please empty your brain below
Do you feel well this morning? Let's hope so.

DGD | 29.05.21 - 7:24 a.m. | #

I had my first jab on Thursday, boooked through the national system, and no one was remotely interested in my NHS number, although I'd written it down after your last post on the subject, just in case. They were obsessed with my date of birth and address though. Perhaps they'd realised that no one had been asked to bring their NHS number and were bypassing the looking-up process.
I recommend not having an unexplained allergic reaction in your past - that made my interrogation longer than it needed to be.

Sally | 29.05.21 - 7:40 a.m. | #

If you have the NHS app your vaccine and batch record details, along with a 2D barcode, are available.
Not sure whose benefit the barcode is for.
Maybe you will be able to swipe it to get in a nightclub in the not too distant future.

scrumpy | 29.05.21 - 7:48 a.m. | #

I had my second jab at the ExCeL on Thursday afternoon - a very similar experience to yours, and it felt like volunteers and staff significantly outnumbered jabees. I did take advantage of the selfie point, and can confirm that the gloomy house lighting of the exhibition hall does not make for a flattering photo.

My side effects the next day were feeling like my limbs were heavier than normal, but I'm feeling fine today.

martin | 29.05.21 - 7:51 a.m. | #

Mrs Jones & I had our first jab a few weeks ago (Booked through the NHS website) and all we were asked for was our name & DoB. There was never any mention of NHS number.

Clearly, DG, someone thinks you're special.

Jon Jones | 29.05.21 - 7:57 a.m. | #

Today I am jab2 + 10 days, so moving into the period of supposed maximum protection. The main impact for me has been psychological, a relief from the weight of dread and the opportunity to carefully expand my self-limited horizons. I'm due at Tate Modern at 13.30, incorporated into a long London wander. Have a smashing day everyone.

Frank F | 29.05.21 - 8:00 a.m. | #

I don't feel any safer from having had my jab. Nor did I expect to. But I do feel much safer from the fact that such a substantial fraction of those around me have been vaccinated. Which is as it should be.

Malcolm of Kent | 29.05.21 - 8:04 a.m. | #

I had my first on 21.1 and my second on 16.4 which I make a gap of 12 weeks and one day.

I was contacted by my GP for the first, and by no one for the second, so I contacted my GP as the twelfth week loomed and was given a number to call.

There I was told to wait till the fourteenth week and so went back to my GP. After an hour or two they came back with the instruction to get straight to my local library where, after about 20 minutes of negotiation I was inoculated.

At the library much was made of my being beyond twelve weeks ...... I am intrigued to learn we are now supposed to get our second within eight weeks.

Despite Boris' customary boasting I find the vaccine roll-out to be about as (in)competent/honest as Boris' flat refurbishment.

Brian | 29.05.21 - 8:21 a.m. | #

"Sharp scratch" is no doubt preferred over "You may feel a little prick"

Andy Riley | 29.05.21 - 8:25 a.m. | #

Had my second jab on 15 May after a slow start the NL is finally getting into action. I was given the Pfizer vaccine,the country comes out of hard lockdown 5 June.

Michael | 29.05.21 - 8:34 a.m. | #

I got my second (as I had my first) at the Science Museum, and it was much busier than the first time around. They were doing AZ for second jabs and Pfizer for firsts (and had two queues, which may explain the two queues at the ExCeL). The woman at the registration desk didn't ask for my NHS number, but did look it up and jot it down on the vaccination card, so I was not queried for it at all (though I did have it handy).

I am now (as Frank F is) 10 days past my second jab, so nearing maximum immunity (or as immune as I can be). I haven't changed behaviour, but do feel more relaxed about interacting with the public. It is another layer of protection that eases my mind.

Greg | 29.05.21 - 8:38 a.m. | #

For me, second jab + 14 days is when I start going to Central London again.

Dan | 29.05.21 - 8:42 a.m. | #

I had the bureaucratic nightmare of being left off the list and trying to get put back on it. I can't count the hours I spent on the phone, on websites, writing emails, and always being told "you're not on the list, and there is nothing I can do about that".

Eventually, a phone call gave me less than 48 hours' notice of my appointment on April Fools Day. (I am 74). My partner who is 73 didn't get called at the same time, but a phone call came two weeks later. Unfortunately, she had had a very serious accident a few days earlier and was in hospital, and it was not possible to be vaccinated in hospital. (She finally got her first jab yesterday).

