Refused Pfizer vaccine

[Howtodeal2]

Hi, I’m so sorry if you’re all sick of hearing about the vaccines.. but I’m not sure what to do!
Today, I went for my Pfizer vaccine. When I got there, It was flagged on my records that I’d had an anaphylactic shock 12 years ago. I was on a night out, pretty sure my drink got spiked and I reacted badly to it. The reason I think this is cos I hadn’t eaten anything different and all id had to drink was one vodka and one sambuca. There was also a dodgy guy hanging around. Symptoms were severe stomach issues, heart rate dangerously high and stomach swelling. I was given 2 shots of adrenaline and kept in for 12 hours. There were no further appointments or investigations.
I’ve never had a problem since.

However, as it’s classed as unknown they wouldn’t give me the vaccine today and told me to have AstraZeneca. I have quite severe anxiety and health anxiety related to blood clots, that ive had for 10 years. I won’t cope with the thought of the tiny chance of having a blood clot!
I’m 32 so apparently the risk is higher!

I just don’t know what to do and it’s stressing me out! I really don’t think I’d react to the Pfizer, but whilst I understand why they won’t risk it, they have epi pens etc there. Sorry I’m just really fed up of anxiety and the stress of this whole thing.
Thanks for reading x

I have had platelet issues in the past, I’m going tomorrow and I’m worried they will stop me from having it. I might be in the same boat tomorrow!

It’s sucks can you ring your GP and get them to have a more in depth and ok it? Have it done at a surgery instead?

Initially the guidelines stated if you have prior history of anaphylaxis you cannot have the Pfizer vaccine.
In the US they have done further studies and state now that you can but need monitoring after for longer.
Don't think guidelines have changed in UK.
Why have you health anxiety related to clots ?
You probably need to talk to your GP

Moderna vaccine??

My Mum has a severe allergy and went to get her vaccine but was turned away as it was Pfizer. Had to return for the Oxford jab.

My mum was not allowed Pfizer due to a previous anaphylactic reaction too. That's the rule I guess.

Can you have a proper chat with your GP surgery about this? My practice has someone specific to speak to about vaccines so you don't need to get a GP appointment to have a first chat.

Moderna vaccine??

That is the same. I had that and they give you the third degree on allergies and anaphylactic shock.

I have an anaphylactic allergy to ibuprofen and aspirin. I have had both Pfizer jabs! I had my EpiPen ready 😂 much to their amusement but they said as long as I wasnt allergic to any of the ingredients I would be ok!

Anaphylatic shock is far more lethal than most blood clots. They won't give you the Pfizer so you're a bit stuck unless you can find a place to give you the Moderna and it isn't prohibited for people who've had anaphylactic shock in the past, too.

Did they ask you?

The vaccination centre should be able to refer you to a hospital to be vaccinated in controlled conditions.

You can wait for another vaccine option - Johnson & Johnson, perhaps, or one of the others...

But Moderna & Pfizer can’t be given to people with anaphylaxis, AZ would be much better for you. If your anxiety means you can’t have that, wait for a different option. I have a friend who was chosen for the J&J wider trial a few months back so hopefully that’ll be widely available soon.

There aren't any zero risk choices in life. I hope you end up feeling a lot less anxious about your options.

Apologies for the wall of text below, it is from chapter 14a of the green book that all vaccinators have to follow.

TLDR version is speak to your GP. The issue is that you can’t have Pfizer or Moderna if you are allergic to any of the components of the vaccine, and because you don’t know what triggered your previous reaction, it is difficult to rule it out absolutely, even though it is very unlikely. Your GP may be able to give advice more tailored to you as an individual and may feel able to give you M or P. Even if your GP advises that AZ would be safer remember that the incidence of clots is very very very low.

