Does anyone know if you can mix vaccines?

[AngeloMysterioso]

I know aibu isn’t really the place for this but the coronavirus board is full of doom and gloom... I’ve done a bit of Googling and haven’t really found a conclusive answer.

I’m 35 and 10 weeks pregnant. Just before getting pregnant I had my first covid vaccine which just happened to be the AZ one, and of course Sod’s law being what it is that is the one they’re now saying shouldn’t be given to under 40’s or pregnant women. I’m due to have my second jab on the 19th.

Nobody seems to know whether I can switch to another vaccine, whether it’s for one or both jabs or what... my midwife doesn’t know, my GP doesn’t know...

Does anybody know?

[Sirzy]

As far as I know the mixing of jabs is still being tested so at the moment it isn’t an available option.

[chipsandpeas]

i think mixing vaccines is still being tested so not universally offered

[Marcis]

Discuss with your doctor but if you had first with no I’ll effects you should be fine to have second.

I have had second AZ jab in pregnancy.

[fairynick]

I have a history of blood clots and after having my first AZ vaccine, was advised by my GP to get Pfizer for the second. GP said to ring back in a few weeks to chase.
I have rang them back and they said they still don’t recommend AZ but can’t help with Pfizer but NHS England can. Rang NHS England and they have directed me back to my GP surgery.
Both have been really unhelpful and so it looks like I won’t be able to get a second vaccine, at least for now.

[ChatterMonkey]

I think they say the risk is higher with the first dose, so if youve had the first with no issues, getting the second AZ dose is safer with more testing carried out on risks, rather than changing to a different vaccine which the risk of any effects are a lot more unknown.

[CarrieBlue]

Mixing vaccines isn’t licenced as a procedure yet, is it? So you wouldn’t be able to have a different one.

[flashylamp]

People who have had the first AZ are advised to have the second AZ.

[Heatherjayne1972]

I know someone who had them both AZ and then the Pfizer. Accidentally
She’s ok.

My boss asked for either / wasn’t bothered if it was one of each but was told it’s a definite no

[Mushypeasandchipstogo]

I don’t know of anyone in the UK or Ireland who has mixed vaccines, as the pp stated I think that it is something to do with licensing.

[bridgetreilly]

@Heatherjayne1972 Of course she’s okay. The question is whether she is effectively vaccinated against Covid. That’s what no one knows about mixed vaccines and why it’s not recommended.

[AngeloMysterioso]

Could I in theory have a first and second jab of a different vaccine though? Has anyone done thatv

[flashylamp]

@AngeloMysterioso

Could I in theory have a first and second jab of a different vaccine though? Has anyone done thatv

Why? It has been advised you have the AZ so that is what you will be given.

[HelenHywater]

no, they're not mixing yet. I had my second today and they made sure I was having the same one as they said they're not able to mix.

[Daria32]

Im not sure personally, but a few weeks ago Dr Hillary on GMTV said you could mix vaccines and it wouldn’t be a problem 🤷‍♀️ (I would ask your own gp though!)

[Marcis]

I think you would have to give a longer period of clearance between the AZ jab and starting a new course.
The official advise is to have 2nd AZ- they will not deviate from that.

[Marcis]

Trials are only just staring on mixing jabs so it’s arguably safer and certainly more evidence based to proceed with second AZ than to guinea pig yourself mixing and matching.

[Marguerite2000]

@AngeloMysterioso

Could I in theory have a first and second jab of a different vaccine though? Has anyone done thatv

Yes, you probably can 'in theory', but it's not official procedure yet.

[peoniesandpastels]

I was 7.5 weeks pregnant when my 2nd jab was due. I spoke to my GP and he advised that were I having my first dose, they would recommend a pfizer or moderna, but as I had already had a dose of astrazeneca I needed to get the same again. That was last week and so far I have the same side effects as last time (sore arm, mild headache)

[Aprilx]

@AngeloMysterioso

Could I in theory have a first and second jab of a different vaccine though? Has anyone done thatv

I don’t understand why “in theory” matters, of course in theory somebody could have two jabs, but what matters is “in practice”, and in practice, no you can’t have two jabs because it won’t be administered to you.

[ittakes2]

I have a blood clotting gene and had a AZ before all the reports. Dr looked into whether I could have the 2nd as Pfizer and nhs won’t do it. There is a trial of mixed vaccines going on but I have the impression you can’t choose what you get as your second vaccine - some people will end go with two doses of the same thing so there is a control sample.

[garlictwist]

My sister who works in a hospital told me that patients on her ward who are due their second dose of Pfizer are having AZ because of supply issues. Apparently this is fine and they think it actually offers better protection to mix doses.

[countbackfromten]

No you can’t currently unless it is as part of a trial and those are ongoing. We think it may be a positive thing but we don’t have the evidence.

If I was in your shoes I would get the second AZ dose in a heartbeat rather than waiting for what may be a considerable amount of time for trial evidence and MHRA approval.

The risks are still very low compared with the risks we take every single day just by doing things like getting in a car or crossing the road!

[RoseAndRose]

It's unlikely to be harmful to mix.

But it's still being tested for effectiveness.

[Overthebow]

No you can’t have a different one for your second. It’s still in trial. It’s advised you have AZ for your second if you had it for your first