The jab was much better than the swab. I hope having the jab in my arm saves me from swabs up the nose.
Let's start with the swab.
Swab In The UK
My husband had a swab in London, in the car park of a North West London hospital before an operation at the hospital. No problem.
Singapore Quarantine
In Singapore I self-isolated for several week. After going to the UK, when I returned to Singapore I was in quarantine in a hotel.
A couple of days before we left I had the swab test. I did not like it. Each time they tried to put t the swab up my nose I jumped.
We finally changed nostril. Maybe one nostril is bigger than the other. I held very still. All over.
Negative result.
A few weeks later in London I was invited for a vaccination. In Singapore I also had an invitation.
The Vaccination Event
We signed up online and got an appointment the next day. We chose mid-morning. We were told to bring an ID card, a phone for track and trace, andp to wear clothes with no sleeves or sleeves which could be rolled up.
I went for a swim first. That was a good move.
We needed to show an identity card to get admitted to the hall. We did track and trace on a machine.
Then an interview about our medical history, cancer, medications, and allergies. We discussed the type and severity of my reactions to what I was allergic to.
I received warnings about possible side effects of the vaccine.
I signed a consent form.
We sat waiting. Then into the booths in the hall. I could see that the administrator was on my right, so I asked for the vaccine in my left arm as I was right-handed.
The prick was fast and light. Less painful than giving blood for a blood test.. Over in a second.
They gave me a stick on plaster.
We sat on chairs in a vast hall waiting for half an hour to be given the all-clear.
A final interview. No swimming nor running for three days, only walking. No carrying heavy items like large shopping bags. they gave us a leaflet to take home.
Overnight, my arm was painful and woke me when I turned in my sleep. Next day, day one, my arm felt heavy.
So far, so good.
Next day my husband told me to take off the plaster and let it air. then I had second thoughts. What if it got infected?
I hunted all over the websites. No information. My vaccination was the Pfizer-Biontech Covid-19 vaccine. (Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine).
In Singapore if you have a very severe reaction you call 995.
Useful websites
www.hsa.gov.sg/covid-19-information-and-advisories
I can't find anything about the plaster on a vaccination. I found one on biopsy which is not the same thing.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/centers_clinics/cutaneous_nerve_lab/physicians/patient_instructions_biopsy_site_care.html
About the author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.
Angela Lansbury teacher of English (advanced and English as a Second Language or English as a Foreign Language, French and other languages, aspiring polyglot.
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