Know its been done to death but its about Cv19 jab

[Alwayswrongneverright]

I do apologise that this must have been done to death but I will hold my hands up, I'm very naive about these things, mainly deliberately but anyway...
I and my mum live in the NW, my dad lives in the NE. My mum is 65, an NHS worker although clerical, in an office, never comes into contact with patients. She had her jab last month. She had the pfitzer. My dad his yesterday, he's 63 and has heart problems, he has az, sorry can't remember what it's called but think it's the oxford one.
I've read about people not wanting a particular vaccine, that one has more side effects than the other, one works better than the other etc is this true is one better than the other?? I'm not worried as such but I get confused when I try to read about it so was wondering if anyone had a simple layman's terms answer to my questions. Thank you 🙂

I heard the AstraZeneca one was better but I can’t for the life of me remember why. I had mine done recently and it was the one I mentioned, no side effects so far besides the relief that I’ve had the first of the two jabs!

Astrazeneca, that's the one thank you!
I'm so glad you haven't had any issues with it, and I'm sure you do feel relieved, I'm relieved that my mum and dad have had it. We are in a bubble with my mum as she is on her own but I'm desperatly hoping that when my dad has his 2nd jab in May, the kids will finally be able to see their grandad as its a year this month since they last saw him and they miss him so much, and he them

Different jabs work in different ways so there may be slight differences in side effect profile and effectiveness in different groups, but there's no reason to worry about having one rather then another - any approved vaccine is going to significantly reduce your risk of Covid. The only exception would be if e.g. you had specific allergies to an ingredient in one jab but not another.

They're both incredibly effective. Mor effective than the annual flu jabs for example.

They're both incredibly safe. They wouldn't have been released otherwise.

They both have side effects, but then so does every immunisation.

The issue here,is that the majority people are "overly" invested in this vaccine. They don't think twice about the flu jab and "which one" they're getting. They have no idea who produced their meningitis jab, and can guarantee they don't know the % protection rate of the Hepatitis jab!

Having mine tommorow as I'm a carer don't know which one I'm getting yet but tbh I'm just greatful I am getting one .

They are both pretty much the same.
Pfizer can't be given to ppl with severe allergies, AZ can. So AZ is used as an alternative.
AZ is also a lot easier to store, transport etc. Pfizer has to be frozen then used within a certain amount of time and can't be shaken etc. Makes it no less effective then AZ.
Side effects vary the same as any other jab.
Both jabs are safe and effective or they wouldn't have been released, either one will protect you.
From working in reception of a GP based vaccine hub, we've had Pt's try and refuse Pfizer for the pure fact it's not made in England which is absurd, it's just as effective as the AZ one made in Oxford.

The only reason I want the Pfizer one for mine tomorrow (second dose) is because that is what I was given for the first jab - and I think it makes more sense to have a full course of the vaccine, rather than mix and match. Had I been given the Oxford one first time I'd be wanting that one

Anyone that dares to post on the local Facebook group near asking what one their drs surgery is given basically gets told to shut up and take whatever one it is 🙄

I had mine in January. I had the AstraZeneca
and had no side effects, apart from feeling a bit sleepy for a couple of hours after having it. My grandparents have had the Pfizer. No effects whatsoever, not even a dead arm.
So they’re very much like for like.
Just make sure everyone who can gets one!

Each vaccine has it's merits and down sides. It's so much better to be receiving one of these vaccines than to not, and they are both fit for purpose.

Just to counter what the poster above said and inform anyone with allergies: Pfizer can be given to people with anaphylaxis/severe allergies. In the beginning a couple of "hypersensitive" people with multiple severe allergies had anaphylaxis to the Pfizer so we temporarily stopped offering it to those patients with a history of this. Now (at my clinic at least) we do give people with severe allergies the Pfizer, we just need to have a conversation about it first and figure out risk. If the patient isn't known allergic to the vaccine components and has an annual flu vaccine with no problems, we're very likely to still offer them the Pfizer but keep them under supervision for longer afterwards. I have vaccinated many people recently with the Pfizer who carry epipens and have allergic histories, it's not an absolute contraindications anymore.

@iolaus

The only reason I want the Pfizer one for mine tomorrow (second dose) is because that is what I was given for the first jab - and I think it makes more sense to have a full course of the vaccine, rather than mix and match. Had I been given the Oxford one first time I'd be wanting that one

The second dose you receive will be the same vaccine as you received for your first dose. There is currently no policy in England to "mix and match" vaccines unless documenting the initial dose went unrecorded or cannot be located.

I received the AZ vaccine on Monday and that is what I shall be getting again (in 11 to 12 weeks' time).

Thank you all very much... I'm not on any list to have the vaccine and when or if I'm offered it, I'll be happy to take any, was just very confused about the conflicting information on them. I'm so happy both my parents have had it

I had the Pfizer one yesterday, and apart from my arm being a bit sore, joints a little achey and feeing a bit blergh, that’s been the extent of it. I’m immunocompromised so I wasn't bothered which one I got, I’m just glad I got one.

I'm lucky enough to have had the vaccine yesterday. No side effects; it was Oxford/Astrazeneca- i only discovered that prior to jab as the med student was running through questions & when I mentioned I've been subject to anaphylactic shock when bitten by insects, but only for the last 4 years (since trauma-related-onset of full menopause), he called in the GP & it seems Pfizer has a small risk for such allergies.
So, be heartened: they are thorough-the batch number is recorded on yr vaccine card, too. Hope you get it soon. Having had Covid last March, & it running into long Covid, I assure you it's not worth risking yrself or anyone else.