To ask whether anyone has had a Pfizer second vaccine after having the AZ for their first?

[Anna727b]

I had my first AZ vaccine in March due to asthma (I'm in my early 30s). I had severe headaches afterwards and I'm also in the age group that is now being told to book Pfizer jabs instead of the AZ because of the potential for blood clots so I have asked and been told that I could have a Pfizer jab for my second vaccine.

I feel a bit confused about what to do now.

Has anyone mixed the two? If so, how was it- did you have any severe side effects?

I've heard that the side effects after mixing jabs can be more severe but also that the Pfizer is much more effective against the Indian variant (and having had more severe asthma symptoms for almost a month following a little cold recently- I'd obv. rather not catch it!).

Yes, I did, I have not had any side effects from either of them, not even a sore arm.

Me too! No side effects after second jab, did have tiredness and headache after first

how were you able to mix the two?
I'm 31 with a health condition so i had the AZ jab back in March, too, and I'm due for my 2nd appt next week. I'd really like to have the Pfizer or Moderna -- how did you arrange that @Crankley @Honeywort

I had AZ for first then Pfizer for second as I'm under 30 and pregnant.

Felt a bit rough with Pfizer but nothing worrisome I have an autoimmune disease and do have reactions to all vaccines.

If the doctors have advised it I'd listen to them.

Following as I'd like to do this due to a bad reaction to the AZ and being under 30 but didn't know it was an option.

No because mixing vaccines is not a "thing" unless you are on a properly controlled medical trial.

I was advised to do this back in early Feb; as I had a medically recorded adverse reaction to the AZ... But I'm now WELL outside the 12 week window, and it's still proved impossible so far.

The Lancet did an article last week suggesting side effects are worse for mixing vaccine types, but it was based on a study of around 600 people, so it's been criticised for being a small sample that may not be statistically relevant.

I talked to my local CCG again today and they've said that the likelihood is that I'll be stuck with one vaccine for a while as there's no real way of sorting this out at the moment.

I’m in Wales (not sure if policy differs here) and my GP surgery rang me up to change my existing appt for a AZ 2nd jab to Pfizer. So it was their recommendation as I have a pre existing blood clotting disorder.
(I prob wouldn’t have bothered asking them to change it as I’d been fine with the first jab but as they recommended I had Pfizer. I went with their advice).

@RaspberryCoulis

No because mixing vaccines is not a "thing" unless you are on a properly controlled medical trial.

There was a thead about this recently and a poster said they knew someone who'd had two different vaccines and then became part of the trial so that may be what's happened with the posters above.

I didn't know it was a thing before then.

It is a thing in other countries. I have 2 relatives in France that were prioritised due to medical conditions, received first dose AZ, then the guidance changed and they were denied the second due to age and got Pfizer instead. Both are fine, no side effects outside the norm e.g. achy arm, feeling a bit crummy.

It is a thing. This is how my doctors surgery are vaccinating everyone.

Thanks everyone! I'm hoping to get the Pfizer now if I can book it within the 12 week window.

@suspiria777

how were you able to mix the two? I'm 31 with a health condition so i had the AZ jab back in March, too, and I'm due for my 2nd appt next week. I'd really like to have the Pfizer or Moderna -- how did you arrange that *@Crankley* *@Honeywort*

If you had severe side effects after the first then you can request it OR if you have another medical reason (e.g. clotting disorder) then again it should be possible.