Oxford vs. Pfizer - why are people waiting to get the Oxford Vaccine?

[Raccooons]

Apologies if this has been done already, I had a quick look and couldn't see that it had previously been discussed (if it has, please feel free to direct me to the existing thread).

I'm frontline NHS and my trust has received their delvery of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. It should be offered to me in the coming weeks and I'm very excited about this. I am slightly vulnerable due to being overweight, but otherwise healthy with no allergies or sensitivities to medicines.

I have read about the scientific differences - Pfizer/BioNTech has slightly higher overall efficacy (95 vs 90% when given in the dosages they are licensed for)... Oxford/AstraZeneca can be stored more easily whereas Pfizer is no good if not stored at minus 70 degrees C... Pfizer uses mRna whereas Oxford uses weakened virus.

But I haven't seen anything that places one in favour of the other, clinically. As far as I have read, it seems they haven't been tested "head to head" - so why are there people declining the Pfizer vaccine and choosing to wait for the Oxford vaccine? Are there unpleasant or serious side effects of the Pfizer one that I don't know about?

Is it just people being nationalistic - one Doctor quoted that people were saying "We want to wait for the English one"?

I think some people have more confidence in the methodology used for the Oxford one.

I think the Oxford one has been produced in the same way as the annual flue vaccines, so people are more confident of its safety.

I think the Oxford one gives immunity faster but not at a higher percentage and also the storage issues. Apart from that I've no idea. The trust I work for are starting the Oxford one next week.

Sigh - flu obvs

Elderly aunt has to wait as she has allergies.

The Pfizer one hasn’t been tested at the regime they plan to give it at. In clinical trials the second dose was given at 2-3 weeks (I forget which) but it is going to be given at 12 weeks instead. The Oxford one is being given at the regime it’s been tested at.

The reasons I've heard from people are:

1. They don't trust Pfizer due to how they have previously done drug testing in their parents' country of origin.
2. They have had an allergic reaction to another vaccination/have severe allergies so want one that is already widely in use in the flu, ebola, etc vaccines to minimise the risk of this
3. They been advised by their doctor to have the Oxford one due to their health condition.

Are people declining Pfizer? What proportion?

I’ve not heard about this anywhere

I think the Oxford one is more traditional technology but I doubt there are many people saying that. The doctor that said that seems to be quoting one of his patients. I bet most people don’t care.

We all will be offered what’s available.- like the flu jab it’ll be the one they have or none at all
There are millions of people who want a vaccine , any vaccine

Anybody who wants to wait until a different one is offered them may have a very long wait

Personally I’m not bothered which one I have

I think it’s just because it uses tried and trusted technology. Everyone I know says this, not just because it’s English. The other two vaccines using this tech are the Russian one (Sputnik V) and, I think, the Indian one, neither of which have been authorised in the U.K. (yet).

I've had frontline NHS staff ask me which vaccine they're getting....my response "Covid".

I simply don't understand it they didn't ask which brand of flu jab they were getting.

No idea, however we cant choose and they are talking mix and.match which obviously not tested. due to cost and logicstics and numbers available it's most.likely oxford might be the main uk vax going forward.
Though it's not as effective. also it was tested in uk

@MarshaBradyo

Are people declining Pfizer? What proportion?

I’ve not heard about this anywhere

Quick Google search pulled up this, I've read other articles on it too and lots of doctors on twitter were talking about it.

metro.co.uk/2021/01/07/elderly-patients-refuse-pfizer-vaccine-to-wait-for-the-english-one-13865537/

@GirlsonFilm

I've had frontline NHS staff ask me which vaccine they're getting....my response "Covid".

I simply don't understand it they didn't ask which brand of flu jab they were getting.

Don’t people have it on a record they can see?

Why can’t they know?

I’d want to out if curiosity. Annoying if someone administering it says Covid

Well. Most scientists who studied the Lancet and NEJM papers thought the Pfizer trials were far superior to the Oxford one. Not to mention that it confers greater immunity.
I suspect there is a bit of nationalistic jingoism involved.
For the record I am in the US where the FDA has refused to approve the Oxford one and DH got the Moderna vaccine and is due his second dose soon.

Oh right thanks op. Crazy imo.

I wonder how many in reality

@GirlsonFilm

I've had frontline NHS staff ask me which vaccine they're getting....my response "Covid".

I simply don't understand it they didn't ask which brand of flu jab they were getting.

I think it’s fair enough to ask that question. People need a second jab and probably want to make sure they get the same thing. Flu jab is only one so it matters less

I've no idea why others would take the decision, but until the Pfizer one is tested with the larger gap between doses that they are implementing (12 weeks between doses), I'd want to have, and my parents to have, the Oxford one

www.biopharma-reporter.com/Article/2021/01/07/WHO-weighs-in-on-COVID-19-vaccine-second-dose-delay

If someone offered me either, I’d bite their hand off for it. My mum, stepfather and FIL will happily take whatever they’re offered.

Is the Oxford vaccine actually being given to people in any number currently?

The Oxford vaccine uses a somewhat more traditional approach (although it's based on a chimpanzee adenovirus rather than the whole inactivated virus) so it may give people more confidence

Also some may not be able to receive it due to allergies

I also heard today in the news (international media) that if you were on anticoagulants you could not get it - though I did not manage to read up on it yet

If people are refusing Pfizer in any significant numbers, the govt should let anyone who wants it have it.