AstraZeneca Vaccination Opt-In Programme
Due to the rising case in the two states, the AstraZeneca vaccination opt-in programme was introduced to Malaysians and residents living in KL and Selangor on May 2nd 2021. Since then, the AstraZeneca vaccine has been offered in 2 phases to senior citizens and other Malaysians and residents who opt-in from the participating states. Currently, the AstraZeneca vaccine is available to all Malaysians and residents under the National Immunisation Programme.
In the past month, our people at Homage have been getting vaccinated at the participating Vaccine Administration Centre (VACs) for their AstraZeneca vaccine. Here is what they had to say about their #CucukMyAZ experience:
Raihan at World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur
Q: How did you prepare before going for your AstraZeneca vaccination?
A: My vaccination appointment was at 7:30 pm so I had some time to calm my nerves before the jab. I made sure I had eaten a good meal during lunch and tea time before heading to the vaccination centre.
Clothing-wise, I opted for a loose buttoned-up shirt that allowed easy access to my upper arms. I also brought along some medical reports from a surgery I had in January which I felt may be necessary to inform the doctors before my vaccination.
As a standard practice, I made sure I had a full bottle of hand sanitiser and wipes in my bag and wore comfortable shoes for the journey.
Q: Where did you go for your vaccination and are there any important travel advice for the venue?
A: My vaccination appointment was at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur on the 16th of May 2021. It was expected to be a very crowded day with over 9000 appointments but the COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force decided to reschedule 2,800 appointments to 17th– 23rd May.
Expecting a large crowd, I chose to park at Seri Pacific Hotel which is connected to World Trade Centre. However, this wasn’t really necessary as there were plenty of parking spaces available at the basement parking of the World Trade Centre.
Do note that if you are travelling with someone that has difficulty walking, the car park area to the entrance is quite a distance and you might want to consider a wheelchair. You could also get a Grab to the venue and be dropped off right at the entrance of the World Trade Centre for your convenience.
Parking area at World Trade Centre, KL
Q: How did you find the process of the vaccination at the venue from start to finish?
A: I found the whole process very smooth and efficient. I had arrived earlier than expected and was allowed to enter at 6:40 pm since there was no congestion during that time. Although the distance from the entrance to the vaccination area was quite far and had several checkpoints, the overall waiting time was very minimal.
Excluding the 15-minute observation period, the two longest part of the entire process was filling out the consent forms and the consultation with the doctor. This depends on the medical conditions you may have which will likely influence your consultation time with the attending doctor. For me, the entire process took less than an hour and I left the observation area at 7:25 pm.
Consultation station at World Trade Centre, KL
Q: Did you experience any side effects after your AstraZeneca vaccination?
The actual vaccination was practically painless for me. During the observation period, I started to feel stiffness and numbness on my left arm, where I had my injection. I was also feeling slightly lightheaded. I made sure to move my left arm as much as possible to improve blood flow and circulation. I did not have any symptoms for the rest of the night and felt normal when I woke up the next morning. As soon as I started to carry on with my normal routine, I started experiencing mild headaches. These were bearable and subsided with paracetamol.
By around 2 pm, these headaches slowly intensified, and I was experiencing mild chills and had a low-grade fever of about 37.8C from an armpit temperature reading. Almost 25 hours after my vaccination, I experienced the full-blown side effects of the vaccine with a fever, headache, chills and a burning sensation behind my eyes. Before going to bed, I made sure to eat 2 tablets of paracetamol to hopefully alleviate the symptoms. Waking up the next day, my fever had returned to its’ low-grade, but the headaches remained. I also had very little appetite and spent most of my day in bed. A full 48 hours after the vaccination, I felt almost completely fine and was able to go about my routine as normal (yay!).
Q: Do you have any advice for others that will be getting vaccinated?
A: Before your vaccination:
- Bring your sanitiser, wipes and a pen
- Wear clothing with easy access to the upper arm and comfortable footwear
- Do not arrive too early
- Make sure you’ve eaten before your vaccination and emptied your bladder
During the vaccination process:
- If you have any concerns regarding the vaccine, prepare your questions for the consultation session
- If you are afraid of needles, look in the other direction when the vaccine is being administered
Post-vaccination:
- Make sure to drink a lot of water and stock up on paracetamol
- Do not exercise for the first 72 hours after your vaccination
- Rest as much as possible and monitor your symptoms for any abnormalities e.g. severe, unusual headache or shortness of breath
Vaccination journey at World Trade Centre, KL
Deborah at IDCC, Shah Alam
Q: How did you prepare before going for your AstraZeneca vaccination?
