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!

My mum had the vaccine yesterday. Mum says she has had no side effects and feels okay.

I'm appreciative of the OP as well. I've got my jab booked next week and it's the AZ one (depending which vac hub you book into depends which one you're getting round here but this is the easiest for me to get to) - and, despite reading the vaccine info sheet beforehand, it's really beneficial to know that "feeling slightly grotty" may well translate into "hide in bed for a couple of days"... so I've booked mine in for a Friday to have the weekend to feel crap.

Also handy for whoever posted with CFS as a friend is really worried about having the jab because of that.

Shame the resident MN snarky fuckers who think they can police anything covid related have tried to piss all over what actually was a useful thread.

Another one who is both eager for herself and her family to get the vaccine AND is grateful to the OP for this information. Why on earth is the OP getting so much flak? If the vaccine has widespread side effects then it doesn't help to keep this secret. Rather we need to know so that we are not frightened and alarmed by these side effects.

Yes, vaccines have side effects. No, as one who has vaccinated herself and her children for pretty much everything available, I have never known a vaccine to cause fevers of over 39 and the need to stay in bed. It may happen but it's outside my experience.

So thank you OP for the heads up!

For all those who have been grateful for the information, your thanks are well received. I had mine late this evening and feel fine at the moment. Let’s hope I feel ok tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

Had my vaccine on Saturday morning around 9ish , by 4 o’clock I was in bed with a headache, fever and aching body , all side effects were listed in the leaflet but still a little unexpected how fast they come on and
How severe .

Thank you for this thread OP. Why are people trying to hide the severity of side effects?? Yeah sure, you get a leaflet but generally by the time you get the leaflet you've either already had a vaccine or have a short time to make your decision. Also, normally I wouldn't expect to get each one of the side effects listed after having a vaccine. I've had all my vaccines, even the flu jab but never experienced any side effects. So it is good to know anecdotally that with this vaccine a proportionally high number of recipients are experiencing more of the severe side effects.

@DolphinDreams it isn’t a secret and the side effects have been well documented? It’s not a secret or being hidden.

I know two people who had it a week ago, no side effects.

this has been known for a while.

it is absolutely right that people should know the most common side effects so that they can mitigate this (e.g. taking pain killers after for a headache).

agree to adding this to the yellow card.

I felt sick for about eight hours, a bit like when you've had too much to drink. I was still able to eat tea and didn't feel any worse after. I would have my second vaccine today if I could, as it's well worth it for a level of immunity and a hope of normality later next year.

Why are people trying to hide the severity of side effects??

It's trolls.

Hi, firstly very blessed to have had the jab on Friday and would again. Was not prepared for the side effects. Saturday was unable to get up, couldn't look after the kids, it's now Monday, still rough. Actually considering a covid test. Three nights of sweaty /chills, heart palpatations, saturday extreme fatigue, aches and shivers. I have had painkillers over the weekend. I am 37, I read its worse in younger people. I've never had covid knowingly but maybe I have?? given the side effects are said to be worse in people who have had covid???
My dad had Pfizer with no side effects.
My mum had astrazeneca and was out of action for one day, fine after.

I don’t have too much in the way of symptoms - I didn’t get a very good nights sleep last night which isn’t normal for me. Injection site is very achy and heavy feeling. Feel a bit dizzy. Nothing that is stopping me doing all the hundreds of things I have to do today. My colleague also had it yesterday and is currently in bed with extreme chills and headache.

The last time I had a vaccine, I was a teenager, and don't remember if I had any side effects. I think a lot of people who don't normally get vaccines probably forget that side effects are common.

Although I take the point about the language of 'bedridden' being a bit OTT, I'm overall grateful to the OP as it meant I was able to check my parents had taken this into consideration when booking their vaccines, and I can too when my time comes. Like most, I'd rather 24-48 hours, or even a week of feeling flu-ey to catching COVID....

@bathsh3ba I’m not sure what the drama is with using the word bedridden. These people were confined to bed for two or three days.

I’ve had the first dose and felt absolutely fine until about 24 hours after I felt a bit achey. Then it eased until 48 hours after the jab when I felt achey, sore throat and feverish (no fever). Would have been bedridden if it wasn’t for small children to look after. I was very surprised at how awful I felt. I had strong Covid symptoms 3 weeks prior to the jab but had a negative swab result. Makes me wonder if that was actually a false negative.

Had the AstraZeneca first jab at last to week.
My health anxiety means I'm acutely aware of how I feel and often on the look out for niggles- especially after a vaccination or taking any medication.
Exactly 24 hours after the vaccine I developed a slight dull headache and an achy arm but that was all. Lasted 6 hours tops.

I'm actually more concerned about the sore arm than anything else to be honest - still have slightly numb fingers from cubital tunnel syndrome and then getting Hep B into that arm flaring it up ages ago.

This thread has been useful, OP. Thanks. My elderly mother had the Oxford jab yesterday. Felt fine then, but today she developed a slight temperature and feels grotty/headachey so has gone to bed. I hadn't realised a temperature was a known side effect for the Oxford jab and it isn't all that easy to find information online, though I did in the end.

I had the AstraZenaca on Sat morning. I was fully expecting to have side effects but I haven't had any! Apart from sore arm.

I had the Oxford vaccination this morning. I was absolutely fine until about 6pm. I'm lying under four blankets with the heating cranked up and literally shivering. I'm in my 50s and haven't had a day off sick in the last ten years! I knew there were side effects but wasn't expecting this. I've never reacted to a flu jab.
I'm still incredibly glad I've had it but if I'd known how much it would floor me (hopefully not for long) I wouldn't have made a 9 am appointment in the morning! Hopefully I'll be fine by then. We were given procedures to report side effects. The info states 1 out of 10 might be affected.

Very strange, my elderly parents both had the Oxford vaccine on Friday and have had no side effects whatsoever thankfully

I had it last night. Felt fine this morning (other than a dead arm) but have felt gradually worse throughout the day and now am under a blanket on the sofa, shivering and with a massive headache. Shaky legs as well.

Just read the whole thread and I think it's helpful. Forewarned is forearmed.

After I had DS I thought I was dying with the after pains. It would have been helpful if I'd know in advance - I was seriously worried.

Same with this surely - once you know it's common then you can just chill out and get on with it.

My 75+ parents had the AZ jab on Friday. One of them zero side effects. One of them achy arm described like the flu jab, as well as headache and tired for 2-3 days after. Said manageable but needed to go for a nap and reduced what they could do. Normally v active and knowing what they’re like ‘reduced activity’ suggests it wasn’t so bad. Both very pleased to have had it, didn’t panic out about possible side effects which we discussed before and said if there are unknown side effects they’d take the risk.

Well done everyone for having the vaccine.

I am CEV and am 45. Have had flu vaccine every year for eight years.

Had Astra Zeneca vaccine Monday 11am.

I felt fine until suddenly Tuesday lunchtime when I felt rough and had to lie down. Temp was over 38. Resting heart beat pretty high too. Very tired. Splitting headache.

As a cancer patient we are told emphatically to call hotline if our temp is ever over 37.5 as this can be dangerous / indicative of infection which in chemo patients can be serious.

Rang my hotline.....doctor advised these were all normal side effects from the vaccine that her patients are frequently reporting and to stay at home and take paracetamol.

I did feel pretty rough today and am hoping for improvement tomorrow.

I would wholeheartedly still recommend having the vaccine but if I was working I would have had to take the day off so it's best that people are forewarned, it's not scaremongering, it's just sensible to pre-plan accordingly.