Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and the side effects

[LeSquigh]

Morning all

Many of my colleagues have now received the first dose of the Oxford vaccine and every single one of them has reported side effects, quite a large number have had to take time off work and been bedridden. Are we in the minority or is this true for all that have it? Not really looking forward to my turn!

Oh, my post has been deleted. Someone doesn't like the truth.

@truthisalie

Oh, my post has been deleted. Someone doesn't like the truth.

I don't know what you wrote but basically someone reported it and MNHQ deleted it. So not sure who the 'someone' is.

Sparklingbrook, it's quite common now on Mumsnet so not surprising.

Yes, like all responsible SM organisations, they have a policy of deleting fake news around coronavirus and vaccines, particularly when it's totally unevidenced, much like Trump and his election fraud claims.

There is important information for UK recipients on COVID 19 Vaccine AstraZeneca on gov.uk

www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca/information-for-uk-recipients-on-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca

Details shown here about possible side effects include -

Very Common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)

tenderness, pain, warmth, redness, itching, swelling or bruising where the injection is given
generally feeling unwell
feeling tired (fatigue)
chills or feeling feverish
headache
feeling sick (nausea)
joint pain or muscle ache

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

a lump at the injection site
fever
being sick (vomiting)
flu-like symptoms, such as high temperature, sore throat, runny nose, cough and chills

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

feeling dizzy
decreased appetite
abdominal pain
enlarged lymph nodes
excessive sweating, itchy skin or rash

In clinical trials there were very rare reports of events associated with inflammation of the nervous system, which may cause numbness, pins and needles, and/or loss of feeling. However, it is not confirmed whether these events were due to the vaccine.

If you notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please inform your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

If you are concerned about a side-effect it can be reported directly via the Coronavirus Yellow Card reporting site or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store and include the vaccine brand and batch/Lot number if available.

By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this vaccine.

Sorry that this information has come out a bit messy as I've just cut and pasted from the link. It's worth reading the whole thing. There is a link within this link to the yellow card system for reporting side effects. Also has information on reasons why the vaccine might not be suitable for all or vaccination should be delayed.

@truthisalie

Sparklingbrook, it's quite common now on Mumsnet so not surprising.

What is?

Just for information, especially for the poster who has had anaphylactic episodes.
My DH & I had the jab last week, both had the AZ one. He’s been fine no after effects at all apart from a slightly achey arm two days later.
Because I have a history of anaphylaxis, to various meds, some food + one unknown cause all the tests still couldn’t pin point, I carry the Epipens.
Because of this I couldn’t leave straight away, had to sit in another room for half an hour with someone checking every now & again. Felt a bit odd after about ten minutes, nothing serious, just a bit of heart racing but I have an odd heart beat anyway. Passed off & was fine.
Next day no sore arm at all, bit of a lingering headache & felt very, very sleepy for a couple of days. But that was all. Nothing that stopped me working.

@Darklane

Just for information, especially for the poster who has had anaphylactic episodes. My DH & I had the jab last week, both had the AZ one. He’s been fine no after effects at all apart from a slightly achey arm two days later. Because I have a history of anaphylaxis, to various meds, some food + one unknown cause all the tests still couldn’t pin point, I carry the Epipens. Because of this I couldn’t leave straight away, had to sit in another room for half an hour with someone checking every now & again. Felt a bit odd after about ten minutes, nothing serious, just a bit of heart racing but I have an odd heart beat anyway. Passed off & was fine. Next day no sore arm at all, bit of a lingering headache & felt very, very sleepy for a couple of days. But that was all. Nothing that stopped me working.

According to this information from gov.uk you should not have been given the vaccination! Anyone with a similar history the advice is clear so please don't risk your health or life!

www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca/information-for-uk-recipients-on-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca

2. What you need to know before you receive COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca

Do not have the vaccine:

If you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any of the active substances or any of the other ingredients listed in section 6. Signs of an allergic reaction may include itchy skin rash, shortness of breath and swelling of the face or tongue. Contact your doctor or healthcare professional immediately or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have an allergic reaction. It can be life-threatening.

@CovoidOfAllHumanity now you have had your first vaccine you can go on to the online booking system to get your second ones booked in, you don’t have to wait for the appointment.

According to this information from gov.uk you should not have been given the vaccination! Anyone with a similar history the advice is clear so please don't risk your health or life!

www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca/information-for-uk-recipients-on-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca

1. What you need to know before you receive COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca

Do not have the vaccine:

If you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any of the active substances or any of the other ingredients listed in section 6. Signs of an allergic reaction may include itchy skin rash, shortness of breath and swelling of the face or tongue. Contact your doctor or healthcare professional immediately or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have an allergic reaction. It can be life-threatening.

I was questioned very thoroughly before being given the vaccine by the senior nurse practitioner
I am not allergic to any of the ingredients in section 6
The same nurse practitioner said that the protocol had been amended so that now even the Pfizer one could be given to people with allergic reactions whereas previously they had been warned not to.

I’m well aware of the symptoms of the beginnings of severe allergic reactions , had enough of them in the past sometimes needing hospitalisation.
The information that you quote does not say that I should not have been given the vaccine unless allergic to the contents listed.

Hi, to the poster that said you can book your second dose online, how do you do this? I had my first dose via my doctors so would I just wait as I did before for them to contact in 10 weeks or so? Thank you

My parents received their first dose and were told when their second would be the same day. (As it happens they got a phone call moving it afterwards).
I know of someone ECV who was called for their first dose this week and were told on the phone when the next would be at the same time.

@scotlandg www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

Here you go. It will recognise that you have had the first one when you put your details in. However everyone I know has had there’s at one of the big vaccination centres so may be different at GP?