Then, at the beginning of May, two blue envelopes arrived, making appointments for the two of us on the other side of Fife at 9am -- utterly pointless since I had had mine and she was still in hospital.

I foresee a similar battle when the time comes for our second jabs...

Peter Cameron | Homepage | 29.05.21 - 8:53 a.m. | #

Also had mine yesterday at a large NHS site, booked online as soon as I was allowed and I am 5 years older than you. No reminder received. NHS number not asked for. Was sent out immediately after but told to wait 15 minutes in the car. As before, slight ache in the opposite arm.

A lady in front of me turned up for her first without a booking when they were only supposed to be doing seconds and were running late but they did her anyway.

kev | 29.05.21 - 9:22 a.m. | #

I also had my second jab at ExCel yesterday. It was busier than my first experience there back in March, but I was still in and out within half an hour.
Once again, I was asked for my NHS number, more so for when I went into the cubicle for my sharp scratch. I also received a second sticker.
The volunteers and NHS staff were exemplary again.
Today, I feel ok so far, just found that my eyes seem a lot more light sensitive than usual at the moment but that’s probably not even a side effect.

Rob Healy | Homepage | 29.05.21 - 9:23 a.m. | #

I had my second on Tuesday, at the same centre as last time. I was happy with the timing of it in that a recent blood donor session I'd attended had come before it.
At the blood session they'd actually pointed a temperature sensor at my forehead, on arrival, but there was nothing like that at the Covid centre and - as before - the whole process was completed in minutes.
There was also an American at mine, at the pre-jab desk, and I also needed to have a couple of the questions repeated because the mask obscured a few of the words. "Have you experienced any symptoms of blah?"
"Pardon?"
"... symptoms of Covid-19. It's that thing that people are talking about"

RogerW | 29.05.21 - 9:28 a.m. | #

I had my 2nd jab almost a month ago, and the only thing I needed to show was my text confirmation of the appt. There were no stickers (for either jab), no plaster (for the 2nd jab), and no time for a triumphant selfie - was ushered straight out of the back door by the wheelie bins pretty much as soon as the needle extracted. Jabbers were all nice, though. Very efficient. No side effects apart from a little sleepiness, and a feeling of cautiously being able to rejoin the world (the best side effect of all!)

Jayne | 29.05.21 - 9:32 a.m. | #

I had my 2nd jab 2 weeks ago and again, no sticker and no side effects, but this time they did tell me that my fully filled in little card was my vaccine passport!
Not that I hope I'll ever need to show it, but it's safe in my purse, just in case.

Cornish Cockney | 29.05.21 - 9:48 a.m. | #

"Bloody excellent" made me chuckle.

I read your jab 1 report before I had mine (national system, vacc centre) and turned up well prepared with NHS number and everything. All they wanted was my name, and shortly before the needle went in, birthday and postcode, that was it. And I do feel I missed out not getting a sticker.

Overall I felt it was extremely well organised , the roaming welcome volunteer had an iPad, a big digital board was showing your position on the waiting list (data protection??), the only issue was that the doctor wrote his birthday on my vacc card, not the actual date.

commonliner | 29.05.21 - 10:00 a.m. | #

after my second jab i took my card to the stationers just below the Rio in Dalston and they made a nice job of laminating it for 50p.
i rather wish i'd included a passport photo on the reverse where the heart/crown symbol is. it might have made it more useful but not to anyone else.

the other eric | 29.05.21 - 10:26 a.m. | #

I had both mine done via my GP practice, all very smooth and easy (no plaster or sticker either time!)

Personally, I find having both jabs really comforting; from a purely selfish point of view (i.e ignoring the wider benefits to society of reduced transmission) I know that my risk of getting seriously ill is MASSIVELY reduced, which is really reassuring when outside the house.

12 days after the second jab is the magic date, as that's when you get the "tick" next to your name and photo if you have the NHS App on your phone, effectively a vaccine passport. By this stage I assume it's considered you now have decent protection from the second jab.

Mikey C | 29.05.21 - 10:42 a.m. | #

Living in Newham I had my 1st dose at part of Cohort 6 on 9th February. I then got called up at day 68 on 18th April because there are so many unused appointments here because of the low take up. Its no wonder the local population dropped like flies at the start of the year.

