I want to put this out there right now – I do not understand anti-vaxxers. Yes, I understand that everyone has a their own mind and can make their own choice; that everyone has a right to do their own research and come up with their own conclusion. But to reject ALL vaccines? Nope, just don’t get them.
Right, now that that is out of the way, I will continue.
I’ve had both shots of my vaccine. I have had the AstraZeneca vaccine. I was temping in the Housekeeping department of my local hospital between Christmas 2020 and February 2021. I held off getting the vaccine as I knew I was not planning on staying in the temporary role for long. So even though, at that moment in time, I fell under Healthcare Staff Priority 2, I was hesitant to get it. Not because I didn’t want it, but because there were so many people who needed it before I did. Then I decided that the sooner I get it, the better (I have mild asthma and my mother-in-law has COPD, so anything that can help her indirectly, I will take). And for transparency, here are the side effects that I had: I got my first vaccine on Saturday 6th February at 10am. I had it at my local hub, we were not in lockdown measures at the time. I got the bus there, was in and out within 10 minutes. Was a queue to get in, three people ahead of me (all more than double my age). The healthcare asked their questions, and queried where I fell on the list. I sat in the waiting area while two before me waited to be called in first. After a few minutes, maybe 5, I was taken through to one of the cubicles and a lovely nurse went through everything with me. I had already completed my consent form, and if after you’ve spoken to the nurse (mine was a Heath Visitor, who had taken additional training to be of help to the rollout) you sign a box if you do not wish to proceed. I did, so I just handed her my form, confirmed name and date of birth, and my priority standing. Took off my cardigan, rolled up my sleeve, and felt a little prick and was done. It bled a little, so had to hold the cotton ball for a bit longer. Confirmed I was getting the bus, so that I didn’t have to stay in next waiting room (anyone driving needed to wait 15 minutes after vaccination before leaving), and left. I was absolutely fine, carried on with my normal Saturday – cleaning, washing, walking the dog, etc. After dinner, it was starting to hurt near the entry point, if I accidentally knocked it. Nothing big. My husband and I were watching a film (I can’t even remember what it was, it was clearly a very good film!) and I was drinking a cola. I was lounging on the sofa, feet up, wrapped in a blanket – it was very cold, and my husband complained I’d taken the blanket & he couldn’t use it. I went to put the glass back on the coffee table, and there was searing pain in my arm. I had to force myself to put the glass down (which is easily reached from the sofa). It was agony. It was 9.35pm – 11 hours 35 after vaccination. It was so painful to sleep, and I could not sleep on that side. This lasted for 4 days, with slightly more movement per day before my arm was useable without pain again. It did make work tricky, as you can’t do much cleaning without being able to lift your arm higher than 10cm. Ibuprofen was my friend [I do not advocate one pain killer over another, but paracetamol can make me feel more ill so I don’t use it]. When I woke up on the Thursday, it was tender around the entry point, but my arm was able to be held above my head with no pain. My second shot was on Saturday 6th March at 10am. This time we were in lockdown measures. I was masked up, and got the bus to the local hub. The bus arrived at the destination at 9.36am. There was no queue, I went straight in. The healthcare staff asked their questions, and showed me to waiting area. Only person there. Was sat for less than a minute when got called through. Handed form into nurse, a male nurse this time, who went through potential side effects and asked if I had had any from first shot. I told him about arm pain, he said the side effects could be potentially worse this time round as I had had very little the first time. Bang, shot done, no bleeding, and off I went. I was back on the bus before my appointment time had even come around! It was sore around entry point immediately, and that last two days. I also got a headache that afternoon (but I do suffer from migraines), and that was that. Nothing else.
My husband had his first shot (Under 50s, underlying health conditions category) on Wednesday 24th March. His was not at our local hub, and he had to go all the way to the town’s hub (a 55 minute bus ride, compared to my 25 minute bus ride). He also went during lockdown restrictions. He got to go in early too, and also had the AstraZeneca vaccine. He said it was a bit sore at entry point, but didn’t understand what all the fuss was about. In the early hours of the morning, I was rudely awoken by shaking. I am dead to the world – unless a child calls “mam!”, which has not happened for a long time due to their age – so to be woken by anything other than needing to pee shocked me. I then hear this weak voice… “I’m so cold”. I roll over, reach out my hand and feel that he is boiling hot. But he will not stop shivering, and asks me to pass him his dressing gown. He didn’t sleep well, and I was woken up two more times from his shivering. The next morning he was ‘dying’. He was still so cold – two pairs of clothes, dressing gown and heating were needed – and was tempted to call in sick from work – he has been homeworking since March 2020. He said he felt like he does before he has an epileptic fit, and he was worried. Friday, he is back to normal. No shivering in the night. No hot to the touch. No dehydration. Just normal. Though he does have a cold still.
