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Original poster

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

127 replies

Raccooons · 09/01/2021 18:50

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"?

OP posts:
trulydelicious · 09/01/2021 23:27

@Menora

So they have given advice that’s now changed and maybe not relevant

I think the going backwards and forwards with the advice also worries some potential recepients.

24HoursInPoliceCustody · 09/01/2021 23:27

@Kornerkutta

I had the Pfizer one two weeks ago and was so grateful to get it. Desperate for my parents to get it too. Working as a doctor in London I am literally astounded that there are people who would rather take their chances with this potentially horrific virus than have a rigorously tested vaccine.
Rigorously tested? I think not.
Original poster
Raccooons · 09/01/2021 23:28

@MiniMaxi

OP the UK has approved Oxford vaccine as two full doses, 12 weeks apart - not the half dose/full dose combo. They say it’s effective based on an unpublished cut of the data.
Oh really, I see. Thank you for the clarification, I definitely need to read again.
OP posts:
tobee · 09/01/2021 23:29

@OchonAgusOchonO

But a failure to mention that Pfizer relied on self reporting of symptoms

That doesn't make the trial sloppy. The sloppiness is in relation to the way it was conducted wrt its defined parameters and procedures.

I didn't say it made the trial sloppy. I said people aren't mentioning the less good aspects of the Pfizer trial.

But, come to think of it, I think it actually is fairly sloppy.

Menora · 09/01/2021 23:32

A consultant will likely err on side of caution after all they don’t want any come back on themselves for advice given, I would be happy to take advice from a consultant if it was based on the most up to date guidelines and science not just a feeling or being unsure

If there aren’t any serious contraindications (anaphylaxis) then the concern is that you are delaying the vaccine and putting yourself at more risk of Covid complications than the likelihood of any vaccination complications

tobee · 09/01/2021 23:33

"I've heard comments from some of the older generation that they don't want any foreign jabs "

That's also pretty depressing.

Original poster
Raccooons · 09/01/2021 23:35

@OchonAgusOchonO

Oxford has 90% efficacy if the first injection is half a dose, and the second injection is a full dose, as long as they're given within 12 weeks of each other.

The group that got that regime was demographically narrower than the other group. Older adults are likely to have a weaker response to a vaccine so a younger group will be likely to show a more efficacious result.

Thank you for the clarification.

I'm glad I started this thread as I've learned a lot.

OP posts:
Original poster
Raccooons · 09/01/2021 23:40

OK, thank you all.

I was honestly undecided about which was 'better' but I think two people presented with all evidence about each one still might make different decisions.

I am very relieved to be receiving it and I trust my NHS trust - and will gladly accept the Pfizer vaccine when I am offered it soon. I'll be honest, working on the frontline whilst me and DH both have some degree of vulnerability has been quite anxiety inducing. So I'm grateful to be able to get the vaccine soon.

OP posts:
Lightsontbut · 09/01/2021 23:46

My food allergies made me ineligible for Pfizer which was so disappointing as I'm an NHS priority group.

ozymandiusking · 09/01/2021 23:46

My husband is over 80. He had his 1st vaccination 3 weeks ago and is due his second one this coming Monday.
They rang the landline to arrange the appointment, I answered, and I asked them if they needed to speak to him or would I do, and they were quite happy to talk to me.
They asked if what medication he was on and was he on blood thinners, and they gave the date straight away.
My husband says at the app. they aked him if he was on blood thinners before proceeding. He has had the phizer one, and is grateful to have had any.
I would like to add, if someone doesn't have the vaccination when offered, don't come running to the NHS if you get Covid.

cyclingmad · 09/01/2021 23:49

May have nothing to do with being nationalistic. Its easy for people to say the American one or the English one cos of where its been created.

If I have a choice then I should be allowed to choose which one I want as its my body and I think we should have a choice really.

Original poster
Raccooons · 09/01/2021 23:57

@notevenat20

Is the Oxford vaccine actually being given to people in any number currently?
Yes, it was approved recently and is already out, @alfaix on this thread said that they have had the Oxford vaccine.

It's great to hear that it's already available and is being distributed. It provides easy access (due to no storage issues) to a vaccine for those who are vulnerable and as such require the vaccine in their home - or care home - and speedier access to those who have been advised by their clinicians to wait for Oxford vaccine due to a medical reason.

OP posts:
tobee · 10/01/2021 00:05

@cyclingmad

May have nothing to do with being nationalistic. Its easy for people to say the American one or the English one cos of where its been created.

If I have a choice then I should be allowed to choose which one I want as its my body and I think we should have a choice really.

For the time being I think the choice will be to have any vaccine or to not.

