. I had lots of problems making the appointment. First it took a day on hold on the phone, then they ran out at my local centre, then my appointment wasn't confirmed and the vaccination centres were inundated with people without appointments, the system crashed and people were passing out in the heat waiting.

So I waited for my age group portal to open again. My GP refused to do it but I did manage to login online and get a new appointment locally. Here they're offering all the jabs but because I'm British I'm automatically given AZ. Apparently I could change it if I ask my GP or if I cancelled again and rebooked. This is because we had a death from AZ apparently. But we've had a nurses strike and the portal for my age didn't open again.

Meanwhile I was getting messages on FB from anti-vax friends saying things like 'don't do it, you're a mother of 2 getting the jab is irresponsible '

I was also worried because my immune system is unpredictable. I am not scared of needles but I was terrified of a potential bad reaction. The sitting around afterwards bit then waiting for side effects.

The vaccination centre was chaos and there were armed police on the room dishing out the Pfizer jab and that made me feel uneasy too.

I'd heard of people being delighted afterwards and feeling a sense of freedom. Not me. I am delighted there's a vaccine but it was extremely stressful for me. I'm ok now 7 days on but if I didn't need a vaccine passport I'd be questioning a second dose. Horror stories from other people about side effects didn't help either.

It's silly I know. I've had jabs before for illnesses probably more serious and had no reaction or anxiety whatsoever but this is a completely different story.

It’s hard to feel confidence about covid related decisions as there is such a range of opinion out there. I’ve taken decisions that seem to me to be sensible adjustments, based on available scientific evidence, but when I look around my circle of friends, family and acquaintances to gauge the norm, it’s very confusing. Compared to some I’m a raving anxious loon, and to others I’m a risk taking dare devil. I can’t think of any other situation where there wasn’t a comforting degree of social validation within my immediate circle. Obviously there would be different political views at elections, but the basics of safety and survival were socially agreed by and large. It’s a very psychologically de-stabilising experience.

What helps me is to identify my core values very clearly and refer back to them when I’m feeling conflicted and confused.

I’m skeptical and cautious, not just about vaccines, but also about a lot of medications because I’ve had side effects. Often I feel inclined to just take my chances. But in this case I want to help protect people who cannot have the vaccine, and be able to help support an elderly relative. On balance, I’ve chosen to get the vaccine. I’ll accept whatever consequences there may be because I’ve made the best decision with the information available to me. And that decision is in line with my core values.

Within my family, there is a vaccine refuser, someone ineligible for the vaccine, vulnerable elderly, someone being investigated for a possible serious reaction to a vaccine, and some eager recipients. I love them all. And because I’ve made my decisions carefully and thoughtfully, I’m not seeking validation, pushing my views down anyone’s neck or fighting about these things. Covid has taught me not to rely on social confirmation.

I really do understand your anxiety. And I think, while you need to draw a line and say “what’s done is done”, there is also value in wondering why you made that decision and where your influences lie.

You’ve already identified that self sacrifice isn’t one of your core values, so maybe try and figure out what is (you don’t have to share - it’s just something to think about)

@mangojango

This won't be over with the vaccine btw. There will be variants and constant vaccines - which we will have to take.

Yes but at least you'll have some memory cells for this virus type - you've done the right thing, COVID is so awful for so many, as well as long COVID

@mangojango ignore the bickering on here. I can understand your unease but it is really brilliant you have had it. You are much safer now, and you have also played your part in things edging towards normal again. If you find you are having anxious thoughts about it, distract yourself til they go away. It is a bit shit that the vaccine comes with all these worries but ou really have done the best thing for yourself and everyone else.

I feel upset as I was promised freedom if we got vaccinated and now feel duped.

Thank you for having it, even though it’s stressed you out. Every vaccine gets us further out of this shitshow, and I really appreciate you having it even though the idea of it worried you.

The variants aren't completely new, they are a slightly tweaked version of the same virus. So far the vaccines have held up really well against the variants showing only a very minor reduction in efficacy.

Vaccines reduce transmission significantly. Less transmission, less covid, fewer variants. The quicker we get everyone vaccinated the quicker we drive down infection rates and the less chance there is that we will need different vaccines.

@mangojango

That I got the vaccine and I'm not convinced of it's safety. Only reason I jumped in was because I didn't want to be left behind.

The vaccine has been around for a LONG time. It has been tweaked to vaccinate against this specific virus, but the majority of its components have been used and tolerated for many years.

Please don't worry.

@WouldBeGood

I feel upset as I was promised freedom if we got vaccinated and now feel duped.

We will get it, but only when we have mass immunity in the population. We're not quite there yet, but in another couple of months the vast, vast majority of people will be double jabbed.

Yeah still not clear on how we get herd immunity without the vaccine.

I did feel a little bit like this is the point of no return, but I quickly shook that off.

If you were after some non judgmental support you came to the wrong place I'm afraid. Finger wagging galore. FYI I think your reaction is kind of normal. There is a lot of pressure out there. And on here.

People can be very unkind about this. We've all been through a horrible 15 months where the most straightforward normal things have become unfathomable, and having a wobble about this kind of thing is not hugely unreasonable or surprising really.

I've been so excited to see the progress with vaccines, following the studies....I even signed up to be in a study but didn't get included in the end. I do believe in the efficacy of the vaccines in terms of preventing severe disease, and work in medicines development, so I'm not a sceptic at all. I'm such a strong advocate of vaccination generally. But even I had a wobble when I had mine. There were a few reasons that were all quite specific to my situation, my plans for the following week (included being completely off grid for several days, such that any medical situation would have required airlift from the sea), my age, health status and the case level at the time. What I think did upset me was that there was nobody at the (large) vaccination centre who I could talk to or ask questions. It was very much 'you can have it or not have it'. I know they're busy etc but it did contribute to me coming away from there with a sense that I'd made the wrong decision for me on that day.

Anyway, it's done now, I'm fine, and will toddle along for my second one with probably no worries at all. But I understand how it feels to have a wobble at it. It took me quite by surprise, and I'm not going to beat myself up over it. It's not a hugely unreasonable way to feel, given what we've all experienced and been exposed to.

I think people are losing patience and empathy because there is so much unscientific disinformation trotted out on every thread. By all means don't have it. But there is no need to argue that it does not reduce transmission. Because it does.

@mangojango - do you often waste time on pointless regret? You can’t remove the vaccine from your body, now, so stop dwelling on it. As for the ridiculous idea that you would not have had a problem with covid but might have something horrendous go wrong with you as a result of the vaccine: you do know we have no idea what the lifelong effects of covid are either, don’t you? Or has the fact that is also novel passed you by?