Has the Pfizer vaccine given me the virus?!

[dottypencilcase]

Apologies for sounding dumb but I had my first Pfizer vaccine 10 days ago and exactly a week later, I came down with classic flu-like symptoms (high temperature, chills, joint aches and pains, migraines, loss of appetite, nausea, loose bowels, etc.). I've struggled to leave my bed because I feel so rough and feel like the whole room is swaying when I stand up. Today I've noticed I can't taste anything and my sense of smell has gone. Is this COVID-19? I've already logged my symptoms on the yellow card scheme website but do I need to contact my GP too?

Luckily my husband has been off this week so has taken care of the twins (toddlers) but he's back at work next week and I'm terrified I won't be able to cope alone. Has anyone else had this? How long did it take to pass? My eyes feel like they'll burst with built up pressure behind them. I'm genuinely regretting getting the jab.

Book for tomorrow then?

Definitely.

Classic covid symptoms, I'd say. I( had same).

You're not fully protected until a few weeks after the second jab, either, are you?

If you have a temp and loss of taste/smell, your husband shouldn’t be going to work and your household needs to be isolating.

Will you let us know how you get on? I had the same when I had covid and I remember it was a bit of a lonely job plodding through it. If you'd like some encouragement I'm here.

You say you haven’t been anywhere to catch COVID - i assume you’ve been to a vaccination centre? any space where there are other people is a possible route for transmission - was this your second dose?

Also yes unfortunately your twins could have caught COVID at nursery and brought it home asymptomaticly, same with your husband if he works outside of the home.

Book a test - hope you feel better soon.

If you're highly CEV then why have you only recently had your jab? I thought you would have had them a long while ago now?

@dottypencilcase

Thanks all. I knew the vaccine wasn't live but thought I might have got it wrong. I feel so bad. The children are giving me so much grief for my absence- I can barely manage a nappy change without feeling like I need to lie down again for a rest.

I can't have caught covid though can I? I'm super careful (highly CEV) and have, for the last 18 months, been social distancing, sanitising everything I can, etc. My children go to nursery however so it's perfectly possible they've brought something home...

But you must have been to the vaccination centre. And it's very possible the DC could have been asytomatic.

Good luck for the test.

Why have you only just had your first vaccine if highly CEV.

Indeed you should have been invited at the beginning of the year - were you not?

Totally possible that you might have covid sadly, before the vaccine has kicked in. Get a test this morning you’ll know within 24h.

We know a few people who caught Covid at the vaccination centre-it’s one place to be quite vulnerable now, as it’s somewhere with loads of unvaccinated people…. Going to get their vaccine. Get a test, isolate, look after yourself

Even after two vaccines it's possible to catch Covid (I know someone first hand who has). Your twins could have had it asymptomatically. Hopefully you have a test by now.

Hi all, I'm a tad better today but still feel like I've been hit all over the body with a sharp object. The chills are interspersed with hot flushes so I'm a shivery, sweaty mess.

My husband has gone to collect a PCR test for me. No smell or taste which is strange because I don't have a sore throat or blocked nose so I definitely suspect covid :/

For those asking, my health is quite complicated. When I was first invited to have my vaccination, very little was known about the vaccine side effects and I chickened out thinking my immune system would go into overdrive if I reacted to something in the vaccine. I held out until now and wish I hadn't bothered with it.

Incidentally, I'm the only person I know who gets the flu after a flu jab (guaranteed) so I've stopped having it.

At least a PCR will let you know if it is Covid or another virus.

How do you collect a PCR test?

Why is this still having to be explained?
It's not a live vaccine.

You can't collect a PCR as far as I know. You can order one through the post or go to a centre.

It's not possible to get flu from the flu jab.

You don’t get flu from a flu jab, but you can get severe-feeling but short lived flu-like symptoms from it.

The most rational explanation is that you caught covid at the vaccination centre which the incubated before you were protected

Get a pcr test if you haven’t already.
Vaccine can’t give you Covid.

@Nofriend
@Benediction

Depends on where you are. I know of some rural locations in the highlands where the local fire stations are where you go to get a test. You don't do the test there. You book a time, collect the test,take it home and do it and then take it back in a sealed box like the postal ones. It is then sent off.

It gives quicker results in rural areas where there is not access to a proper testing station every day as you don't have to wait on one being delivered.

I’m in an area that’s doing surge testing - we collected a pack of PCRs at 11am from a desk at the local Tube station and dropped them back at 2:30pm.