Attending your vaccination appointment can be a daunting prospect for many – but it’s one of the most important steps in our fight against coronavirus. Thousands of people across East Sussex have already had one or both doses of their Covid-19 vaccination and our local NHS services are working hard on keeping up that momentum.
Beaconsfield Road Surgery in Hastings has shared a story from one of their patients, describing the process of receiving their vaccination at the Kings Centre. From the text message inviting them to booking to actually getting the jab itself, this is a really useful summary of what you can expect when you attend your vaccination appointment.
It started with a text
“Out of the blue on Saturday I was surprised to receive an SMS text message from the NHS. It said that I needed to book my first Covid vaccination. Being a bit wary of internet scams, I checked to see who it had come from and was reassured that the message came from a genuine source.
It took a few moments on my phone to select the date and time of my choice and again I was impressed at how easy it was to make the arrangements. Seconds later and I received another SMS text to tell me that my booking at Kings Church on The Ridge is confirmed.
On the day…
“I was sent a reminder and set off to arrive about 10 minutes early. There isn’t any point in arriving earlier and there is plenty of parking at Kings Church, free of charge for people having vaccinations.
On arrival, there was a short, socially distanced queue outside and there is good wheelchair ramp access for disabled visitors. Inside two receptionists check your name and date of birth, then confirm your attendance on the computer. Again, this took just seconds.
I am then moved to a row of chairs which move each time someone goes into the main hall. This also moved quickly and before I knew it, less than 10 minutes after my arrival I was in the hall.
Again, I am asked to confirm my name and date of birth before some quick screening questions on allergies and blood thinning products. After which it’s time to roll up the sleeve and as quick as a flash, it’s all over. Mine didn’t hurt at all and I have felt fine since having it.
There is a recovery area as they say that you should wait around 15 mins before driving, just in case there are any ill effects, but there were none and I went home.
Now I can’t wait to get my text and book in for the second one!”
Want to know more?
If you would like more information about the Covid-19 vaccines, such as how to access them, how safe they are, or how they were developed so quickly – we have you covered! Read Covid-19 vaccines: The facts on Your East Sussex.
