Agoraphobia-covid jab. Could I have it done at home?

calsiam

Hi,
I just about managed to have my 1st covid jab in February, since then my mental and physical health has declined greatly. I am now petrified to leave my home as agoraphobia has once again set in along with my physical disabilities having got worse. I keep rescheduling my 2nd jab as I think maybe I will be better but have faced the fact that it's not going to happen anytime soon. I called my GP and asked whether I could have the jab at home. They replied no and booked me in for another appt. Is there ANY way I could get jabbed at home? Please help. 

janer1967

Hi there 

I had my vaccines  at home 

I was unable to get to any if the venues as I physically can not go out alone and my gp is awars of this and put me on the home visit list 

euro

Have you tried 119?  It's like the 111 NHS telephone helpline but specifically for Coronavirus related queries and help.

calsiam

No actually, good thinking. I'll give them a try right now. Thank you.

Tori_Scope

Hi @calsiam I'd second the advice to ring 119 to see if they can advise. Please do let us know how you get on, as I'm sure you're not the only one in this position. 

calsiam

Hi. I spoke to 119 but they said I would have to wait until better or arrange patient transport services. What do ppl do if they're bed/housebound? ?

MarkM88

I would ring the GP surgery and ask if they can support with getting you a home visit. 

If they really do want everyone to take up the offer they have to be prepared to offer support to individuals who need assistance. 

calsiam

I'll email so that I have written proof. My surgery is not the best. 

OverlyAnxious

calsiam said:

Hi. I spoke to 119 but they said I would have to wait until better or arrange patient transport services. What do ppl do if they're bed/housebound? ?

A couple of my older relatives have had theirs done at home due to mobility issues.

You can't have the Pfizer vaccine at home due to the large batches and cold storage needs, but there's no real reason you can't have the others done at home.

As an agorophobe myself, this sounds like the typical health hierarchy where MH issues aren't considered as debilitating as physical issues. 

 

ZeN

Hi  Like you I suffer with Agoraphobia (and depression and anxiety) I have also had a spinal Op that unfortunately has not worked, I asked about a home visit and got told they would  "see what they could do"  a couple of days later they phoned again and said I would have to go to the Surgery, so I bit the Bullet  and done what I normally do if I go out ... Mask on, Sunglasses on, Headphones on, thats my way of coping, I was just about to go out when the phone rang again and the receptionist said you do realise that you have to go to the Ulverscroft Road Surgery which for me is miles away I have not been on a bus anywhere since 2018 I said are you having a laugh, but then about a week later I had it done at my Local Surgery and I waited outside near to the door, but now I am dreading the phone call or text that asks me to go in for the second Jab, but I just want it over and done with, I do believe that society in General don't consider Mental Health that much of an issue the spine thing I have no choice so just get on with it different kind of pain but I would say to them come Live my life for a while .... Hope you get it sorted tho

Tori_Scope

Thanks for sharing your experience @ZeN. I'm sorry that you had that experience, but well done for managing the first time around. Did you book your second appointment at the same time as your first? 

You've all definitely highlighted an important topic.

Please let us know how you get on with your GP @calsiam. Have you considered moving surgery? Or is that not an option due to location? 

calsiam

I've had so many issues regarding my health that I find it hard to concentrate and the thought of trying to find another doctor seems too much for me to deal with at the moment. Plus, what if I end up going from bad to worse? My thoughts are, well at least this one knows Me. Does that make sense? Sometimes I wish I had an assistant to deal with all my matters. My head is so fuzzy and drowsy from all my meds that thinking straight is not an option anymore 

But anyway, I got a private number call today. Answered and it was the coronavirus dept at my local council (Enfield) saying that they've noticed I've not yet had my 2nd jab. I explained my issue and they said no problem, they're low on cars at the moment but he will add me to the home visit list and someone will get in touch soon. 
I have to say Enfield have been really good throughout. They regularly check up to see if I'm OK and provided free food and household basics during the first lockdown. 