Glenorma · 10/01/2021 00:08

@ Lightsontbut I haven’t heard anything about food allergies making you ineligible for Pfizer? What allergies do you have? I have allergies but haven’t been told I can’t have the Pfizer jab. Also interested to hear about any contraindications for anticoagulants because my Gran takes them.

Truthfully I’d prefer the Oxford jab because it’s been tested with a 12 week gap. It doesn’t fill me with confidence that Pfizer specifically spoke out against the decision to use their vaccine with a 12 week gap. It makes sense to have the one that’s being used as it was designed to be used. Plus I’m not keen on having the first ever mRNA vaccine because nobody knows the long term effects. Also I think the Oxford supply chain is more stable so I’m likely to get a second dose of the same jab. If I’m not offered the same vaccine for my second jab I’ll refuse it because there’s been no testing of this mix and match approach.

wombleflump · 10/01/2021 00:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Alfaix · 10/01/2021 01:30

For whoever asked, I had the Oxford in Yorkshire and it was the first delivery of it, they have had Pfizer up until now and are getting another delivery of Pfizer next week.
As I say, I think I would have preferred to have Pfizer but Oxford is what they had in and I wasn’t going to delay having it!

StatisticalSense · 10/01/2021 02:24

As someone who is low risk I'd rather the Oxford one, not that it really matters as it's unlikely I'll be offered either any time soon. I more bothered about passing the virus to others than the impact on myself so the one with data that shows it reduces asymptomatic infection (and therefore asymptomatic spread) is more appealing than a higher degree of protection against symptomatic infection without any data on asymptomatic infection.

Crosswithlifeatm · 10/01/2021 02:46

I have to admit I would have a preference for the Oxford one.I had mine today it was Pfizer.
You don't get told which you're having when you're invited to book.
Even those NHS staff who weren't sure that they wanted any vaccine have got me ahead as we watch the patients pile in.
At the moment there are dedicated NHS slots but these won't go on for long as they need all appointments filled so as not to waste drugs.
At this stage a first dose means little to the way we can do things but it's a start.

WanderingMilly · 10/01/2021 03:41

I realise we don't have a choice but it's fair to ask...if I'm to have something injected into me I would like to know what it is!

Personally I would prefer the Oxford one, it appears to have been created by more traditional methods, has had slightly longer testing, it stores better (so fewer possible problems once out of storage) and yes, because it is a 'home' one rather than any other brand.

I'm hoping that when it gets to my turn the Oxford one will be more likely to be the one in major use, but I wouldn't decline the vaccine if it wasn't my preferred type.

HuggedTheRedwoods · 10/01/2021 11:50

@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.

Wow, how arrogant - people have a right to know what they are being vaccinated with!

I'll take whatever is offered but will still ask on the day and would decline if the vaccinator refused to tell me - and making a complaint to those in charge too.

ProfessorPootle · 10/01/2021 11:55

Lots of people with severe allergies (there’s a lot of us) have been told not to take the Pfizer one, oxford one doesn’t seem to have had any adverse allergic reactions. So that’s a major reason, not being arrogant and entitled 🙄 just don’t fancy an anaphylactic reaction.

Original poster
Raccooons · 10/01/2021 12:11

@huggedtheredwoods

I absolutely agree that people have a right to know which brand they're getting.

Though if the person who was vaccinating me didn't tell me that would be a bit daft as you get a vaccine card and an information leaflet anyway, so you'd be able to see which one on there.

OP posts:
Original poster
Raccooons · 10/01/2021 12:13

@ProfessorPootle

Lots of people with severe allergies (there’s a lot of us) have been told not to take the Pfizer one, oxford one doesn’t seem to have had any adverse allergic reactions. So that’s a major reason, not being arrogant and entitled 🙄 just don’t fancy an anaphylactic reaction.
Absolutely, that makes sense.

I'm sorry someone said people waiting for a different one than what may be offered to them were being arrogant and entitled. I do think that some people don't have a reason at all, but people who do have a reason absolutely deserve to get whichever one their doctor or other expert recommends for them.

OP posts:
VaccineQueen · 10/01/2021 12:40

I would have declined the Pfizer one if I had know that I wouldn't have the second dose at 21ish days as promised. They changed the goalposts after the first dose. It is what it is, but if I was going to space it like that, I'd have rather done it with the one that's been tested under those conditions.

That's assuming we would have had a choice- I think that NHS staff just get offered what the provider has. Not sure they would allow us to wait, or indeed, get stocks of the Oxford one.

ChateauMargaux · 10/01/2021 14:19

We may not be able to choose between the vaccines but the principles of informed consent mean that we should be told which vaccine we are having.

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