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Original poster

Will the new vaccines be safe?

217 replies

Covidfears · 10/11/2020 23:16

I’ve read a lot about the vaccines (mainly Oxford and Pfizer ones) and know that they have gone through all of the safety tests albeit in just a shorter amount of time as they have had money thrown at it so haven’t had to secure funding etc etc which takes the time.

However, does this mean that they haven’t had the chance to see if there are any long term effects?

I think I feel less worried about the Oxford one as that is based on old technology but the Pfizer one is the new r-DNA one. I’ve read a paper on it that says that the chance of it ‘getting into your dna’ is low. That doesn’t sound great! Am I worrying unnecessarily.

I’m certainly not an antivaxxer - the whole family had had everything going and I really need to the Covid vaccine as I’m very high risk (2% chance of death).

Is it just a matter of picking whether to take the risk of Covid or the risk of the vaccine when the long term effects of neither are known?

OP posts:
ColdNovemberNights · 10/11/2020 23:19

The Oxford one is the safest for certain medical conditions

The vaccine has to be given in two jabs , 3-4 weeks apart.

It has to be stored at minus 80 so the logistics of having it wont be straight forward

If you have the vaccine, you can still catch it, you wont be ill, but you will still shred viral load and can pass it onto other people !

Fun, huh!

Original poster
Covidfears · 10/11/2020 23:19

Does the oxford one have to be stored at very low temperatures as well? I thought it didn’t?

OP posts:
ColdNovemberNights · 10/11/2020 23:21

Oooh, im not sure.

I thought they all did......

UnmentionedElephantDildo · 10/11/2020 23:25

Is it just a matter of picking whether to take the risk of Covid or the risk of the vaccine when the long term effects of neither are known?

Yes

Read the info as and when it becomes available, and make your choice

But accept the consequences of your choice (also faced by any poor sods who cannot be immunised for medical reasons) such as inability to travel to destinations that require a vaccination certificate, inability to work in specified role.

And of course the general point that the fewer immunised, the longer the wait for easing of restrictions.

nether · 10/11/2020 23:27

The Oxford one is the safest for certain medical conditions

Do you know which?

If you cannot safely have attenuated live vaccines (say, because of living with blood cancer) wouldn't you be safer with an mRNA vax, rather than one with an attenuated carrier?

Olmec8 · 10/11/2020 23:30

As people above have said, it's simply about you choosing between the vaccine or the risk you'll get the virus. That's a personal choice based on what's important to you and your particular circumstances.

Personally, I don't expect to be offered the vaccine. I'm low risk in terms of age and have no medical conditions that make me particularly vulnerable, so I doubt I'll be on their list.

SheepandCow · 10/11/2020 23:38

Getting in a car is almost certainly going to be more of a risk than these vaccines.
They didn't rush the safety testing. All that was speeder up was the paperwork and red tape stuff.

SheepandCow · 10/11/2020 23:40

And if you hear from one of the conspiracy theorists that the vaccine will turn you into a chimpanzee, don't stress. Just think how much fun you'll have swinging between the trees.

GeorgiaGirl52 · 10/11/2020 23:53

I am 68. So what if it changes my DNA? I am past my reproductive years. I just want to be able to leave my house and hug my grandchildren.

Doryhunky · 11/11/2020 04:09

I am surprised by the reports of polls which show very low levels of people
Willing to have the vaccine. Society is going to need a good take up if we are to get out of this. Perhaps people who have it could be offered certificates to show they have had it which would mean they could travel etc freely. That might encourage take up.

Pixxie7 · 11/11/2020 04:34

The safety profile has been established yet, that’s one of the reasons for the delay on roll out.

lovelemoncurd · 11/11/2020 04:57

I don't think this should be left to personal choice tbh. We need 80% of the population to be vaccinated in order to stop the spread so people need to suck it up and get on with it.

MrsTerryPratchett · 11/11/2020 05:02

@Doryhunky

I am surprised by the reports of polls which show very low levels of people Willing to have the vaccine. Society is going to need a good take up if we are to get out of this. Perhaps people who have it could be offered certificates to show they have had it which would mean they could travel etc freely. That might encourage take up.
I'd take it now if I could fly afterwards. I've also been at work with vulnerable people the whole time so win-win.
lovelemoncurd · 11/11/2020 05:47

Although this link to Cummings and how his family are due to profit from the vaccine will put some people off In sure.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/nov/10/pr-firm-hired-by-uk-vaccine-tsar-linked-to-dominic-cummings-father-in-law?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

BamboozledandBefuddled · 11/11/2020 06:37

@lovelemoncurd

I don't think this should be left to personal choice tbh. We need 80% of the population to be vaccinated in order to stop the spread so people need to suck it up and get on with it.
People have a human right to make decisions about their health and their body. You need to suck that fact up.
MarcelineMissouri · 11/11/2020 06:52

The Oxford vaccine does not need to be kept at -80, that is only the Pfizer one.

Othering · 11/11/2020 07:04

@lovelemoncurd

I don't think this should be left to personal choice tbh. We need 80% of the population to be vaccinated in order to stop the spread so people need to suck it up and get on with it.
You can bugger off with that idea. What are you proposing? Forcibly holding people down?
Nc135 · 11/11/2020 07:24

RNA won’t change your DNA. RNA is made in your body all the time to make proteins.

WankPuffins · 11/11/2020 08:03

People have a human right to make decisions about their health and their body. You need to suck that fact up.

Too bloody right.

raviolidreaming · 11/11/2020 08:13

The Oxford vaccine does not need to be kept at -80, that is only the Pfizer one

  • and the Oxford vaccine isn't a live vaccine, which a pp has said.

Threads like this make me sad: so much misinformation stated as fact which then gets repeated.

frozendaisy · 11/11/2020 08:38

@ColdNovemberNights

Oooh, im not sure.

I thought they all did......

It was mentioned that various vaccines remain in production as there are many places in the world that -70c just isn't possible so no not all vaccines need dry ice.
Forgetmenot157 · 11/11/2020 08:44

@lovelemoncurd

I don't think this should be left to personal choice tbh. We need 80% of the population to be vaccinated in order to stop the spread so people need to suck it up and get on with it.
Restrictions are not to do with case numbers tho. They are to do with overwhelming of the NHS.. Vaccinate the elderly and vulnerable and you eliminate the risk of the NHS being overwhelmed and restrictions cam be lifted.

My guess is it will be vaccine for vulnerable and over 50s and naturally herd immunity for the rest of us. Once those demographics have been vaccinated there will be no need to report cases numbers etc every day anymore.

Jroseforever · 11/11/2020 08:47

What on earth would make you think mumsnettters would know?

RoSEbuds6 · 11/11/2020 08:49

I’d take it now too, as I am not a immunology specialist and am never likely to be I don’t want to spend hours researching it, to work out if I should take it. I would trust the scientists.
I’d be equally happy with either tbh.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 11/11/2020 08:50

@Doryhunky

I am surprised by the reports of polls which show very low levels of people Willing to have the vaccine. Society is going to need a good take up if we are to get out of this. Perhaps people who have it could be offered certificates to show they have had it which would mean they could travel etc freely. That might encourage take up.
It depends which survey you read. The Daily Mail reckons 75% would and only 7% say not under any circumstances. In the oldest age group 85% would iirc and only 2% not at all. Given that will include some of the people who have a history of reaction to vaccines and therefore probably wouldn’t be advised to have it anyway I don’t think that’s too bad.