Take the bus (or train) for you vaccination appointment

[whole diary]

[froome]

I had mine two weeks ago at the Bath Pavilion, which I walked to (3 miles each way). It was in the evening on the coldest night of the year, and I was queuing outside for about 20 minutes before getting in, but otherwise it went smoothly. I had the Pfizer vaccine as they had just had a batch delivered. Had a sore arm the next day but otherwise fine. Some friends who have had the Oxford Zeneca vaccine have reported various side effects, though none have been too serious.

[bradshaw]

Marion and I had ours a couple of weeks ago at Bridport Medical Centre, where all the surgeries in the area had come together to process some 1300 of us once or twice a week, about 3 per minute!
The marshalling was good and the medical staff calming, efficient and happy to answer questions. Since the car was some distance from the centre I used the walking time rather than wait fir the 15 minutes.

As for side effects, I had a mild headache for 24 hours, but Marion was not so lucky. She had a headache for a couple of days and some level of nausea. However, these are far better than the alternative.

[grahame]

... in sitting there for 15 minutes after the injections, I did get to start thinking about something ... which (being transport related) will be subject of a new thread ...

... thread at http://www.passenger.chat/24709 ... eureka moment??

[JayMac]

My side effects got slightly worse last night, with chills in addition to the headache and muscle ache. However, this morning I feel much better, just slight muscle ache at the injection site on my right arm.

My vaccine was the Oxford/AstraZeneca. Which does appear, anecdotally, to have more people experience some side effects.

Ultimately, one day of feeling a bit poorly is a small price to pay for protection against a killer virus.

[bobm]

... and then he watched the cricket.   

[bradshaw]

you mean the two-day test match!

[JayMac]

... and then he watched the cricket.   

... which was just as painful. 

[johnneyw]

... and then he watched the cricket.   

... which was just as painful. 

I looked away.

[TaplowGreen]

I was summoned by SMS on Tuesday (not sure why, as I'm only just 50 with nothing "underlying" apart from dodgy knees and a sluggish thyroid, but was allocated to Slough which is apparently jabbing its residents so quickly they are running out!)

Awoke to read of signal failures at Ealing, which wasn't great, but TfL^» (Transport for London - about) didn't seem to be affected much so got into Slough and had a nostalgic, and somewhat saddening walk around the streets where I bought my first house back in 1993.

Got down the the vaccination centre about 10 mins early, pretty much walked straight in and was jabbed and out in 20 mins after the compulsory 15 min sit down afterwards - to be honest there seemed hardly anyone there older than me.

Had the Pfizer vaccine which they tell me is less likely to cause side effects, 7 hours on the arm is a little sore but otherwise all good so far.

[rogerw]

According to the First West of England web site, relaxation of the bus pass start times ends in Wiltshire on 8th March, in WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about) and North Somerset on 30th April and in Somerset at a date yet to be announced.

[grahame]

According to the First West of England web site, relaxation of the bus pass start times ends in Wiltshire on 8th March, in WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about) and North Somerset on 30th April and in Somerset at a date yet to be announced.

Indeed - confirmed for Wiltshire  by FareSaver too. Thanks for bringing us the dates for other areas. Most people in the Bus Pass age range should have had (at least) their first vaccination by now.   From the Melksham Rail User Group which links to the Faresaver original.

For Melksham BUS users who travel using senior bus passes - your senior (ENCTS^▸ (English National Concessionary Travel Scheme)) pass will once again only be valid for travel free to you at the time of travel from 09:30 on Monday to Friday as from next Monday.  This change is being made to persuade seniors to travel after (and not at the same time) as school and college pupils.

Please note that seniors may still travel before 09:30 for essential journeys but will be required to pay for their journey. On Faresaver buses, some (many? all?) tickets prior to 09:30 are sold at a lower fare if you have a senior card.

Much to do with keeping juniors and seniors on buses at different times rather than having them all on board at the same early morning time!

[froome]

According to the First West of England web site, relaxation of the bus pass start times ends in Wiltshire on 8th March, in WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about) and North Somerset on 30th April and in Somerset at a date yet to be announced.

How does that work for buses which cross between different authorities, such as Bath to Frome or to Melksham or any other nearby Wiltshire town?

[grahame]

According to the First West of England web site, relaxation of the bus pass start times ends in Wiltshire on 8th March, in WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about) and North Somerset on 30th April and in Somerset at a date yet to be announced.

How does that work for buses which cross between different authorities, such as Bath to Frome or to Melksham or any other nearby Wiltshire town?

Bus pass journeys are paid for by the authority where you join, and follow their rules, as I understand it. Certainly for the English and Welsh scheme, English cards are valid for all journeys that run into Wales if you join in England, and vice versa.  But you can't come back from Wales on an English card ...

[froome]

According to the First West of England web site, relaxation of the bus pass start times ends in Wiltshire on 8th March, in WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about) and North Somerset on 30th April and in Somerset at a date yet to be announced.

How does that work for buses which cross between different authorities, such as Bath to Frome or to Melksham or any other nearby Wiltshire town?

Bus pass journeys are paid for by the authority where you join, and follow their rules, as I understand it. Certainly for the English and Welsh scheme, English cards are valid for all journeys that run into Wales if you join in England, and vice versa.  But you can't come back from Wales on an English card ...

So presumably if I wanted to travel from Bath to Melksham by bus after March 8th, I could do so for free but would have to pay to return? (and vice versa if you were to make the same journey starting from Melksham). I can see that leading to some interesting conversations between elderly passengers and drivers.

[grahame]

So presumably if I wanted to travel from Bath to Melksham by bus after March 8th, I could do so for free but would have to pay to return? (and vice versa if you were to make the same journey starting from Melksham). I can see that leading to some interesting conversations between elderly passengers and drivers.

No.  Because (by the time you returned) it would almost certainly be after 09:30 even if you took the first bus out of Bath and your bus pass would have become valid if you joined in Wiltshire.