I got the text message from the surgery on Saturday morning, inviting me to book an appointment for my first dose of the Covid vaccine. I clicked on the link which brought up a calendar. The first day with available slots was Friday. Today. There were half a dozen time slots to pick from. I picked 10.10am. Early. But not so early I’d need to set an alarm. I prefer waking up ‘au natural’ whenever possible.
Today was the big day. I posted a photo of the big tent going up at my doctors some months ago. This is how it looked today. I turned up at 10.05 and approached the lady guarding entry to the car park. I gave my appointment time and name, and was waved on to see the lady guarding the door to the tent. She squirted sanitiser into my hands and waved me on to see the lady inside the door.
She pointed out the chair I should sit in to wait. There were six cubicles with jabbers inside, waiting for jabbees to jab. I was sat waiting for between ninety seconds to two minutes before being waved on into the third cubicle. There were questions. Have I got any Covid symptoms? No. Have I been part of a trial? No. Have I had a vaccine in the last seven days? No. Have I got any allergies? No. Which arm do you want it in? Left.
The needle went in my left arm. It felt as you’d expect it to. The guy gave me a letter and a vaccine reminder card. I’d been jabbed with the Astra Zeneca vaccine. I had no real preference which one I’d been given. He told me about the side effects I might get. If I have a head ache for four days, I should speak to my doctor. And with that he waved me over to the lady manning the exit door. I departed the tent at 10.11. Six minutes from start to finish.
The vaccine experience differs from country to country. Most countries do not have a vaccine experience. We Brits have not fared well with the novel coronavirus, largely due to poor political decision making. We are faring well with the vaccine roll out, so far. And it is only fare to say that this is down to good political decision making.
The Mexile 
Great. Good for you !!
I also got a call… but they’ll make the appointment and none for at least a month.
Doctors here may be allowed to do some of the booster shots.
Funny how things work in different parts of the world.
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Everyone is having a very different experience, that much is for sure. The trick in this game is to do your best to have the vaccine experience, not the Covid experience.
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Good for you! Did you have any side effects? When do you get shot number 2?
UK is certainly doing better than on the continent. Only one of my Swiss cousins has received his first shot… and he’s a doctor.
Although we still have to be cautious, it certainly is a feeling of relief to know that we have some protection, isn’t it?
12 days until I board a plane for Mexico!!!
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I get shot number two within three months. The U.K. is spacing out the two doses by 12 weeks instead of 3 to get as much of the population protected as quickly as possible. In the case of the AZ vaccine, possibly the Pfizer one too, a longer gap seems to provide better protection.
Mexico is a long way off for us though, sadly.
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Congratulations!
I get my second Pfizer on Thursday. It’s usually then one is more likely to get side effects with this vaccine. So, I will cook big meals this week and buy some snacks in case I don’t feel so great…
Once that coast is clear, I look forward to making reservations for the PNW on a much anticipated family reunion.
The future here, looks sunnier then last year at this time. And our Spring weather is matching that feeling. I made it to the beach a few days ago, even though it was just for a walk along the ocean, and a fish lunch at an outside table facing the water. For now, this is progress…
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Two days in and the worst I had was a slightly sore arm. Not even arm…a small patch of arm.
We are headed in the right direction…
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