Coronavirus - COVID-19

Helen, your expression "my body knows something is happening" is exactly how I have felt this week. Not felt too flu-like but have felt tired, but don't know if that is just the weather! It is a week since we had ours now so I suppose I have been lucky. Top of my arm still feels a bit tender when I touch it (so don't touch it then!), but I get that when I have the usual flu jab.

Hi! I am one who does not have to use a mask but I wear a face shield to be not anti-social. I went for the jab on Tuesday. Reaction, good nurse, good injection, didn't even feel it. Got home no problems, evening began to feel tired, actually fell asleep in armchair, very unusual. Went to go to bed, my legs felt as is they didn't belong to me. Woke about 2am with sweating and shakes, passed off about 5am. Got up at 10am, body ached all over, passed off by evening but glad to go back to bed. Thursday, right as rain. Just in case you are wondering, I have such a bad reaction to flu jabs, even the doc didn't blame me for not having it. Didn't want to spread Covid. The last flu jab I had put me badly out of commission for four days and did not help what is wrong with me. So yes, I very much understand Kaga.

My wife had her first jab a couple of weeks ago, no after effects apart from a slight ache in the arm. She was phoned by our surgery and had the jab the following day, just a 200yd walk down the road and our doctor gave her it. Strangely enough there is a second surgery that shares the premises and they have been sending their patients to the far side of the city to Wheelwright Lane for theirs.

The three surgery groups here have combined to set up a vaccination centre at the local former airfield (now converted to a heritage centre). We had our jabs today, and found that the whole process, from carparking, social distancing, signing in, vaccination, through to rest (for drivers) and exit, was all organised with high efficiency.

I recently took my mother-in-law for hers. She had to go to the golf club in Leek Wootton and the same as MR, everything was excellent.

Just heard that we were among 1,342 vaccinations done at the centre yesterday

My wife and I had ours last week at the chemists in Remembrance Road, Willenhall. Why I do not know, as it is nowhere near where we live. I was a bit dubious as friends said we would get mugged or the car would be stolen, or both, but no, everything went as smooth as clockwork and we were in and out in 20 minutes.

Update: still haven't had a text or letter about my jab. Maybe I've disappeared completely off the government's radar. I live in hopes.

All went well with my first jab this morning. In and out in about 5 minutes. But then had to sit for 15 minutes because I was driving. The surgery say they are doing around 200 jabs today. All traffic and directions were given by Lions volunteers. Excellent!!!!

The rules for over 70s in England have changed. If you haven't had your first vaccination and want one, either contact your GP or book it online. Link to NHS It looks like they're mopping up cases now. Over 65s and severely clinically vulnerable next - if your area isn't already doing them. From reports, Coventry is doing very well getting people done.

Just had my jab. Nothing to it, piece of cake. No ill effects or side effects... yet. Didn't feel a thing, I didn't. You have to wait at least 15 minutes afterwards, in a seating area. I expect that's in case anyone reacts badly to the jab (it's only 0.3ml), or, worse, snuffs it, which would mean a lot of forms for staff to fill in. An excellent experience, with very organised staff. Can't complain. Apart from just one little thing: it's the Pfizer variant, which they reckon isn't as good as the others. But hey, beggars can't be choosers, as Winston Churchill said. Well, they weren't his exact words. During WW2, an army bigwig complained that the equipment for the troops wasn't awfully good, and Winston's riposte was that it might not be very good, but it was all we had, and there was a war on. And... after the jab and the mandatory rest, you don't get tea and biscuits. I was looking forward to that. They give them after a blood donation. Even back in the 60s, as evidenced by Tony Hancock in the Blood donor.

Yay for Slim! Another one of our crowd done. It's the Astra Zenica vaccine that's not quite as effective as the Pfizer or Moderna one but the other two cause more side effects although only rarely (and we haven't got any Moderna supply yet anyway). However after the longer wait before the second dose, there's not a huge amount in it. It's far better to get more people vaccinated than wait for a few extra percentage points. All three significantly reduce severe illness. We don't have flu pandemics every year because most people have had a flu variant at some point in their life, so they are partially protected against new variants. The winter flu vaccine just adds a bit of extra protection against what is currently circulating. The EU is being funny about the Astra Zenica vaccine because they haven't got much of it in the pipeline but we have. It's very irresponsible of them, since it will reduce confidence for when they do have a supply and damage confidence in developing countries too. All the hard work to try and stop covid has kicked colds, flu and even the Norovirus into the long grass. They are at all time lows, so while we will need a booster for covid in the autumn, there will be fewer bugs overall circulating. The booster will probably only need to be a single dose, and not two. At the moment I doubt that the covid and seasonal flu vaccines will be combined.

I stand corrected, Helen. Thanks for that. Must be my memory. It's an age thing. Glad I've had the Pfizer. Now here's a funny thing. One would think, would one not, that at a particular vaccination station, all the doses would be the same type and make. Nay, not so. Someone who went to the same station as I had the Astra Zenica. I do wonder if it's anything to do with the questions they ask you before administering the vaccine, questions such as "where do you come from, have you had this that or the other?, what do you do for a living? etc.", and that they they decide on a particular type according to your answers. The old adage "first come, first served" springs to mind. I believe the UK was ahead of the curve here, in that we put our order in first. Of course, I stand to be corrected on this one. I hope so. With any luck, the pubs will once again open their doors. That is one thing we have all missed since lockdown 3.0, and it is evident in recent weeks from a reduction in the amount off informed, accurate information on this forum. I do miss my sources of accurate information, namely the blokes (and the ladies) in the pub. After all, the pub, that great British institution, is the one place we can discuss the important matters with intelligence and clarity. And maybe enjoy a glass of a liquid refreshment. After all, YOLO.

Slim, I suspect that the vaccine given is based on a person's likely under or over reaction to a vaccine. Availability is also part of the mix, but I really don't think the difference between the vaccines is that big. Like all protections against disease, the best defence is a large number of people partially defended rather than a few people very well defended.

Apart from two bosted knees which should have been replaced last year, I have no medical issues (how very lucky am I?). Had my AstraZeneca vaccine yesterday morning and experienced a distinctly poor night's sleep last night and feel quite off colour today. Quite surprised really.