Vaccine anxiety and not sure what to do.

[Littlelapwing]

I’ve been offered the Pfizer vaccine and in a total quandary. I haven’t trusted the Pfizer vaccine from the start, I don’t like the technology/basis for it and I don’t trust the company.
I don’t have a problem with the Oxford vaccine.....but that’s sadly not an option.

Has anyone else been in this position? Can you recommend any reassuring reading about the Pfizer vaccine in particular please? I’m not anti-vaccine at all but this particular one worries me.

I’m young, healthy, and 99% sure I’ve already had Covid. Can’t decide if that’s relevant.

I will also add (before any possible pile on, you never know) that anxiety over decisions like this is completely legitimate. I’m looking for other views/reassurance/helpful reading please.

Thanks.

What is it about the Pfizer vaccine that worries you? I read a long article about how it works and thought it was absolutely ingenious. I'd rather get this one than the other ones to be honest. Maybe if you could share what your specific concerns are we could help allay your fears?

Lucky you!

Guess you are medical profession

What about the technology don't you trust?

The company is German , I really trust German scientists as a rule

The technology is really not that different to the Oxford vaccine. The Oxford vaccine delivers the dna for the spike protein to cells where it is converted to mRNA then protein. The Pfizer vaccine delivers the mRNA directly.

I know dozens of NHS staff who have had it at this point. Absolutely no problems among any of them, achy arms and mild flu like symptoms for a day at most.

I get the anxiety, I'll be the same for mine, I'll have whichever I'm offered though.

On what criteria have you been offered the vaccine? Young, healthy folk aren't being offered it unless you're in a high risk job (for context I teach, and I'm waaaay down the list)

Do you have the annual flu jab? Do you eat takeaways or processed food? My point being, we put suff in our bodies all the time that we don't know what's in it.

Have it or don't, both have been approved through incredibly stringent testing.

Thank you for being kind.

Yes medical staff. Lots of colleagues have already had it and been fine. I know I have to have it. I’m very pro-vax but I just can’t shake the worry over this. I also can’t really ask about it much in real life as I can’t be seen to be anti-vax!

@carlaCox what was the article you read please?

What is it exactly that worries you? Have you read something about it?

Hundreds of thousands of people all over the world have had it now, some of them quite a few months ago. It's been through all the tests that other vaccines you may have already had have been through, just quicker because funding was easily available and there were lots of people to test it on.

@Ffsffsffsffsffs I REALLY hope that teachers are offered it soon 🤞 I think it’s vital that they are.
I did hear from a HT friend that the NUT is planning to try and make it a condition of schools returning. If so, I hope they succeed.
We need children back at school!

I would love to have the Pfizer vaccine because I don't take to the idea of the new tech in AZ (modified chimp adenovirus - only ever used before in one vet vaccine)

But I know I won't get the choice and frankly I'd roll up my sleeve straight away for either.

We need high uptake in order to get the suppression needed to relax restrictions, and it would be a shame if that did not happen.

To be offered it this early, you presumably work in care or NHS. Do tell your managers if you remain unimmunised. It is a free choice for you, but they might need to change your duties away from particularly vulnerable patients (haem/ oncology)

I had the Pfizer jab last week.

What is it that worries you? The mRNA technology? I read more about it and it’s absolutely incredible biotechnology. Just a slightly different delivery system to introduce the spike protein which is highly effective. The Pfizer vaccine has a higher efficacy in trials than the AZ Oxford one (which is still highly effective).

The mRNA degrades within a few days so it won’t hang around altering other cell DNA.

I'm having mine on Saturday. I believe it will be the Pfizer. Like you, a bit concerned. I would prefer the Oxford one. In trials the Pfizer is said to have had several adverse events but they haven't published full details on these. There was a thread yesterday where someone posted a link to an interesting article that explains how the vaccines work. I'll see if I can find it later. But I did try reading the research data on both and gave up.....confused!

Ultimately though, I'm just going to turn up and stick my arm out. Whilst I'm a bit anxious I feel lucky to be having it.

This won’t allay your fears but on the plus side, efficacy is better vs the Oxford vaccine! So less risk there.
Good luck with it all and since you are presumably in a high risk job... heartfelt thanks for all that you do xxx

If a medical staff with medical knowledge/background cannot trust it, no wonder many people without any knowledge get so worried. If you are medical staff as you say, you are in position to encourage people to take it. And if you have logical reason to be anxious about it, you should be able to say it too, rather than your gut feeling to be anxious and say you don't trust it?

Just stop worrying and get it stuck in your arm!!! Even if it was the more risky vaccine there are many more dangerous things in the world to worry about. Air pollution and the food in your cupboard is.much more likely to poison you. Worry about that stuff and roll up your sleeve.

I also can’t really ask about it much in real life as I can’t be seen to be anti-vax!

I think this is a bit sad - that you’re being prevented from getting more info and reassuring yourself, in case you’re viewed as a dissenter. It’s understandable to be a bit concerned, and what’s the deal about explaining that it’s safe?

I found this article very helpful in discussing the pros and cons of each of the 3 vaccines available. You are right to think carefully, no-one should be putting something in their body without giving it a lot of careful thought. It's written by a doctor:

sebastianrushworth.com/2021/01/10/are-the-covid-vaccines-safe-and-effective/

@Littlelapwing I've tried to find the article but can't remember whether it was the FT or the Times and I don't have an online subscription to either unfortunately.

Basically my understanding is that the Pfizer vaccine contains mRNA which tells your body to create a spike protein to simulate the infection and trigger an immune response. The Oxford vaccine injects a genetically modified (harmless) virus into your body which triggers the creation of the mRNA which creates the spike protein etc. You're essentially skipping the first step of the Oxford vaccine and going straight to the mRNA stage. It sounds a bit scary injecting mRNA but, as PPs have mentioned, mRNA decays very rapidly so it will disappear from your body. So, in effect, the Pfizer vaccine is actually a much cleaner process.

The company is German , I really trust German scientists as a rule

........ remember thalidomide, developed by Chemie Grünenthal GmbH.

If you are medical you can ask about it..after all you want to be able to field questions from others

The thing is, you are a medical profession, so you have many people around you that you can talk to, to ease your anxiety.
But coming on to the forum with many people who are not in medical profession and say you are in medical profession and don't trust the vaccine, do you actually thought about the damage you may cause?

Also I forgot to add - the reason the Pfizer vaccine has to be stored at such a low temperature is because otherwise it will start breaking down. This is a good thing, it shows that on entering your body it will rapidly do it's job and then decay and disappear. I.e. you won't have random bits of DNA floating around! Personally I think it's really amazing technology.

DH had the AZ last week and has had awful side effects, temp, shakes, fatigue, body ache - likely normal immune response but so fierce!!
I had the Pfizer yesterday, sore arm today but let's see....

Just take a deep breath and accept what is offered, we are so lucky to be getting it anyway!

@Pyewhacket

The company is German , I really trust German scientists as a rule

........ remember thalidomide, developed by Chemie Grünenthal GmbH.

Mute point. There was not the level of clinical trials for thalidomide. The fact that scandal happened means we have the trial process that we do today.

OP what is it you don't trust about the vaccine? And what don't you trust about Pfizer? Would you also refuse to take other medication made by them?

What exactly do you think is going to happen if you have it?

I had my first Pfizer jab on Sunday and was so pleased it was that one not the Oxford as it's more effective and apparently more likely to work against the South African variant.

I've had a sore arm as a side effect and that's it. With respect I think you need to just close your eyes and get on with it. You're incredibly lucky to be getting it.