Covid booster placement

LoubyLoo

Wondering if anyone has experience of requesting their booster be placed in their thigh instead of arm?  My second covid jab unfortunately caused me to develop frozen shoulder for which, after months of pain, I am now having surgery. The consultant has confirmed this is what caused it and he as unfortunately seen quite a few people over the past months with similar problems.  Apparently just bad luck . I don’t blame anyone and want to have the booster but obviously am keen to have it anywhere other than arm!

donnac2558

Have you phoned your GP surgery and asked?  

I only know of people getting in the arm.

Mine is being done on the 3/11 with my flu jab at the same time.   I was told both go into the same arm.

Toothsmith

The delivery of the covid vaccines is mainly carried out by volunteers from retired medical staff and the wider medical professions (I'm one too!!) 

We generally operate under a group directive that authorizes us to deliver named covid vaccines (And latterly flu vaccines) into named sites. The named site is the deltoid muscle (Your large shoulder muscle) This s generally a really safe site, with very very few side effects - but as you've found, very occasionally side effects can happen.

It's highly unlikely any future injections into your arm will produce the same effect - but I understand your concern.

It would be *possible* to put it into your thigh, but not by a vaccinator who is working under one of these group directives - even if it's a retired nurse, or healthcare worker who knows exactly how to do one. It would probably only be the Dr in overall control of that clinic who could decide that one was appropriate, and it would be them who had to give it.

So - probably your best bet would be to contact your own GP surgery and see if you can get anywhere that way? They may refer you to one of the hospital clinics where those with a few more risk factors to the vaccine go to get vaccinated. 

I would repeat, though, that a chance of a repeat performance would be very very low - and having an injection in the thigh is similar in risks to one in the shoulder. (very low - but not 100% risk free!)

Dizzy_Ditzy

donnac2558 said:

Have you phoned your GP surgery and asked?  

I only know of people getting in the arm.

Mine is being done on the 3/11 with my flu jab at the same time.   I was told both go into the same arm.

I had both done together, one in each arm

Toothsmith

We tend to do them one in each arm - but if one arm can't be used, then so long as there's at least 2.5cm separation, they can both go into the same arm with no issue.

bargainbetty

You can request it at vaccine centres too - I'm a volunteer vaccinator and we had a patient with a phobia of having her arms touched who agreed to have the jab in her leg instead. As long as it is administered by a clinical nurse who has had the necessary training, it is possible. 

The jab is intramuscular - arm for preference, thigh in emergency and glutes are the final option.