Vaccine anxiety

[Heartbeeps]

I had my first COVID vaccine yesterday after initially declining it when offered at the end of December/beginning of January. At the time, and still now, I just don’t feel 100% comfortable with how quickly the vaccines have been developed and trialled.

I am a front line healthcare worker but I was tying myself up in knots trying to decide if I wanted it. I was worried about declining the vaccine and becoming seriously unwell (unlikely as I am not in a vulnerable group) but equally agreeing to it and opening myself up to any potential adverse long term affects (also highly unlikely).

Practically all of my colleagues had the vaccine when first offered and don’t share my reservations. I work with some very highly educated and intelligent people who understand the science and have all had it. It’s irrational but I just keep thinking that it might not be safe in the long term.

But for some reason I decided on Friday that actually yes I should have it. I feel like it’s inevitable that everyone is going to have to have it or face restrictions in day to day life.
So I had it and had flu like symptoms during the night but all fine by the morning. However now I can’t stop reading about the different vaccines and questioning whether I should have had the Pfizer vaccine when I was offered it but have had the AstraZeneca. I know that I can’t change this, and that any vaccine is better than no vaccine. But I am obsessing over it. I’m not a particularly anxious person and usually pretty logical about most things.

How do I just accept it and move on?

But they haven't been quickly developed and trialed though. This thing has had everything thrown at it and hasn't even been made from the ground up.

If people stopped thinking it's been thrown together quickly I doubt there would be as much anxiety about it.

It's frustrating for those of is who have to wait listening to those who can get it now basically rubbishing it and insulting all those people who have out their heart and soul into it. I know anxiety doesn't really make any sense though. I hope your fears go quickly.

I think a degree of intrepidation is normal. I had a bout of thinking about it, but read that after 22 days with AZ vaccine you are 100% protected from death, hospitalisation and severe Covid. The SA variant seems to be under control. As long as you continue to take precautions - following guidance, masks and hand washing - you'll be fine.

YABU.

What is the effacy of the flu jab last year? Who made it?