Vaccine Rollout in Australia - personal accounts.

[auriga]

The medical side at the showgrounds was clearly set up well and the records were all electronic, seemed to work well.

However much of it felt very inefficient. reading others experiences from other states confirmed this. A colleague could book online for another regional health service and on the way out was asked to make an appointment for second dose. Nothing like that at showgrounds (run by Western Health).

Bottom line for me - they're doing a good job but it feels like there's been no innovation or improvement in administration since the rollout started

For me (40s) in NSW, both Pfizer appointments were made online at the same time.

 

[Lynda2475]

For me (40s) in NSW, both Pfizer appointments were made online at the same time.

Same, it makes sense to lock in second appointment upfront to ensure the correct gap is observed.

My parents who got AZ at a GPRC their follow-up appointment was allocated during their first visit.

If they aren't confirming second dose timing upfront, there is a huge risk of people not being able to get appointments for second dose at the recommended interval.

 

[MelMel]

Had my first Pfizer jab (1b under 50) at Western Health Sunshine today. Free parking on top two levels of car park take a lift to ground level car park which has been set up as vaccine hub. I was surprised there was quite a queue for booked appointments some of which was outside in the freezing cold. Checked in with licence and Medicare card whilst in the queue, waited on a chair opposite a specific cubicle to be called. Waited in waiting room for 15mins, check out by showing vaccine card. All up one hour from entering the car park to leaving.

 

[Seat0B]

Having been influenced to change my mind about getting the COVID vaccine by the comments of several people here (esp you @Flying mermaid), I have now juggled the waiting times connected with my (just received) flu vaccine and my regular allergy shots and now have an appointment at my GP for my first AZ shot. I'll report back after that. Had my annual flu shot on Wednesday - no side effects at all this year, not even a sore arm.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Having been influenced to change my mind about getting the COVID vaccine by the comments of several people here (esp you @Flying mermaid), I have now juggled the waiting times connected with my (just received) flu vaccine and my regular allergy shots and now have an appointment at my GP for my first AZ shot. I'll report back after that. Had my annual flu shot on Wednesday - no side effects at all this year, not even a sore arm.

View attachment 249064

I know I have been nagging but I am so glad you have - wishing you only the best!

 

[Batterytraveller]

5 hours wait at Jeff’s shed for a walk in, but now it’s done. Shame they can’t book you in for the second shot when you get the first.

Couldn’t even get the phone line to connect so a walk-in seem to be the best way. Lots of people seem to have been able to book, though so maybe I was just unlucky (or I’m paying the price for wanting $5 roaming with Vodafone).

 

[Seat0B]

I know I have been nagging but I am so glad you have - wishing you only the best!

my daughter has been as well, so not just you, and you nag intelligently and kindly, so all good .... at least I am the kind of person who is open to having my mind changed when it is warranted .

I think my reluctance was really about the total lack of power I have in this whole thing, tied up with resentment that my personal situation with (now fully vaxxed) family overseas is not given much thought, respect or empathy by the general community; my annoyance at not being given any choice at all in the matter of a vaccine, just being told "50+ - you will get AZ" (and actually I would in fact personally choose AZ over Pfizer as AZ is a more traditionally type of vaccine - I just really resent not having a choice. You do have a choice with the flu vax - do you want the tri-valent, or the quadrivalent etc), the paternalistic attitudes of government officials and many of the senior medical personnel (Dr Brendan Murphy is the worst in my book), and the final straw when the government said that even when everyone is fully vaxxed the borders will still stay shut.

The only real personal sovereignty I have in this situation is to refuse to be compliant. My daughter pointed out that this is cutting off my nose to spite my face, and "typical teenage behaviour", and of course she is right, so I really had to just get over myself and make the appointment.

 

[JohnM]

Do the places handing out lollipops have dentists at the exit taking appointments?

 

[John in Melbourne]

@moa999 curious did you get any physical paper work to prove you have been vaccinated?

