rosie abigail

Has my 2021 peaked already? That’s right; your girl got the vaccine! Well, the first of the two jabs…

Despite all of the scientific backing you could ever want and tests upon tests upon tests, there’s still a lot of uncertainty in the public eye about getting a COVID vaccine. So, I thought I’d let you know how my experience has been!

To answer the question I know a lot of you will be wondering about (you nosy lot), is why have I, a twenty-four year old, got the jab? Aren’t they just doing the priority groups? Well, to put it simply, I’m ~vulnerable~. I’ve had chronic asthma since I was a baby, baby. Twenty-four years of being the PE teacher’s least favourite and getting put on steroids everytime the season changes. As a child, I was constantly having trips to A&E or getting put in wards with asthma attacks. Luckily, it’s calmed down a lot as I’ve grown, and although asthma attacks are now rare, I still have them, and my condition flares up every couple of months, especially if I get a cold. So with that out of the way, let’s get to the important bits.

Overall, the process was swift. I had a text message on Wednesday saying ‘hi, it’s your GP, book your jab!’ and I booked myself in for Friday at midday at my local vaccination centre. Once I got there (courtesy of my housemates acting as my wonderful Dial-a-Ride), I joined a short queue for two minutes before being led in. Basic ‘have you been in contact with anyone with COVID?) questions were asked, hands were sanitised, and I was popped into another queue for two minutes. Once I was checked in, you know what happened next – another queue! How very British. However, only a few minutes passed before my butt was in the chair, and a medical professional was asking me if I was ready to have the Oxford vaccine.

I’d be lying if I say it didn’t hurt – you are getting stabbed with a metal needle for goodness sake. But it was as harmless as any other jab, and over in three seconds. Most people were simply told to hold onto their appointment card and head on home, but I was asked to stay in the waiting area for an extra twelve minutes (how very specific). I have a history of anaphylaxis and this waiting period is typical for all people who have this issue. Once the twelve minutes was up, the cooking timer over my head beeped like I was a turkey in the oven, and I was set free!

Now, let’s chat about what you are really here for – did I have any side effects? The answer to that is yes. For the first few hours I simply had a heavy arm that felt like it had been punched. As the evening crept in, I developed a headache; I thought this could have just been a placebo kind of feeling at that point. But at around 7pm that evening, I felt so full of flu – the aches, the shakes, the lot of it! I crawled into bed to have an early night and slept like a baby. My fiance said I did develop a bit of a fever during the night but as soon as I woke up, I felt fine and dandy. Throughout Saturday, moments of aches and tiredness washed over me so I took it very easy, and treated myself to another early night. However, 48 hours after the jab, all the symptoms were gone, and I could start being thrilled I had the jab! It’s now been five days since the jab and I am just the same. 

All I can really say is make sure you get the jab when you are offered it. Every time I have my flu jab, I have side effects, just like I had here. Side-effects are not abnormal. Everyone I have spoken to who have had the jab have said they had similar symptoms, or just felt some tiredness. Once you are offered it, it is so quick and easy to get, and based on my experience, the system is so organised and clean. 

To any of you who are still unsure, who don’t trust how quickly the vaccine has come about, who worry about what the government is implanting in you – get over it. Never before have all the top scientists had one focus, had all the money they need, all the resources they need to create a vaccine until this moment. That’s why it’s been turned around so quickly; all of the focus was on this! There’s protocols in place for people who might (on the tiniest, tiniest chance) have adverse side-effects, like those with allergies or a history of anaphylaxis. The only way we are going to get out of this pandemic is if everyone, even people who currently don’t believe in the vaccine, get it. I’m still baffled that some people say they don’t believe in the vaccine; it’s the world’s greatest scientific development, not the ruddy tooth fairy. Science has got our back. To paraphrase the TV show Heroes; get the vaccine, save the world. 

TL,DR; I’m asthmatic, got the vaccine, it was super easy, felt a bit shite for a few days, and I cannot wait to do it all again.

Rosie x

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