In this blog, Marion talks about her experience of getting her first Covid-19 vaccination.
Hello everyone, I hope you are coping ok in this lock-down and keeping well. As much as I hated being stuck in from last March until July 31, as I was on the shielding list when most of my friends with cerebral palsy weren’t, now I have changed my mind as it meant I was in category 4 for the vaccine. I was called by my GP to attend a Saturday clinic for the vaccine for COVID-19.
I was glad to hear my appointment was at my doctor’s surgery rather than one of these massive centres which are always shown on TV of people getting their vaccines. Somehow that looks as if it would be a lot for someone who has a disability, but I’m sure they have thought it out.
I was jumping in to my doctors on Saturday as today would be a step forward to some kind of normality. Well, I hope that – you just never know what will happen next in this pandemic.
So, I went into the doctor’s room myself, leaving my mum in the waiting-room. Firstly, she asked me questions e.g. have you had the virus in the last six months, and when did you have your flu jag? After that she gave me the vaccine – it was sorer than I was expecting but it was over in a flash. I think you are better to get the jag on your better side – it doesn’t seem to be too painful if you can move your arm about.
I got the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. They tell you what kind you are getting.
When I came out to the waiting room I felt very pleased that I have had the vaccine and I was like that all day. Unfortunately I took some side-effects the next day, being sick and having a sore arm. Now, although I will get my next vaccine, likely in 3 months, I will be very aware of how it might affect me afterwards.
I would recommend anyone to get the vaccine even with knowing you might get ill for a couple of days, and they just say it only lasts 48 hours. It is nothing like getting COVID-19.
I hope this blog will make you at ease getting yours.
Good luck and hopefully we can do more things in life soon once this vaccine drive gets to more of us.
Additional comment from Kirsty on getting vaccinated at QEUH,Glasgow:
“If you go to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital to get vaccinated, they have wheelchairs and someone will help push you. They will wait to take you back to the front door to get your frame, if you have a frame. They have on PPE.”