I was in the 1B group for the AstraZeneca vaccine, due to diabetes, to so I had the jab last week. This is what happened.
There are a lot of stories around about various encounters with the vaccine, and consequences of having the AsrtaZeneca jab, so I was a touch nervous.
I had to fill out and sign a stat declaration about who I am, the fact I do have diabetes, I am a real person and so on. I was asked in great detail about whether I have ever had covid 19 – and I have after a skiing trip in France last year.
I stayed in a chalet for a week, and after I left I had all of the symptoms, but was never actually tested. However, many of the people in the chalet were tested and did have covid 19.
I had a consultation with a doctor, who said I may experience the same symptoms of covid but in a much lesser way, and then had to wait to see the nurse for the jab. She said to cancel any exercise for the next 24-48 hours depending on how I felt.
The actual jab was at about 3pm, it wasn’t painful, and was quick and easy.
The nurse gave me a detailed form to keep with the date, batch number of the vaccine, and made an appointment for me to return in 3 months. She said to keep it in the event the vaccine was updated for the second round. Sorted.
I felt fine that afternoon and woke up feeling ok until about 10am. Then things went hazy. I felt a bit under the weather, and light headed. My arm was very sore at the point of incision.
I was tired and found concentrating difficult. I went to the post office to pick up some parcels, and it was only at 8pm that night I realised I had left all of the parcels in a trolley in the shopping centre. There is a first for everything.
I was shocked and it made me realise the vaccine was effecting me. I had to admit I was very vague and working was really not possible. I had an early night, and did not sleep well. I was hot and cold all night. And my dreams were really off the wall.
The symptoms I experienced after the AstraZeneca jab were very similar to my experience when I had covid -19 over a year ago, just as the doctor had predicted, but not nearly as severe.
I woke up 36 hours after the jab feeling better but still light headed. It as only after 48 hours I felt back to normal.
I was very surprised at the severity of the symptoms, and particularly how much they effected me mentally.
When it is time to have the second injection in 3 months time, I will definitely take at least one full day off work, and really take it easy – potentially spending the time on the couch planning my next overseas trip, whenever that will be!
Personally I would not hesitate to go through it all again. One look at India is a reminder of how lucky we are to have access to the vaccine, and I have no doubt it will be essential for anyone to be fully vaccinated who wants to travel the world.