So now that’s out of the way, we can talk about other things. How are you? I know mental health has been a major issue raised during the past year or so. And I truly hope governments will realise the need for properly funded mental health care. It is so important.
How’s your lockdown / lockdowns been going? Mine have been a bit strange. Our government went in early (for a British Island). I was working in the office for a company that was classed as essential, so I got to go into work each day. Our children got to stay at home with their Papa, who was made to work from home – but was also classed as essential due to his job title within finance. He did not cope well. Stress levels hit the roof, resentment towards me for getting to be “normal”. The furthest he went was 1.5 miles from our house (25-35 minutes walk, dependant on weather conditions) and back again. He didn’t realise how loud he can be on conference calls, and taught our son a naughty word; who pulled the most amazing face when he asked me what it meant, and I told him… “ewwww, I’m never going call someone that!” Just as lockdown was ending, he discovered the best way for him to help control his stress and depression, was to get up, as if going into the office, and walk our dog. Our first lockdown was March – June, and then most things went back to normal. Though my husband’s bank has a hot-desking policy, so he struggled to book a desk, so pretty much remained as a homeworker (they have now decided to close all “unnecessary” offices, and make everyone who is not customer facing work from home from September 2021). I carried on as normal, but stuff happened at work – that I am not allowed to divulge – and I ended up leaving that role in November 2020. Which was a shame, I loved my job there. I took some time off, did some LinkedIn Learning courses, and was then offered a temping role through an employment agency. It wasn’t what I wanted, but it paid the bills and fit around family. Ish. I did this for a seven weeks before securing the job I’m in now. I’m once again in an office setting, but in an industry I had never thought about entering. It is exciting and there is lots to learn, but also not that much. Policies are similar, but practices are different. During my seven-week contract at the hospital, in the January, we went into a second lockdown for our community. It was three weeks long, and was stricter this time. We had to wear face coverings this time, as we didn’t in the first lockdown (unless in close proximity eg. nursing). And I did, as I was still an essential worker and had to get two buses to the hospital. Our Chief Minister was all over the UK news shows, and I think there was an element of not wanting to be humiliated that caused the government to not go into a third lockdown sooner than it did. We have now had 3 deaths during this “circuit breaker”, and we were initially due to come out of it on 24th March, but came out 00.01 on 19th April instead. So for the third, and hopefully final, lockdown I worked from home. I didn’t like it. I got distracted by knowing the weather was good, so I could put out the washing. In turn, that leads to the ironing pile needing to be dealt with. Or the washing up that neeed doing (our dishwasher stopped working the 2 weeks before lockdown, but the plumber who came to look did not seem at all bothered with trying to help fix it).
I felt a bit stir crazy. I cannot imagine what it has been like for those who have had little to no interaction with the outside world for 12+ months. We were fortunate. Our summer was, although staycation based, together as a community. We barbequed, we played sports, we did things together with other households. We got to do Christmas parties, be with family for present giving and goose eating (I don’t like turkey, we don’t have it). We all got to party for New Year’s Eve – my husband and I were at the local pub to sing Auld Lang Syne with other residents. I took videos of the merriment, and sent them to my best friend, who replied with calling me a cowbag, then wished me a Happy New Year and wished she was with us.
Please take time for your mental health. Please. I beg of you. I suffer from depression. It can be debilitating. And I know if I had been pretty much housebound for a year, my head would be somewhere I never want it to go. There is a lot of good agencies out there to help if you are feeling the strain. Don’t suffer in silence – even if you are now “free” of your house, you can still be a slave to what is going on inside your head. Talk About It Mate is a good one – a peer-support community, using MeetUp to check in on people who are using the service. Relate also offer some valuable services, and have offices across the UK and British Islands.
For me, getting as many people who are able to be vaccinated against this virus – that they have been working on since SARS-2 was discovered almost 20 years ago – is the best way. There is a reason that so many viruses and diseases have been near eradication because of vaccines. BUT I do not want to force anyone into something they do not want to do. You have to make the decision yourself. I decided it was right for me. My husband decided it was right for him. And when the children’s versions have been tested, we will get the children vaccinated. And even with both of them hating needles, they both want too – if only to help their Nain (who has also had hers, so now acts like she is immune, and we have to keep reminding her she is not). And I can guess, before this post is even live; that I will get both hate and love, from both sides of the fence. But before anyone starts having a go at me either way – I have not told anyone to do anything. I am just telling you my experience of something I decided – FOR MYSELF – to do. Make your own mind up from your own research. And a meme is not research. For the love of all that is holy, a meme is not research.
Make your own choice. I hope mine, and my husband’s experience can help make that decision. Stay safe out there. Peace.
Mama Needs a Drink! 