A: A week leading up to my vaccination I made sure to eat food high in antioxidants; have enough sleep (at least 8 hours at night); went for light exercises that would not cause muscle sores leading up to the day and abstain from alcohol. Since my slot was at 9 am, I had some light breakfast before heading to the PPV (in case I faint when I see the needle!).
Q: Where did you go for your vaccination and are there any important travel advice for the venue?
A: I went to IDCC in Shah Alam, and it is advisable to travel out at least 30 minutes before your appointment. Make sure to check and update your MySejahtera status, and to bring your IC. Parking is straightforward and easy where you will be led up the Level 4 parking lot, but taking an e-hailing is also a good option for that PPV location.
Q: How did you find the process of the vaccination at the venue from start to finish?
A: It was very quick and efficient! At 9 am, I was the 207th person in the queue. It was all done in one long big hall, with five stations moving quickly. When it came to the injection station, I did get a bit scared because I have a phobia of needles but it felt like an ant bite and nothing more.
Queueing station at IDCC, Shah Alam
Q: Did you experience any side effects after your AstraZeneca vaccination?
A: My arm did feel slightly painful right after the injection and I felt all the side effects imaginable – drowsiness in the first two hours, low-grade fever and body aches 6 hours post-vaccination and also chills at night. The side effects lasted about 36 hours for me but the only thing that did take a few days to heal was my sore arm.
Q: Do you have any advice for others that will be getting vaccinated?
A: After my vaccination, I tried getting my meals ahead of time so I don’t have to think about it when I’m down with fever (porridge, hot soups, coconut water, and fruit juices really helped with my recovery) and to take the day off if your vaccination falls on a weekday! Also good to make sure you minimise contact so you don’t contract COVID-19 until you get your second vaccine dose.
Free post-vaccination snacks at IDCC, Shah Alam
Phoebe at UKM, Bangi
Q: How did you prepare before going for your AstraZeneca vaccination?
A: I didn’t really do a lot of preparation beforehand. I wore short sleeves so it was easier to get the injection and made sure I brought along some snacks and a bottle of water for the trip. I also brought my laptop along just in case the process took longer than expected since it was a weekday!
Q: Where did you go for your vaccination and are there any important travel advice for the venue?
A: My appointment was at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in Bangi. There is really no need to arrive too early at the venue. I was worried about the potential roadblocks but the roads were clear and there was plenty of parking spaces there. The lines were relatively short as well and not as congested as other locations!
Dewan Gemilang at UKM, Bangi
Q: How did you find the process of the vaccination at the venue from start to finish?
A: The entire process was very well organised. There were many volunteers to guide you along the way if you need any assistance. Everything was done in such an orderly manner and they were very efficient. In my case, the whole experience from the start to finish took no longer than 1 hour.
Q: Did you experience any side effects after your AstraZeneca vaccination?
A: Compared to others, I had very mild side effects. I didn’t get a fever, chills or the ‘munchies’ like some people did. Instead, I only experienced a slight headache and lethargy for the first 12-24 hours. The remaining side effect was a very tender and sore arm for roughly 72 hours after my vaccination.
Q: Do you have any advice for others that will be getting vaccinated?
A: Make sure you get enough rest after your vaccination. It’s best not to overwork yourself during this time. Since headaches seem to be the most common side effect, if you do feel one coming on, take some paracetamol and rest or sleep it off!
Your Vaccination Journey
If you are preparing for your vaccination appointment, remember you are not only helping yourself but also those around you. Vaccination is an important part of our journey towards herd immunity and without it, our fight against COVID-19 continues indefinitely.
Do keep in mind the advice shared by the people at Homage and we hope you have a smooth and comfortable vaccination experience.
If your loved ones need support travelling to the vaccination centre and back, feel free to chat with our Care Advisor at 016-2992188 to understand how we can help to provide care and assistance during the vaccination journey.
