Coronavirus

[french frank]

My practice rang me this morning and vaccination was arranged for Saturday morning. I think he said both for covid and flu. I'll be asking about a vaccination card if not given one, given that I carry all the previous cards that have been issued to me in my wallet as proof that I've been done, and the number of times, which I tend to forget.

Just had my seventh Covid jab, Pfizer this time as they seem to have devoped the vaccine against the latest variant. My first three were Pfizer, the next three Moderna and now back to Pfizer. Nurse said there was not enough data yet to have an accurate idea of how effective it is, but they're working on the basis 85% protection so far, with weaker symptons if you do get it.

Serial - do you not have the ordinary NHS app (not the Covid one)? I can do most things-NHS on it including checking on vaccines. I do have to store my p/w elsewhere on the phone in order to access the info.

[JasonPalmer]

Waiting for my local surgery to ring me asking if i want another covid jab. Not that bothered. Glad all that mask and limits to shop browsers over with.

[Dave2002]

Waiting for my local surgery to ring me asking if i want another covid jab. Not that bothered. Glad all that mask and limits to shop browsers over with.

You may say so. We went to a concert last night, and there were several people coughing very loudly, and at least one person wearing a mask. I am not sure, but there is/was at least one person I had contact with who may have been an anti-vaxer who "disappeared", and reportedly did contract Covid and was hospitalised - though I believe survived. It's not a nice disease even if you have already been vaccinated, though for many of us nowadays it's hard to tell whether we have Covid or "just" a rather nuisance of a cold.

On balance I suspect it is better to have extra jabs if offered.

[Serial_Apologist]

Serial - do you not have the ordinary NHS app (not the Covid one)? I can do most things-NHS on it including checking on vaccines. I do have to store my p/w elsewhere on the phone in order to access the info.

I don't have use of my phone - I can't find anyone who can teach me the use of it! My surgery emailed me a few years ago with details on how to communicate with them online, and it has proved very useful for making appointments, much quicker than trying to get through by phone.

[french frank]

I don't have use of my phone - I can't find anyone who can teach me the use of it! My surgery emailed me a few years ago with details on how to communicate with them online, and it has proved very useful for making appointments, much quicker than trying to get through by phone.

The NHS and my practice usually contact me by text message which I find more convenient than a phone call, whether landline or mobile. I only discovered a couple of weeks ago that my brother shares my discomfort at using the telephone - telephone phobia (must see if the NHS can treat it!). Unfortunately, my practice hasn't resumed online bookings since Covid: that was indeed very convenient.

[Petrushka]

I had my covid and flu jabs a fortnight ago. I was contacted by text message by my local surgery (a handy 5 minute walk from my home). We are very lucky here in that we have two highly efficient surgeries. My own doctor is a super efficient organiser and the whole procedure is planned like a military operation now honed to perfection following the series of covid jabs.

I've always felt bad after every previous covid jab but I didn't after the latest (Pfizer) which suggests that it has been improved.

I would urge everyone to have it.

[RichardB]

I would urge everyone to have it.

I think I actually just did have it, the virus I mean. I was recovering from a cold and then I had a couple of days at the end of it feeling slightly feverish as the day went on, which I thought little of, but the fact that I've been feeling very tired in the afternoons since then and my sense of smell seems a bit attenuated seems to indicate that I was infected. It would be too late to get tested now.

[Dave2002]

The NHS and my practice usually contact me by text message which I find more convenient than a phone call, whether landline or mobile. I only discovered a couple of weeks ago that my brother shares my discomfort at using the telephone - telephone phobia (must see if the NHS can treat it!). Unfortunately, my practice hasn't resumed online bookings since Covid: that was indeed very convenient.

Slight digression from "coronavirus". I find the pushing back of services [not just the NHS, but most organisations, but the NHS in particular ...] very annoying. I want to find out my vaccination record as we intend to travel to a region where certain diseases are prevalent, and we will take vaccinations if there are appropriate ones. There was a time [only a few years ago] when a visit to a doctors surgery - perhaps arranged a bit in advance - could get all this sorted. Now we are told that to find our previous vaccination records we have to access an online service - using a code "which was sent to 'you' a few years ago ...", and then go to a pharmacy to get vaccinated.

