Vaccine Rollout in Australia - personal accounts.

[kpc]

Had my 2nd AZ jab today after 12 week wait...ready now (not mid 2022) for OS travel without hotel quarantining on return Paul Kelly and Scott Morrison!...I know I'm dreaming...

Just awoke from a 3 hour snooze (unusual for me)...felt very tired and a bit headachey after my jab at 1 pm...hopefully don't get the severe myalgias I got after the 1st jab!

 

[Pushka]

Just awoke from a 3 hour snooze (unusual for me)...felt very tired and a bit headachey after my jab at 1 pm...hopefully don't get the severe myalgias I got after the 1st jab!

Makes you realise what having COVID might be like I guess.

 

[flyingfan]

Got my first Pfizer dose at Sandown today. Lots of cars and even more people in a very long line for walk-ins, which I was able to bypass due to booking ahead. Priority boarding anyone?! And much like QF, it appeared really the honour system to me because they weren't really checking I had a booking.

Handed over my licence and Medicare card for registration, and then sat outside a bunch of cubicles waiting for the vaccinator to be available. He spent more time fixing up my contact details and misspellings on his computer than delivering the job - my process-driven mind started thinking about how this could have been addressed through an online booking system and/or checking details earlier while standing in queue all that time.

Afterwards, had to sit and wait 15 minutes for no reactions before the nurse cleared us to go. All up I was there for over an hour and a half - overheard someone say it took them 3 hours (presumably walk-in). Was tempted to take a selfie to share within my friendship group about how proud/relieved I was to finally get it but there were lots of signs saying No Photos. Rang up the hotline to book my 2nd dose - told Sandown and others already full in three weeks' time so will head into the city. Arm seems more sore than with the flu jab but otherwise fine.

And to draw a final link to flying... one of the medical staff had a QF 100-year anniversary lanyard. Should have asked him for one of those bag tags...

 

[Black Duck]

Mr BD and I had first AZ on Tuesday. Booked at a GPRC in the regions. It was held in a tent in the carpark so lots of fresh air. Nippy weather but I think the clinic did well. We had reminder texts the day before warning us to dress for cold weather and arrive at appointment time, not before.

It took about 25 minutes all up. 2nd appointment booked in before we left. They were quite busy but obviously well organized.

I felt a bit woozy about 10 minutes after jab but cleared up in another 10 minutes. I don't normally get any problems with vaccines. Next day we both had headaches but not too bad. Again I rarely get a headache so presume it was from the jab and we were both tired. I took the opportunity for an afternoon nap as we had the day off work. Today all good. Now just have to wait out the month against the unlikely chance of other side effects.

At least we are underway.

 

[daft009]

Had my first Pfizer dose yesterday at Blacktown hosptial.

Very well organised, little bit of waiting at every stage, check in, registration, vaccine station. Nurses and staff were lovely.

Next dose before June end..

 

[Drakecula]

Canberra announced vaccines for 40+ yesterday. Which is a good sign. I thought for sure I wouldn't get a jab til next year, but maybe I'll make it before Christmas.

 

[Warks]

ITT: people flexing their sub-50 ages...

Got my AZ shot (old cough by a little bit) first week of may as soon as it opened to us. Felt a bit cough for 48 hours but magically came good then. I had aches and pains like with flu but no headache or fever. What's annoying is the clinic where I had the shot didn't book me in for a booster automatically but gave me a slip of paper with the windows where I could get the flu shot and when I was supposed to get the booster. That's all well and good but when you use their online booking service (as advised) you can't make a booking more than four weeks in advance!
Also how soon can I actually get the booster? I've heard they were doing it from 8 weeks in the UK. Would rather get it out of the way, but not at the expense of efficacy of course.

 

[bcworld]

Also how soon can I actually get the booster? I've heard they were doing it from 8 weeks in the UK. Would rather get it out of the way, but not at the expense of efficacy of course.

Some countries have reduced it to 8...others have increased it to 16. I'm not sure it's always about maximum efficacy...in the UK I think they are worried about Delta variant so decided to go early...in other places they might've increased it due to supply reasons. I would stick with whatever the local advice is here where neither of those factors is an influence.

