vaccinated

Waiting for my first Covid vaccination was worse than the injection itself. In the account I shared in June 2021, I described sitting in a hot waiting room for about 45 minutes before my turn. That gave me plenty of time to get anxious. Once I was called in, the jab felt like a pinch and was over quickly.

I’d been excited to get that first dose, as well as nervous. Other people were talking about their vaccinations while I was still waiting for mine, and I had vaccine envy. This was also something I wanted to record for myself: Adventures and Naps felt like a personal time capsule, and this was my first vaccination during a pandemic.

Finding an appointment I could get to

I’d received a text saying it was my turn to book, and a letter in the post. I appreciated the enormous font on the letter because I couldn’t see very well. The message was reaching me from several directions, which I thought the NHS was doing well.

When I went online, I encountered a queue, but thought it was no more than about ten minutes. Getting through to the booking options was straightforward. Getting to the centres I was offered was less straightforward: some journeys looked as though they could involve two trains, or a train and a bus.

I knew there was a centre near me, so I waited a couple of days rather than immediately booking somewhere several towns away. I was reaching the point of wondering whether I should book an awkward location just to have an appointment. Then my GP contacted me, I believe by email as well as text, offering a visit if I hadn’t booked yet. Finally.

Excited, nervous and ready too early

The period before that appointment had been difficult. My mental health had taken a nosedive over the winter and early spring. I went for walks outside, but hadn’t been to a friend’s house or out for dinner at a restaurant or pub. I didn’t feel comfortable doing those things yet, especially before having my first dose.

Being away from home added to it. I couldn’t go home to Canada, and knew other expats who hadn’t been able to visit home in a long time. I wanted some level of normal life again, while still being uncertain about when that would feel safe.

On the morning of the appointment, I had my cold-brew iced coffee and wore a top that left my arms exposed. I hate being late because it makes me anxious, so I was ready and standing around with time still to spare. There was about half an hour before I needed to leave, and I planned to finish my coffee and wander around the house until then.

The jab and another wait

At the appointment there were roughly four vaccination rooms, each with its own list. Although I had a timed booking, the room I was assigned to was delayed. That was how I ended up with the long wait. When I finally went in, I was asked about allergies and medical history, and whether I was happy to receive Pfizer. Yes, please.

I chose my left arm because I was right-handed and wanted my right arm available if the other one became sore. I normally slept on my left side, which wasn’t ideal, but that was the choice I made. The injection felt like a little pinch, with a small amount of blood.

Afterwards, I was given a sticker and a label with the time I could leave, then waited another 15 minutes. I was more worried about fainting in the heat than about the injection hurting. I tried to breathe slowly and reminded myself that I didn’t have a history of passing out. The wait finished, and I left.

My update the following day

Back home, I felt okay enough to think about editing rather than curling up on the sofa. In my next update, 24 hours after the dose, I said I’d showered and spent much of that day editing. Keeping my brain busy meant I wasn’t constantly thinking about my arm.

Later that afternoon, getting dressed was painful and I felt as though I might pass out. I sat down half dressed and then lay down. It passed, and I didn’t faint. By the following day my arm was very sore, although I wasn’t reporting a fever, chills or a headache.

The soreness made everyday things awkward. I couldn’t put my hair into a bun one-handed, so I explained to my partner how to make a ponytail and then turn it into a bun. We got there eventually, and I could rinse off in the shower. For the rest of the day I was staying in pyjamas. The videos I wanted to film would have to wait.

Watch my first-jab experience and next-day update.