There was a time when most records were on brown cards, and local GPs and nurses actualy knew what was going on.

Indeed having lived in the USA for a while, and seen what happened when the computer went down at a local health centre.....

"Who are you?"
"What is your date of birth?"
"Which doctor have you come to see?"
"What were you coming to see us about"

...

"Sorry - we'll have to wait, we can't figure this out until the computer comes back up"

.....

Total chaos and a considerable amount of time was wasted as nobody had a clue what to do.

Then I came back to the UK, walked in to see my GP who addressed me by name, and knew within seconds what my previous treatments and medication had been, and was able to give helpful treatment.

Of course that was over thirty years ago, and things have gone downhill since then.

[french frank]

I've always felt bad after every previous covid jab but I didn't after the latest (Pfizer) which suggests that it has been improved.

Au contraire, for the first time my arm has remained more painful than after previous jabs. But not so painful that it would make me hesitate to have the next (?) one. The nurse said briskly, if you feel any pain take paracetamol, but I haven't bothered.

As for vaccination records, my iPhone is no more than a handy pocket computer. Just checked the NHS app and yesterday's jab has been added to the list, date, type of vaccine, batch number. Damn gadget even knows that I copied and pasted my app password. And where I pasted it from. Mind you, it does spookier things than that

[Old Grumpy]

Pfizer on Friday- no reaction so far...

[Bryn]

Au contraire, for the first time my arm has remained more painful than after previous jabs. But not so painful that it would make me hesitate to have the next (?) one. The nurse said briskly, if you feel any pain take paracetamol, but I haven't bothered.

As for vaccination records, my iPhone is no more than a handy pocket computer. Just checked the NHS app and yesterday's jab has been added to the list, date, type of vaccine, batch number. Damn gadget even knows that I copied and pasted my app password. And where I pasted it from. Mind you, it does spookier things than that

Is the "NHS app" you refer to different from "Patient Access" (as used by my local practice)? I have just checked with Patient Access and though it shows "Immunisation course to maintain protection against SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2)", it does not indicate the manufacturer. I will have to dig the documentation given me at the vaccination cantre to check that (if I can find it).

[Old Grumpy]

Is the "NHS app" you refer to different from "Patient Access" (as used by my local practice)? I have just checked with Patient Access and though it shows "Immunisation course to maintain protection against SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2)", it does not indicate the manufacturer. I will have to dig the documentation given me at the vaccination cantre to check that (if I can find it).

NHS App

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/

Mine has full details with:


Vaccination - Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4-5 COVID-19

[french frank]

Is the "NHS app" you refer to different from "Patient Access" (as used by my local practice)?

Old Grumpy has the link to what I referred to. I get "Patient Access" to my practice online where I can access a lot of information (including test results) but I don't have a separate local app for my phone. The NHS app also lets me reorder repeat prescriptions book a covid vaccination.The details about the vaccination are under Your Health in the menu at the bottom (Not View your GP health record). I'd forgotten it also has my NHS number though that seldom seems to be vital.

[Bryn]

Old Grumpy has the link to what I referred to. I get "Patient Access" to my practice online where I can access a lot of information (including test results) but I don't have a separate local app for my phone. The NHS app also lets me reorder repeat prescriptions book a covid vaccination.The details about the vaccination are under Your Health in the menu at the bottom (Not View your GP health record). I'd forgotten it also has my NHS number though that seldom seems to be vital.

Lucky you. I am registered with the NHS App but my local practice appears to disconnect at weekends, which is quite ridiculous and I will be chasing it up with them, and if they are not responsive with the local health authority. When I log in and try to access my records, what I get today is ""Cannot show GP health record. There was a problem connecting to your GP surgery.", whereas,
Patient Access provides a repeat prescription service and many aspects of my medical records back as far as 1985 but, as I mentioned, fails to identify the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine manufacturer.

[Serial_Apologist]

Vaccination - Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4-5 COVID-19

The very one I had - matching elastoplast patches on each arm, one for the Covid jab, the other the flu one. There was a slight ache in the left arm only noticeable on going to bed for a couple of nights - I sleep habitually on my left side. One thing I've noticed over the past few years is not experiencing any sensation whatever from the syringe needle, to my great relief, being something of a "needle phobic".