Tori_Scope

That absolutely makes sense @calsiam. You can check the ratings of GP surgeries online, but of course I couldn't tell you how accurate they are. I do also understand your point about them knowing you. 

Well, that sounds like pretty good news. Fingers crossed it won't be too long before they're able to give you a home visit I'm glad they've been able to give you that extra support, too. 

calsiam

I'll keep you updated ?

poorsoul

I had no idea you could get it at home i missed my covid jag because of similar reasons to calsium i hardly leave the house only for food and money from the bank 5 minutes walk away.My appointment was in another town in a place i have never been before and required bus travel.I suffer from panic attacks and anxiety which is known by my Dr.If the jag was at my home i would have got it but due to my condition i didnt get it.

calsiam

See if YOUR council does anything like mine. If not, make a formal request with your GP to get one at home. 

sarahlou1983

@calsiam hi there thank you so much for posting this question, I am agoraphobic and am yet to have my first Covid jab , because of this , if you don’t mind me asking how old are you ?? Cause I’m in my 30’s and I’m getting the response of I’m only viable for Phizer which obviously has the transportation issues 

do you have any advice or information that I could use that I haven’t tried already, because the worry is making my mental health 100 times worse , and I am completely lost on what to do ?

Tori_Scope

Have you spoken to your GP about this @sarahlou1983? 

If I've interpreted the following information correctly, you could still be able to get the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at home:

• Maximum shelf life is 6 months stored in a freezer at -80°C to -60°C

• 31 days at 2-8°C after thaw (assign immediately after removing from freezer)

• In addition, once removed from the fridge may be stored between 2 to 25°C for 2 hours prior to dilution

• In addition, once diluted may be stored between 2 to 25°C for a further 6 hours

(Specialist Pharmacy Service, NHS)

calsiam

Hi. Sorry I've not replied sarahlou1983 I've just been so down and fed up with chasing up doctors and hospitals to get appts arranged. I've had enough of this pain. 
Anyway, to answer your question, I'm 46. 
The Council ended up being a waste of time. Someone else called and said that I had been given the wrong information and it's only the GP that can arrange a jab at home.
I've called GP and emailed at least 3 times that I can remember but nothing.

sarahlou1983

Tori_Scope said:

Have you spoken to your GP about this @sarahlou1983? 

If I've interpreted the following information correctly, you could still be able to get the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at home:

• Maximum shelf life is 6 months stored in a freezer at -80°C to -60°C

• 31 days at 2-8°C after thaw (assign immediately after removing from freezer)

• In addition, once removed from the fridge may be stored between 2 to 25°C for 2 hours prior to dilution

• In addition, once diluted may be stored between 2 to 25°C for a further 6 hours

(Specialist Pharmacy Service, NHS)

so it CAN be given at home?? i was told it couldnt ...All this worrying about it has made me physically unwell with stomach paIns and bad nausea ,and is making my anxiety 100 times worse .
I really do think most Doctors surgerys try to fob people off that suffer from mental health difficulties .Its as if we dont matter as much as everybody else ,cause yeah we really enjoy feeling like this right???!!!!!

Sorry for the rant you guys ,just makes me so angry

sarahlou1983

calsiam said:

Hi. Sorry I've not replied sarahlou1983 I've just been so down and fed up with chasing up doctors and hospitals to get appts arranged. I've had enough of this pain. 
Anyway, to answer your question, I'm 46. 
The Council ended up being a waste of time. Someone else called and said that I had been given the wrong information and it's only the GP that can arrange a jab at home.
I've called GP and emailed at least 3 times that I can remember but nothing.

Thats ok hon ,no worries ,oh bless your heart ,Have you tried 119 at all ?? So far they have been the only ones who seem to understand where i am coming from .
They told me that if i rang my local hospital switchboard,they may be able help me .
So i called them and they gave me contact details of my local Clinical Commissioning Group for my area (in my case Kent and medway) and said it may be worth emaling them to see if they could help .So i did and am awaiting a replay .Just explain the situation on both counts

Its worth a shot ,Sending you the very best of luck