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Original poster

Covid booster on Christmas Eve - side effects likely?

90 replies

winteranimal · 17/12/2021 20:08

I've got my Covid booster booked for Christmas Eve. I can't change the date. If I don't attend I'll be given an appointment at some unspecified time in January. Am I likely to have side effects? I had AZ for my first two doses and it will be Pfizer or Moderna for the booster. I'm going to attend but I was just wondering how much Christmas dinner prep I ought to be doing beforehand! Grin

OP posts:
PickAChew · 17/12/2021 23:54

Just tired and groggy after my moderna booster. Fine for a bung it in the oven meal and if you have other people in the house who care about the effort going into feeding them, I'm sure they can provide some of that effort.

NC2010 · 17/12/2021 23:55

Had Moderna booster yesterday and have spent all day feeling lethargic and not wanting to do anything which has been really hard with 3 small children. Previously had 2 Pfizer and was totally fine. Wouldn't do it on Christmas eve personally. If today had been Christmas day I'd have felt so bad for being a pretty useless flopping on the sofa mum and I would have been so sad to have felt this way. Hoping I feel normal again tomorrow.

NeverForgetYourDreams · 17/12/2021 23:58

I had booster Tuesday and only just got rid of headache this afternoon. DH the same

We were both really unwell with AZ one and I was unwell for AZ two mildly

Pfizer was booster

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 18/12/2021 00:04

No one can predict how you will react. Take paracetamol up to the maximum dosage and drink plenty of water. And yes, prep as much as you can beforehand.

baggies · 18/12/2021 00:12

I had AZ for first 2 and did have the usual flu like symptoms. Booster was Pfizer and no reaction whatsoever except a sore arm

Staffy1 · 18/12/2021 00:44

I felt very, very cold and a bit achy and yuck, but not too bad really, the evening after the Pfizer booster. It felt exactly like the side effects of my first AZ jab, didn’t have any side effects after the second AZ jab.

gsaoej · 18/12/2021 00:47

Moderna booster
10-12 hours later felt shit - temperature, tired etc
Went away after 18-20 hours of feeling awful

Geppili · 18/12/2021 00:50

Pfizer after two AZs. Sore arm and felt exhausted for 36 hours.

Keeping2ChevronsApart · 18/12/2021 00:58

The exact same thing worried me. I went for the next available date of 3rd Jan. DP couldn't sort dinner if I was out of sorts, we'd be like the mr bean episode eating sandwiches 😂

Youngatheart00 · 18/12/2021 01:06

I wouldn’t be keen to have it on Christmas Eve. As others have said, try a walk in earlier in the week or take a January date.

I had a really sore arm and felt achy limbed and headachey on and off for 2 days after my booster

Sarahschild · 18/12/2021 02:22

Dont do it just before Christmas. Why risk feeling crap?

Fallagain · 18/12/2021 02:30

I had Az for my first two and was floored by my first. I had Pfzier on Monday and I had a really sore arm with limited movement. I felt tired but that’s probably more to do with an ill toddler feeding all night.

urbanbuddha · 18/12/2021 02:34

Had Pfizer. Felt very tired from about 3 hours after it and all the next day - like want to go and lie down now tired, so get as much done beforehand as possible.

Myshitisreal · 18/12/2021 04:33

I've had two AZ and the Pfizer booster on 14th. Incredibly sore arm but really got off lightly. Husband had his booster Wednesday, sames.

My sleep was very heavy, I do know that

Cascascascas · 18/12/2021 05:08

@winteranimal

Oh come on surely by now you know the side texts are random and different and that any question here will give you zero guide.

KatherineJaneway · 18/12/2021 05:10

I had Moderna and had a sore arm for a few days bit no other side effects.

garlictwist · 18/12/2021 05:43

@JuergenSchwarzwald

I'm the same OP although mine is on 21st so I have a bit more time to play with.

When babies have vaccinations we are advised to give them Calpol before they go. So before the first AZ dose I took paracetomol, and took some more that night. I was quite headachey afterwards but that could also have been hormonal as I was on my period at the time. So it may have worked - worth a try maybe?

You are advised not to take paracetamol before the vaccine as it can interfere with the immune response.
camperqueen54 · 18/12/2021 06:30

I had AZ first two then Phizer. Nothing except a sore arm.

MrsWombat · 18/12/2021 07:03

I was a bit shivery, but nothing that paracetamol couldn't handle. I would make sure you've got all the presents wrapped and veggies peeled before you go though.

MrsLeclerc · 18/12/2021 09:11

My booster was scheduled for 6am Christmas Eve. I’ve called this morning to rearrange and am able to go on Monday. They had lots of slots available basically lunchtime-6pm. Might be worth a try calling OP.

Abraxan · 18/12/2021 09:14

Me, dh and 19y Dd have had no issues with any of our boosters bar a bit of a sore arm and sometimes a bit of a headache. All able to work and do normal life afterwards.

We had Pfizer for main jabs. Dd had same for booster, me and dh had Moderna.

nordica · 18/12/2021 09:18

Had my Pfizer yesterday afternoon and felt very tired by the evening, probably with a bit of a temperature as couldn't figure out if I felt cold or if the house was colder than usual. Still tired now and generally a bit achey and my arm is sore. I wouldn't want this on Christmas day.

Depends on your plans generally though as I also wouldn't want to delay the booster if I was going to be mixing with lots of people and then get covid.

gannett · 18/12/2021 09:18

Double Pfizer vaccine, Moderna booster. Not a trace of a side effect at all apart from a sore arm.

I was shivery and fatigued the evening of my booster and I thought that was a side effect, but it turned out I was just cold and hungry after being out for 8 hours. Felt right as rain after inhaling some cheese. Went for a 15km run the next day.

LovelyLupins · 18/12/2021 09:23

I had Moderna booster after 2 AZ jabs. Severe aches and pains the next day and a temperature of 39 degrees, nausea and freezing hamds and feet. Couldn’t lift my arm to get dressed.
If you can, go to a walk in centre earlier in the week is my advice.

Jimmyboy · 18/12/2021 09:28

I had flu like symptoms for 3 days after my booster. However, I was fine in the few hours after I took paracetamol and ibuprofen and was able to get on with my day. Just felt really, really ill when their effect wore off. Would echo advice of previous posters: keep taking paracetamol and ibuprofen to the limit and keep drinking lots of water.