Vaccine Rollout in Australia - personal accounts.

Our doctor's surgery showed up on the net as having vaccine and we rang and made an appointment, had to wait 2 weeks. Had the AZ jab in April. We're both over 70 and had a bad sleep that night and I was freezing, then really hot. Funnily enough the doc said he had the same and he's not as old! Next day a bit wiped out but then fine. They made our next (3 months) appointment while we were there. Since then had a flu shot with no problem.
 
Had my 1st dose of Pfizer from Sunshine hospital over the weekend, very quick and efficient process!
Now VIC need to hurry up and put online booking in place, the phone booking service is terrible.
I called the Vic corona virus hotline today again as I've received no confirmation of my booking next week. Got thru on the 3rd call, if the line too busy they (automated message) tell you & hang up, all within 1 minute by pressing 1, 1, 1 to get to booking part.
When you actually get thru it's only a 15 min wait or so to speak to someone.

While online booking could be easier, I don't have an issue with the phone call (only) option.

Btw; apparant bug in the system on why I didn't receive confirmation, now I have some ID confirmation no., But was on the system anyway so all good.
 
I haven’t posted my experience of AZ vaccine 1 as I am on a two drug chemo trial (both immunotherapy). I had extreme fatigue for 14 days and pain at the injection site still recurs about once a week. Oncologist told me today she had noted my side effects and patients being treated with immunotherapy are being made aware that they may experience unusual fatigue.

Hoping second vax in around 6 weeks is not so bad - and am waiting clearance for flu vax late next week when between cycles. Am I a masochis_ or what?

Not reported through the Vic Health website as I don’t consider my side effects to be solely due to the vaccine (and potentially could occur with any of the vaccines).
 
Btw; apparant bug in the system on why I didn't receive confirmation, now I have some ID confirmation no., But was on the system anyway so all good.
FWIW no one I work with received any form of confirmation, but all were definitely in the system with a booking when presented to a hub site in Vic for vaccination
 
I'm having my 2nd AZ shot with GP later this week (hopefully).

Decided to get it after 10 weeks, rather than 12. Literature I've read suggests this is an optimal time, but in any case, it suits my travel arrangements.

Having to wait 12 weeks between shots is a political edict in my opinion. But what would I know?
 
Sponsored Post

Struggling to use your Frequent Flyer Points?

Frequent Flyer Concierge takes the hard work out of finding award availability and redeeming your frequent flyer or credit card points for flights.

Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, the Frequent Flyer Concierge team at Frequent Flyer Concierge will help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

Having to wait 12 weeks between shots is a political edict in my opinion. But what would I know?
I had my first AZ shot this morning and so far no symptoms of any sort in the jabbed arm... although my other shoulder is a bit sore. Weird, but more likely to be from hoiking the over-weight Maiz backpack with that arm.

I specifically asked about the timing of the second shot. The nurse said I could get the followup any time from 4 weeks onwards... BUT (and I think I heard this correctly): she said efficacy at 4 weeks 62% and at 12 weeks 72%. I did a fact check, and found data that suggests that 12-week efficacy is 82.4%, and 4-6-week efficacy is less than 55%. I'm not a qualified medical person, but I'm an engineer and think I understand the meaning of "95% confidence". This info from BMJ.com

I'm prepared to accept that science rather than a political agenda drives the timing.
 
Last edited:
I had my first shot this morning and so far no symptoms of any sort in the jabbed arm... although my other shoulder is a bit sore. Weird, but more likely to be from hoiking the over-weight Maiz backpack with that arm.

I specifically asked about the timing of the second shot. The nurse said I could get the followup any time from 4 weeks onwards... BUT (and I think I heard this correctly): she said efficacy at 4 weeks 62% and at 12 weeks 72%. I did a fact check, and found data that suggests that 12-week efficacy is 82.4%, and 4-6-week efficacy is less than 55%. I'm not a qualified medical person, but I'm an engineer and think I understand the meaning of "95% confidence". This info from BMJ.com

I'm prepared to accept that science rather than a political agenda drives the timing.
I've been saying this for some time. Good to hear.
 
I received an SMS from the Drs surgery, where I had my 1st AZ on Friday, to see if I'd had any side effects. When I replied yes, they asked me to fill out a survey.
I assume it was from NSW health. Nice to know they're keeping track of things.
 
