Covid-19 jab should spark no worries for needle wusses

With the new Covid-19 vaccination clinic at Lismore Square there’s no excuse not to roll up your sleeve and get the vaccination to protect yourself, your family and community.

ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES: Getting your Covid-19 vaccination is a simple and smooth process at the NNSWLHD pop up clinic at Lismore Square. Photo: Alison Paterson

On Wednesday I rolled up my sleeve and lived up to my beliefs – that’s right, I got the first of my two Covid-19 inoculations.

And it was a smooth, stress-free and almost painless process, thanks to a new pop-up clinic at Lismore Square.

As you would hope, the clinic which is the brainchild of the Northern New South Wales Local Health District is organised and efficient.

Once I checked in with the QR code, the security guard directed me to the waiting area where all the chairs were distanced.

A few minutes later I was welcomed and asked to show my Medicare card to the receptionist who checked off my identity.

After being seated I was given a four page handout on what to expect after having the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccination.

This covered issues including common side effects (pain, swelling, tenderness, redness, tiredness, headache, muscle in, nausea, fever and chills, feeling unwell and joint pain) as well as less common side effects (enlarged lymph nodes, pain in limb, dizziness, decreased appetite and stomach pain).

The handout also covered what pain killers to use, if needed, and how and when to seek medical attention if you have an adverse reaction.

About five minutes later I was directed into a cubicle where an efficient nurse asked me a heap of questions to confirm my identity and check on my health (have I had any other recent vaccinations, was I pregnant and any clotting issues) to ensure there would be no concerns regarding getting the jab.

I did warn him that I had no pain threshold and was a complete wuss when it came to injections.

But I need not have worried, the needle was fine.

Then after a 15-minute wait in another socially-distanced area to make sure I was feeling tickety-boo, the nurse in charge of the post-vaccination patients gave us information about making an appointment in August for the second jab.

She wrote down the details for me and also confirmed I would be receiving a reminder text.

All in all it was a good experience.

So far no side-effects.

I take my hat off to the cheerful, efficient and patient staff at the Lismore Square Clinic – and to the people who are doing the right thing for their own health and that of their families and the community, by rolling up their sleeves.

Call 1800 438 829 (1800 GETVAX) and take care of yourself and those you love.