Re booking the second dose, I was told I would be contacted, nothing about booking it myself online.

My dsis had the pfizer vaccine last week. She's 29 but works as a social worker in the older people's team. She had a sore arm, headache and bit of a temp but seemed to settle after a few days. Then on day 5 she got other symptoms, temp again, fatigue, feeling very low in mood- otherwise very healthy. She's had to have a Covid test today and is now isolating until results.

I've found this post really helpful thank you OP. I had my astra zeneca vaccination on Thursday night and have been quite unwell, much more than i had anticipated. (And I had read the leaflets and was aware of potential reactions but did not realise it would be so severe). Started with chills, teeth chattering, uncontrollable body shakes, high fever and splitting headache. The next day continued much the same. like a bad flu and honestly the most ill I've felt in many years. I struggled to look after my 2 yr old and had to ask my mum to help me. Fortunately it was my day off but i would not have been able to go to work and was almost "bedridden" (even though that seems to be so controversial on this thread 😉! ).
So I've found it reassuring that I'm not the only one who had such a strong reaction and that others have experienced the same degree of illness. Now after 36 hours i feel fine so it's been shortlived thankfully.

Some of the comments read as quite judgemental and condescending though... so i feel i have to justify that I'm not 'swinging the lead' or a hypochondriac . It's great that some folk have no reaction; i wish I'd been one of them. Discussions in our team seem to point to a trend of older people having less or no reaction. I'm 41 yr old female in reasonably good health....

I think an honest discussion of people's reactions is a positive thing, even just so people can plan for childcare or work in the event of being ill. And still glad i had the vaccine despite the unpleasant side effects. And thanks for the yellow card advice given- I've reported my experience on there.

My ECV friend had the Oxford vaccine on Wednesday. No reaction at all except for a sore arm for 24 hours.

@Darklane

According to this information from gov.uk you should not have been given the vaccination! Anyone with a similar history the advice is clear so please don't risk your health or life!

www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca/information-for-uk-recipients-on-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca

1. What you need to know before you receive COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca

Do not have the vaccine:

If you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any of the active substances or any of the other ingredients listed in section 6. Signs of an allergic reaction may include itchy skin rash, shortness of breath and swelling of the face or tongue. Contact your doctor or healthcare professional immediately or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have an allergic reaction. It can be life-threatening.

I was questioned very thoroughly before being given the vaccine by the senior nurse practitioner
I am not allergic to any of the ingredients in section 6
The same nurse practitioner said that the protocol had been amended so that now even the Pfizer one could be given to people with allergic reactions whereas previously they had been warned not to.

I’m well aware of the symptoms of the beginnings of severe allergic reactions , had enough of them in the past sometimes needing hospitalisation.
The information that you quote does not say that I should not have been given the vaccine unless allergic to the contents listed.

Thank you SO much for posting this. I've literally just started a different thread looking for info about this one. I understood I couldn't take the pfizer one because of very severe allergies, I didn't realise it applied to this one as well. This info has answered my question. I'd asked my consultants and was 99.9% sure I'd be told no but now I've seen this is the official advice I can relax knowing I just can't have it. My issue is I react severely and indescriminently to anything. It's no one set thing. I've been hospitalized and told for some that I can't take them again or it would be fatal.

I've been offered it at work next week and I was panicking trying to find out the info. Now I know I can relax and just won't have it, thank you so much.

My elderly mum had fever, headache and generally feeling unwell. Started 12 hours after the AZ jab and only lasted about 24 hours. Not nice but obviously much better than catching Covid.

@LeSquigh I really appreciate you sharing this experience. Every medicine comes with a list of side effects but the reality is that most people don’t suffer from them and we know it’s about the manufacturer covering their back. To know that many who receive this vaccine suffer from bad side effects is actually very helpful- it makes me less likely to panic, not more because if I, or a family member, were to suffer them I would understand that this is very common and normal. Have you put me off having the vaccine? No, of course not, but I might be better prepared to feel ill or and maybe even plan for that -e.g. having food prepared for dc the next day or similar so I don’t have to exert myself if I’m not up to it.

@LeSquigh

I should have added, we are emergency services so are getting a few at a time if there is any left at the vaccination centre at the end of the day so they were not all done at the same time, they have been spread out within the last ten days or so. Within 12 hours of the vaccine the symptoms come.

Same set up, emergency services in the South East, I had my Jab last Friday and had a sore arm and felt a little tired but I was looking for the side effects and think if I hadnt known I had recevied the jab wouldnt have noticed them. I am 56 in March and wonder if this is why as the older people seem to have less reaction to the jab.

I haven had COVID so have no idea how that would feel. My DS also works for the same trust buthe had the PFizer Vaccine in December as he has asthma, he had no reactions at all to that but was told they are worse after the second jab.

I’m very pro vax and found this thread helpful. It meant I was prepared when I had mine.

I had the oxford vaccine at about 1300 PM yesterday. Felt ok all afternoon with mild headache only in the evening however at about 03.15am in the morning I woke with a very sore arm at the injection site , bad headache , achy joints and some nausea. Had no appetite at breakfast today initially. Took some paracetamol which helped slightly with headache. Felt very wiped out today and a bit of brain fog. Not horrendous though. Similar to after effects of a flu jab. Headache is quite bad though.

I had mine early last Thursday. Fine until 2pm, then felt a bit sick for the rest of the day (like I'd had too much to drink). However I fancied pizza and oven chips, which didn't make me feel any worse. Two days later just feeling a bit tired. So glad to have had my first dose though.

I had mine yesterday morning and I feel absolutely fine. :) My arm feels quite achy but no more so than when I had the flu jab. It’s not red or swollen.