Nurse didn’t swab injection site or wash hands before vaccine- painful this evening

[Sa93x]

I had my pregnancy Whooping cough vaccine today. Starting to get a bit worried- The nurse walked me into the room and sat me down took the needle straight out the box and pressed on my arm to feel the muscle and put the needle straight in where her hand had been. She had just walked through different hallways and another door to her room without washing her hands (or antibacterial) and touching my skin and injecting. I’ve never had an injection without being wiped with a alcohol wipe before let alone them pressing directly on the site and putting the needle in. Is this normal practice or should I be worried?

This evening it has become quite sore and looks red on the injection site. Should I be concerned ? I’m worried she could have introduced an infection ?

I had a jab today. She definitely didn’t swap the site and I didn’t see her wash her hands. Is it not just the vaccine that has made your arm sore?

It sounds normal. My arm is usually sore after a vaccine.

It's fine.
It's completely normal to feel sore afterwards.

I’ve never known them to swap the area before vaccination. I wouldn’t worry at all, you’ll be absolutely fine!

You don't swab for an intramuscular injection.

I had my flu jab on Tuesday and she didn’t swab my arm or wash her hands. She’d been typing on the computer and walked off to get a specific piece of paper.

As long as the needle is sterile you’ll be fine. It’s more than likely the injection itself that’s making your arm sore. Try not to worry (easier said than done, I know).

I can't remember ever being swabbed pre-injection. I know my children have definitely never been swabbed pre-injection.

I tend to react to most vaccinations with a bit of localised pain and swelling (whooping cough, flu and covid), I'd say that what you're experiencing is in the realm of normal.

It’s been shown that swabbing the site with an alcohol wipe makes absolutely no difference to post-injection outcomes. No point cleaning unless the skin is visibly dirty. The whooping cough vaccine is a massive bloody needle so yes it will be sore for a few days. I wouldn’t worry.

The hand washing is another issue and you have a right to ask any HCP to wash their hands before caring for you.

Nurse here. No requirement to swab unless skin viably dirty. I would have expected hands to be washed however! Having said that, it's highly likely your arm is sore from the vaccine. Very normal reaction

Keep moving your arm and drink lots of water.

Hope it feels better soon.

To reassure you, current advice is not to alcohol swab pre-injection as unless the alcohol has time to dry off properly the injection could sting more.

I had the Flu and Whooping cough vaccines at the same time one in each arm. My arms were both sore for a while after and both were raised and had a bump for nearly a week. I think I just react in the injection site and you may do too

Unless visibly dirty cleaning site isn’t necessary.
the vaccine is the 4in1 and includes tetanus which is known for an achy arm

Swabbing is very outdated and not usually recommended. Hand washing should happen or anti bac gel . Most arms are sore after vaccination. I couldn’t use my arm for days after the jab.

Swabbing is a thing of the past....not required anymore unless site is visibly dirty

The whooping cough vaccine made my arm the most sore including the covid jabs! I think it's just an achy one! I wouldn't worry!

Whooping cough vaccine made my arm really sore for a couple of days, very normal

Unless it's red, hard, swollen and with a large red area that's spreading bigger over a period of hours you're probably fine.
My daughter recently had cellulitis after her polio booster and her whole leg swelled up hard and was bright red. this was after 48 hours. You couldn't miss it.

We haven’t swabbed before jabs or bloods for years. Only wash the area if it’s visibly dirty.

Glad mine wasn’t swabbed now!