 

[Flying mermaid]

ITT: people flexing their sub-50 ages...

Got my AZ shot (old cough by a little bit) first week of may as soon as it opened to us. Felt a bit cough for 48 hours but magically came good then. I had aches and pains like with flu but no headache or fever. What's annoying is the clinic where I had the shot didn't book me in for a booster automatically but gave me a slip of paper with the windows where I could get the flu shot and when I was supposed to get the booster. That's all well and good but when you use their online booking service (as advised) you can't make a booking more than four weeks in advance!
Also how soon can I actually get the booster? I've heard they were doing it from 8 weeks in the UK. Would rather get it out of the way, but not at the expense of efficacy of course.

In Canberra the ACT clinic seems to be doing 11 weeks. We were vaccinated on 29 April (a few days before we were technically eligible ). and they automatically made an appointment for us for the 15th July. My daughter was vaccinated at a respiratory clinic and they also made the next appointment but hers is a 12 week gap.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

4 to 6 weeks wait for Pfizer for myself in MEL - arranged referral through GP to access.

 

[cmon0005]

Only minor side effect I had after my first Pfizer dose was a headache all afternoon and evening, had to take Paracetamol to get to sleep that night. Fine after that. 2nd dose booked in for a few weeks time.

 

[Pushka]

So 31 year old son in UK had Pfizer last night. Despite having needle Phobia (sweating and fainting) he was fine. Now, just a little bit of pain at the site, 18 hours later. His partner who was booked to have hers today was given the vaccination at the same time as they had a spare dose. Saved them a 90 minute repeat drive which they were perfectly prepared to do. They have experienced Covid lockdown and reality. Makes a difference in attitude. All but one of the family are done. Must have a chat to other son tomorrow. He's a 'putter offerer'. His wife (GP) has had her first dose. We are due for our final dose this week!

PS - even as youngsters they did not give a toss which vaccine they got. They just wanted to get one.

 

[kamchatsky]

I had my second shot of Pfizer tonight at the SOP vaccination centre. So far so good.

 

[samh004]

Thought I should chime in to say @frankie and I received our first jabs the other day of Pfizer. Very sore arm the next day, but other than that, feeling great. Can't wait to get the second jab in due course.

 

[AisleSeat]

Just got my first Pfizer jab. Arrived there at 9.15am and was out by 10am. Very efficient process.

Long queue (which moved quickly) when I got there. When I walked out there was no queue at all. I guess everyone asks for a booking first thing in the morning.

 

[rynorex]

Did a walk-in to the RBWH in Brisbane on Thursday - super simple. I'm a health 36yo sick of the governments balls up of a rollout, so I lined up about 2:30pm and was out the door by 4! So simple and easy. They did keep closing the line for walk-ins as it got a little long, but they kept reopening it to let more in. No questions asked as to why I was there (as i'm def not in the current rollout)

No adverse side affects from Pfizer aside from a sore arm and a headache - rather have that than Covid!

Now for my second jab, and to open more travel bubbles..........

 

[kamchatsky]

I had my second shot of Pfizer tonight at the SOP vaccination centre. So far so good.

So 24 hours later, I have a bit of shivering. I already had a nap between 3-5pm. Will sleep early tonight.

 

[k_sheep]

Forgot to mention my experience. First shot of pfizer, felt absolutely nothing. Second shot, sore arm same day. About a week later some swollen lymph nodes in the armpit. But no shakes or headache or anything.

 

[moa999]

So 24 hours later, I have a bit of shivering. I already had a nap between 3-5pm. Will sleep early tonight.

Good to know.
2nd shot seems the worse one with Pfizer with some flu-like symptoms somewhat common.

 

[Comoman]

Had my 2nd AZ yesterday (I'm in the UK). Was in and out in 4 mins as my wife was with me (was a Boots vaccination centre booked through NHS and very efficient). Slightly sore arm for ~2 hours and that was it.