Anaphylaxis following COVID-19 vaccination
A very small number of individuals have experienced anaphylaxis when vaccinated with the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine. Following close national surveillance, the MHRA is no longer advising that individuals with a history of anaphylaxis to any vaccine, medicine or food do not get the vaccine. Anyone with a previous history of allergic reactions to the ingredients of the vaccine should not receive it, but those with any other allergies (such as a food or penicillin allergy) can have the vaccine.
The Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines contain polyethylene glycol (PEG). PEGs (also known as macrogols) are a group of known allergens commonly found in medicines, many household products and cosmetics. Medicines containing PEG include some tablets, laxatives, depot steroid injections, and some bowel preparations used for colonoscopy. Known allergy to PEG is rare but would contraindicate receipt of this vaccine (Sellaturay et al, 2020). It is unclear whether PEG is the only cause of allergic reactions in patients with systemic allergic symptoms after the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
The rate of anaphylaxis reported to date to the AstraZeneca vaccine is in line with the expected rate of anaphylaxis to non-COVID vaccines. The AstraZeneca vaccine does not contain PEG but does contain a related compound called polysorbate 80. Some people with PEG allergy may also be allergic to polysorbate 80. However, polysorbate 80 is widely used in medicines and foods, and is present in many medicines including monoclonal antibody preparations. Some injected influenza vaccines (including the main vaccine used in over 65 year olds) contain polysorbate 80. Individuals who have tolerated injections that contain polysorbate 80 (such as certain influenza vaccines) are likely to tolerate the AstraZeneca vaccine. This is summarised in table 4.

Talk to your GP. The green book has a helpful table and I would have thought you'd be in the amber group.

Problem is your allergen is unknown. My ds has multiple allergies, but I'm willing for him to have it when their turn came, since he doesn't have known allergy to the ingredients, I thought that was the guideline.
But tbh, even Pfizer did have incidents of blood clots too, so it's not perfectly safe compared to AZ either, and both are very very rare anyway.

Similar history for me: they let me have Pfizer but sent me to the local hospital centre to have it

The same happened to me, I was turned away for the Pfizer because of previous anaphylactic reactions to an unknown substance. I returned for the AZ but they wouldn't give me that either as it wasn't in a hospital setting. I finally had the AZ in hospital and I was absolutely fine afterwards, not a single side effect. I'm in my 40s though so obviously blood clots were less of a worry, but I had no option than to take the AZ or remain unvaccinated. It seemed a chance worth taking, especially when I'd been on the pill for years.

Thank you all. I know a lot of it is due to my high anxiety levels. They’ve crept up massively lately and I think it’s something I need to sort out. I’m really not feeling very good mentally and I hadn’t quite realised it until this week.

I’ve not been on the pill ever since I was told that I shouldn’t be on it due to members of my family having blood clot issues. Maybe that’s where my anxiety over that has come from.
I just know myself, that after I have the AstraZeneca, I will worry for the whole month and feel symptoms that aren’t even there 🙄

I understand that anaphylaxis is life threatening too.
I also worry about covid. I feel a bit trapped with the whole thing, and obviously that is down to anxiety.
I will try and speak with my doctor tomorrow. I trust him completely, however he can be very grumpy 😆

Thanks for all your advice and your kind responses x

You should be referred to an allergy service. They will work out the best course of action with your consent.

What’s in the Pfizer vaccine that will trigger anaphylaxis? I have a history of it too and I won’t go near the AZ. Too many young people have had issues with that one.

@Howtodeal2 The blood clots from the AZ are different to the blood clots from the pill, although I don’t know if that helps.

I had blood clot symptoms after my first dose, it was a bit scary, but generally okay. I was then told I couldn’t have the next dose, and then a few weeks later, that I could but it’d be administered at a hospital with supervision... then that actually, that wouldn’t make a difference, so I’d have Pfizer instead. And now I’m pregnant so I can’t mix the vaccines anymore, without special permission that doesn’t appear to be coming...

You have to make your personal call. Have you talked to your GP about your risk for the specific blood clots caused? Would that help you?

If not, I’d wait, if I’m honest. I’ll likely have the Jannsen/J&J one, according to my local CCG, it seems the lowest risk one for me.

@CutieBear

What’s in the Pfizer vaccine that will trigger anaphylaxis? I have a history of it too and I won’t go near the AZ. Too many young people have had issues with that one.

It's the PEG that is the main allergen in Pfizer. In AZ it's the polysorbate that is the main allergen.

Anaphylaxis rates for both main vaccines are remarkably similar, but still very low.

All vaccine centres will have resus kit on site, but some non clinical sites won't vaccinate people where there's a known/potential risk (I was turned away and had to attend a hospital based hub).