I received an SMS from the Drs surgery, where I had my 1st AZ on Friday, to see if I'd had any side effects. When I replied yes, they asked me to fill out a survey.
I assume it was from NSW health. Nice to know they're keeping track of things.
Yes. A colleague here in Victoria received a follow up survey request.

Good to see more Pfizer capacity available in Victoria as well, as per The Age. For me, it will hopefully mean a 5 minute walk instead of a 25 minute drive for shot number two :)
 
Yes. A colleague here in Victoria received a follow up survey request.

Good to see more Pfizer capacity available in Victoria as well, as per The Age. For me, it will hopefully mean a 5 minute walk instead of a 25 minute drive for shot number two :)
We got two follow up messages - after 3 days and after a week.

And for some highly anecdotal details. My brother and his wife got their AZ shot last week. His wife got chills for a few hours plus a sore arm for a couple of days while he had no reaction. So for the 4 of us - late 60's early 70's - 1 had flu like symptoms for a day, 1 had the flu symptoms plus sore arm,1 had chills and sore arm and 1 had no reaction at all
 
I did a fact check, and found data that suggests that 12-week efficacy is 82.4%, and 4-6-week efficacy is less than 55%.
That may well be the case, but from my reading of the journals, "suggests" is the right word to use.

Certainly efficacy seems to improve markedly after 4 weeks, but 8-10 weeks seems to be optimum, particularly when you have a raging outbreak (cf Vic). That is, the sooner one has max protection the better...

Oh, and we're only talking AZ here.
 
Last edited:
Got my Pfizer jab at RBWH on Tuesday afternoon. The Teen had to come with me due to school pickup/one car household shenanigans.
No issues. Sore arm til last night. If I gently press around what I assume was the injection site, it's a bit sensitive.

Glad I had The Teen with me. They held my hand, and were surprised when I didn't squeeze. I said it didn't hurt that much.
 
Well, good news. I had zero (0, nada, zippo) reaction to the shot, as far as I can tell. Nothing has changed. I'm still overweight. Damn, and I so thought the jab was going to fix all my ills.

That is, the sooner one has max protection the better...
We're agreed on that - but "max" is the keyword. Too soon, and you don't have "max protection". Waiting a bit longer improves protection, but increases the unprotected exposure interval. It's a cough-shoot.
 
Second Pfizer done. Sore arm again, but not having the unwell/fatigued/hungover effect which leads me to believe that response from the first dose was an actual hangover.

Within about 3 hours I received a MyGov message advising I was fully vaccinated. Medicare immunisation report now has a big tick for COVID-19 vaccine complete. I've printed it out and will use it to check in for a flight to London first thing tomorrow, so glad that these draconian restrictions no longer apply as I'm no longer at any serious risk of Coronavirus...... oh wait
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

Second Pfizer done. Sore arm again, but not having the unwell/fatigued/hungover effect which leads me to believe that response from the first dose was an actual hangover.

Within about 3 hours I received a MyGov message advising I was fully vaccinated. Medicare immunisation report now has a big tick for COVID-19 vaccine complete. I've printed it out and will use it to check in for a flight to London first thing tomorrow, so glad that these draconian restrictions no longer apply as I'm no longer at any serious risk of Coronavirus...... oh wait
Didn't you get your telegram from Greg Hunt? I understand because of the low fully vaccinated numbers he has time to send out personal telegrams to those reaching the pinnacle of 'fully vaccinated' status.
 
Got my Pfizer jab at RBWH on Tuesday afternoon. The Teen had to come with me due to school pickup/one car household shenanigans.
No issues. Sore arm til last night. If I gently press around what I assume was the injection site, it's a bit sensitive.

Glad I had The Teen with me. They held my hand, and were surprised when I didn't squeeze. I said it didn't hurt that much.
Teens can surprise us in a good way sometimes, can't they!
 
Colleague got AZ late on Monday, came to work Tuesday and yesterday feeling ok, but then called in sick today is in bed with flu like symptoms, significant chills and not confident he will be in tomorrow.
 
7 days post dose 1 Pfizer. Enlarged and somewhat painful lymph nodes around my collarbone. Good to know my immune system is doing something I guess!
 
Back
Top