My Summer Vaccination Journey [July 2025]
When you're running a small network to support people, there's a lot of spinning plates you have to manage. Whether it's monetary, what to do next, educational classes; it's can be all consuming.
However, this year I forgot something important. My own health. I forgot to book my spring vaccine.
This is why it's important to practice what we preach. I decided to use my savings and get a private vaccination. Here's a quick overview of how it went... because it was truly a journey. But I thought it would be useful for those who are still unsure.
TL;DR: Booking was easy, it cost me £114.84 in total (including travel). I had symptoms after but I'm mostly okay.
The Journey
- I booked my vaccine through PharmaDoctor. At first I tried it with Tesco Pharmacy. For some reason, it didn't go through and I didn't get a notification about it. I then booked it with a local pharmacy and I got a confirmation email. If you don't get this confirmation email, it might be because the place you've booked have run out of the COVID vaccine. I didn't pay through the PharmaDoctor app.
- I took an Uber to the pharmacy which cost £7.92.
- I asked the assistant to check my booking and I think they did? I just said that I booked a COVID vaccine and they just said sure, here's a form and give us money. The reason I add that is I think you might be able to call a pharmacy and ask if they have any private vaccines in. But don't quote me on that.
- I filled in a form which asked the usual details: Name, Date of Birth, Address, medications I'm on, any illness I have.
- I got the vaccine. This cost £99. I got the Pfizer Omicron variant KP.2 strain.
- I took an Uber back. This also cost £7.92.
In total, the whole experience cost £114.84.
Aftermath
I had some serious side effects after I got the vaccine. For context, I am diagnosed with EDS and it's suspected that I have ME, POTs and perhaps MCAS but we're not totally sure.
The symptoms I personally experienced:
- Fatigue - moreso than usual
- Heart palpitations
- Body aches, especially on my sides (I suffer from rib pain regularly, it was worse after the vaccine for a bit)
- Restless sleeping
- Flu like symptoms, phlegmy
I'm on day 4 and I'm back to my regular chronically ill self. Please note that some of these symtpoms may be from the energy it took to get to and from the pharmacy as I am mainly housebound.
P.S. I want to see if I can get them to come to the house but my local pharmacy are a bit funny with that. Let me know if you've had more success with this?
Below is a PECs version for those who cannot hack longer blogs or need an easy to read version, this is added as a PDF but can