Andrew Jarman | 29.05.21 - 10:43 a.m. | #

I understand the Scottish system has been a bit of a nightmare - appointments being made but not communicated to the patients etc.

Not Diamond Geezer | 29.05.21 - 11:21 a.m. | #

My son and daughter-in-law got jabbed at a drive-thru centre in Folkestone. They didn't even need to get out of the car, just stuck their arms out of the window. And they got stickers and I'm so jealous.

Caroline | 29.05.21 - 11:27 a.m. | #

A week after my first jab in January, I started to get joint pains, which spread throughout my body. GP diagnosed arthritis, which I've never had before. After various tests and scans, an appointment was made to see an NHS consultant - in September! I decided to pay for a private consultation, where the condition was rediagnosed as polymyalgic rheumatica. Great relief, as this is curable with medication, unlike arthritis. Apparently it can be triggered by vaccination, so be warned!

Keith | 29.05.21 - 11:42 a.m. | #

As a youngster who somehow jumped the queue and recently got their second jab, it turned out the government's standards for who's "vulnerable" to the virus were rather lower than I had expected...

Marijn | 29.05.21 - 12:51 p.m. | #

Congratulations on your vaccination. I can't believe I could get my first dose as early as two weeks from now - if I'm really lucky.

My 5-year old self would have felt sorry for the little cartoon coronaviruses with their terrified faces on the selfie wallpaper.

Joachim | 29.05.21 - 1:12 p.m. | #

"...wondering how these youngsters managed to nip ahead."

You never know what medical conditions that could make a person more vulnerable to an infection that someone has.

Never mind "some disabilities are not obvious"; MOST are not obvious.

Penny | 29.05.21 - 1:23 p.m. | #

Yes, a scratch and a jab do very much seem like separate, watertight catgories.

cau1khead | 29.05.21 - 1:51 p.m. | #

Always checked the website just after midnight and when I qualified I found that ExCeL had vacancies all through same day, so off I went. Brilliant experience, friendly, fast and efficient and I got the sticker. Slept until past noon the following morning but tried to pretend it was just my sleep deficit from always going to bed stupidly late. GP's letter offering the first jab arrived a week later.

Second jab at ExCel and everything was just as superb, even though I had been slightly late.

Phoned 119 on 17 May, the first day that the vaccination certificate lines opened, and it arrived on 24 May.

All in all my vaccinations were a textbook example of how things should be.

Gerry | 29.05.21 - 2:27 p.m. | #

Regarding the the NHS app with vaccine status ... I know that you have to have your identity verified by photo (either directly or via GP), but not whether your photo has to be included in the app.

ADS | Homepage | 29.05.21 - 2:33 p.m. | #

Regarding the scratch/jab question, I'm pretty sure mine said "I'm about to stick a needle in your arm so obviously it will hurt a bit". Refreshingly honest.

Sally | 29.05.21 - 5:53 p.m. | #

I'm in Scotland, had no problem with first jab. My second jab 2 week period wait expires on June 5 and I've not an appointment notification yet, so fingers crossed

Agent X | 29.05.21 - 7:13 p.m. | #

In my case, "you'll feel a pinch on your skin" was 100% accurate. Next day it hurt to put my coat or backpack on and I felt tired and cold for a few hours, but had the best sleep in ages. I'm not optimistic that the second dose will be as easy.

Renata | 29.05.21 - 8:14 p.m. | #

36 hours on, no nasty after-effects, hurrah.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 29.05.21 - 10:51 p.m. | #

Well done for having no side effects. I got my 2nd this week and the nauseous hangover 24 hours later was just as bad as the first.

I still feel very cautious, particularly as cases in my area rose 700% last week. Necessity took me to John Lewis yesterday (sneaking in by bike to the back entrance) and Oxford Street was heaving. From this observation, I fear the stats are likely to conspire against full lifting of restrictions in June unless the figures go decisively downwards again within two weeks.

NickW | 30.05.21 - 10:01 a.m. | #

It's interesting reading about what people were asked to provide at their appointment. For some reason when I rebooked my appointment I didn't receive a confirmation email - but when I turned up at the ExCeL they were fine with just the booking number. On the other hand a friend's mum turned up there with the confirmation text but they nearly didn't let her in because they couldn't show an email.
(I think she encountered what Viz referred to as a jabsworth.)

martin | 30.05.21 - 7:23 p.m. | #











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