Where can I get non-AZ vaccine

[Landladymews2]

Hi

I’m in my 30s and eligible for the vaccine due to an underlying condition but upon discussion with the nurse I might not be suitable for AZ but I can’t find out where to get the other one. My GP said they can’t help me and 119 said they can’t help me. They keep referring me to each other! Any advice?

@Belladonna12. Sorry I wasn't very clear.

My point was that the NHS is a huge organisation and medication is a vast area. No one person, no matter how highly qualified can be expert in every area. If you have a particular condition you go to a person who specialises in that area.

The OP has been advised by a nurse that she might not be suitable for the AZ vaccine. She hasn't been able to get a definitive answer from anyone yet so IMO the best place to go is a vaccination centre where the staff will have experience and full access to the latest research and guidelines. Turning up doesn't commit her to going through with the jab but it will get her access to expert advice including advice on how to get a different vaccine if her medical condition requires it.

@Landladymews2

The condition I have is extremely rare. My consultant neurologist told me that there is very little research into it so there are a lot of unknowns and they are unable to provide much advice. It’s a cerebrovascular condition and it seems like people have had blood clots in the brain which is why I flagged it to the nurse who was speaking to people before they went in for the jab.

I don't know why you think a nurse or GP would have better information than your consultant neurologist?

If your gp states you cannot have a specific vaccine eg history of blood clots and AZ they can book you in for another. If you are just anxious about AZ you can't choose

[quote Confusedandshaken]@Belladonna12. Sorry I wasn't very clear.

My point was that the NHS is a huge organisation and medication is a vast area. No one person, no matter how highly qualified can be expert in every area. If you have a particular condition you go to a person who specialises in that area.

The OP has been advised by a nurse that she might not be suitable for the AZ vaccine. She hasn't been able to get a definitive answer from anyone yet so IMO the best place to go is a vaccination centre where the staff will have experience and full access to the latest research and guidelines. Turning up doesn't commit her to going through with the jab but it will get her access to expert advice including advice on how to get a different vaccine if her medical condition requires it.[/quote]
The staff at the vaccination centre aren't experts in OP's condition or immunology. Many of the vaccination centres only have the AstraZeneca vaccine anyway .The expert in OP's condition would be the consultant neurologist and it seems they haven't advised that OP shouldn't have the vaccine and they haven't advised the OP's GP. The GP has agreed that from what she says it could be risky but they don't really know and they only have enough stock provides a vaccine at the moment for second jabs so they can't help.

provides a of the Pfizer

The consultant neurologist I spoke to previously was through my private insurance. My insurer won’t pay for me to have an appointment to ask about whether the vaccine is suitable. On the NHS it will probably be a couple of months before a neurologist will see me. I think I will probably get the same response again - we don’t know much about this condition at this point due to lack of research on it.

@Landladymews2

The consultant neurologist I spoke to previously was through my private insurance. My insurer won’t pay for me to have an appointment to ask about whether the vaccine is suitable. On the NHS it will probably be a couple of months before a neurologist will see me. I think I will probably get the same response again - we don’t know much about this condition at this point due to lack of research on it.

The neurologist would have written to your GP afterwards though so they must be aware of your condition .You can pay the neurologist directly for an appointment if you want to discuss whether you are at increased risk. It would probably be about £200 or £300. You could also just wait a couple of weeks until there is more stock of Pfizer or Moderna.