When I booked mine I ticked the box to send to medicare vaccination record but since zero of my other vacinations including this years flu shot show up there I dont trrust that it works if you opted out of My Health. I want to make darn sure I have heard proof.

My GP sends notice of my vaccine to Medicare when I'm in the room with him. I also opted out of My Health. I have the Medicare Express Plus app on my phone, where I can see a record of all my vaccines.

 

[flyingfan]

Personal account of attempt to get vaccine in Victoria, so far. After finding out I was now eligible during this lockdown, tried to get on the blower to book. Tried 31 times before I got through. Was given the other number (1800 571 121) to call. Tried that 16 times before finally getting through. Details taken and now booked for one of the mass sites on Thursday.

 

[Pushka]

Personal account of attempt to get vaccine in Victoria, so far. After finding out I was now eligible during this lockdown, tried to get on the blower to book. Tried 31 times before I got through. Was given the other number (1800 571 121) to call. Tried that 16 times before finally getting through. Details taken and now booked for one of the mass sites on Thursday.

Well done on your persistence. Doing your bit for Australia.

 

[burmans]

I’ve had a few bookings but delayed due to other events and the rumours of adverse events. My planned activity tomorrow disappeared so tried to bring my GP appointment forward from next Friday. Earlier in the week plenty of appointments, today first available 10 days away. But check the local respiratory centre and they have an appointment in 20 minutes (NSW). Actually hard to find so I arrived a bit late and a bit of a queue but I was in and out in 45 minutes.

No reaction to date (7 hours later).

 

[flyingfan]

Well done on your persistence. Doing your bit for Australia.

Thanks. Even in my circles (some of whom work in hospitals) there's a lot of hesitancy about getting the jab, especially but not only if it's AZ, but IMO I just want the rollout done as quick and as widely as possible and I'd be willing to empty bins, take calls or direct traffic for free if it made a difference.

Seeing I had to cancel a whole swag of travel and meetings because of the lockdown, I suddenly have a lot of time on my hands for that and taking whatever appointment was available for the vaccine...

 

[Must...Fly!]

Pfizer first dose Thursday morning. Sore arm by Thursday night, through Friday morning. About midday yesterday I noticed it was less irritated and now, basically nothing. Second dose likely to be more severe, anecdotally.

 

[serfty]

SWMBO was delaying due to wanting to get some ongoing dental treatment out of the way but this week realized getting the jab was more important.

She contacted her GP who advised they did not do them. A neighbour told her they had AZ done at a GP in the local shopping strip, not five minutes walk from our home.

We found there are two local businesses there that do the jabs; one is more of a pathology centre, the other a local bulk biller GP. Yesterday, when checking them out booking availability at the former would have meant waiting until mid June. That latter had a booking available for Tuesday.

So AZ Tuesday it is.

 

[MelMel]

Has anyone in Victoria who had Pfizer first dose received an email with a link? I didn’t quite catch what the nurse said after my jab but something along those lines

 

[Flying mermaid]

Has anyone in Victoria who had Pfizer first dose received an email with a link? I didn’t quite catch what the nurse said after my jab but something along those lines

Perhaps a survey? We have had two surveys since our AZ vaccination monitoring side effects.

 

[Flashback]

Pfizer first dose Thursday morning. Sore arm by Thursday night, through Friday morning. About midday yesterday I noticed it was less irritated and now, basically nothing. Second dose likely to be more severe, anecdotally.

YMMV really for the 2nd Pfizer jab, I had a minor sore arm for a few hours and that was it.

 

[SuePa]

I had my 1st AZ jab yesterday morning at my local GP surgery.
Didnt feel any side effects for about 12 hours. Then last night I had aching joints, chills and felt very tired. I spent most of today on the lounge with a temperature and sore arm.
I'm feeling much better now, other than a sore arm, rash and swelling at the injection site.
I'm booked for jab 2 in 12 weeks.

 

[Denali]

Finally got hubby's first dose booking at Sydney Olympic Park, now to make mine about 3 weeks after him.

My local GP makes us come in for an interview before we can get a vaccine booking.