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Original poster

Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and the side effects

999 replies

LeSquigh · 19/01/2021 06:44

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!

OP posts:
RosesAndHellebores · 09/03/2021 11:11

60 - just a slightly sore arm. Interesting that I might have been affected more badly had I got covid due to immune systems etc. I very rarely get ill at all or if I do not badly and thought it may be the reverse.

SwansAreEvil · 09/03/2021 11:26

@BIWI

I’m not the poster you asked but I’ve read that in a few places, it’s on the gov website as well (about halfway down): www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-adverse-reactions/coronavirus-vaccine-summary-of-yellow-card-reporting

Anecdotally, my youngish (30s) friends and I all had a day or so of feeling grim, while our parents/older relatives who had it had very few, if any effects.

BIWI · 09/03/2021 11:26

Thanks @SwansAreEvil. Will go and have a read.

LemonSherbetFancies · 09/03/2021 12:34

I wasn't actually too concerned until I read this thread. Now I am in a right state.

RealisticSketch · 09/03/2021 12:39

I had my vaccine on Saturday (3 days ago), felt rough on Sunday, indulgently climbed into bed Sunday afternoon and was ok again on Monday. Nothing major but it definitely provoked an immune response, but it's meant to do that isn't it. My dad has the same vaccine and didn't even get a sore arm. I'm 45

RaininSummer · 09/03/2021 12:45

Had AZ last night. So far I am absolutely fine. Will report back if that changes.

BIWI · 09/03/2021 12:59

@LemonSherbetFancies

I wasn't actually too concerned until I read this thread. Now I am in a right state.
In which case, can I suggest that you stop reading it? It's not doing you any good!

Also @LemonSherbetFancies given that the title of the thread is about side effects it stands to reason - if you focus on the rational side of things - that people who have experience them are most likely to post here, unlike those of us who haven't!

You will be fine - honestly. Certainly a lot more fine than if you end up contracting the virus.

Xenia · 09/03/2021 13:13

It is not really fair to say to people you are more fine than if you got the virus given lots of people get the virus with no symptoms at all and many would never catch the virus anyway. That is what I am weighing up. Those in their 50s I know who had it were ill for 2 days - quite ill, temperature etc and other things too. I never get that and am not inclined to foist it on myself despite the pressure to have the vaccination. I am still making up my mind on this.

TomRipley · 09/03/2021 13:20

I had mine on Sunday morning 10am.
Was fine until Sunday night, started to feel a bit achy and tired.
Monday spent day in bed very sore and just wiped out. Had a sweaty nights sleep last night with strange nightmares and today I'm fine.
Arm is a little bit sore but I'm back to normal today.

Cookerhood · 09/03/2021 13:22

But Xenia, you are also protecting others in society. I'm in my 50s. I had a headache for 24 hours, very mild fever & slightly achy. My arm was a little sore but not as sore as when I had the flu jab. It definitely had some effects but I'd barely have noticed it if I hadn't had the jab (actually the weirdest thing was freezing cold feet but that may have been coincidence as it was the coldest night if the year).

Pan2 · 09/03/2021 13:23

Had A-Z last Friday - 60y.o. sore arm and achey muscles for 2 days, then all fine. Same with Mrs Pan, in her 50s.

Soooo...a small price to pay for the vaccine, which reduces chances of acute illness and hospitlisation, and helps protect others.
Not sure where the debate exists.

Some friends are refusing it, under the Bill Gates argument. Otherwise very intelligent people (well it's he who is convincing she about this). Causing a real strain between us all.

WhatHoJeeves · 09/03/2021 13:38

Xenia, I'm in my 50s too and I'm usually healthy. I had covid in December and I have never felt so ill, even though it was mild compared with many others. I've had flu before and this was much worse. I thought I would have to go to hospital but then luckily started making tiny improvements after 2 weeks. It was when my teenage daughter said that she thought I was going to die that I realised how ill I was and how frightened she had been.

I had some lingering side effects of the virus but I think I am just about back to normal now. I'll be having the jab the second I'm eligible, to protect me, my family and everyone.

BIWI · 09/03/2021 14:00

@Xenia you might be making your mind up, and I'm sure you're considering the ups and downs quite rationally.

But the poster I was replying to isn't using the powers of rational thought. She's allowing the anecdotes (which are not data) on this thread to frighten her.

Parker231 · 09/03/2021 14:05

@Xenia - you mention you never get ill. Neither do I. I had the vaccine and have had no side effects. Even a few days of side effects would be better than the risk, however small, of getting an illness which could make you seriously ill or worse. There are two friends of a colleague, in their 30’s who have been in hospital with Covid since Christmas who have no underlying health conditions.

Chickady · 09/03/2021 14:06

Random one but has anyone had heavy, aching legs directly after the AZ jab? My SIL has just had hers and is adamant she has this.

TessTackle · 09/03/2021 14:07

@Chickady

Random one but has anyone had heavy, aching legs directly after the AZ jab? My SIL has just had hers and is adamant she has this.
Yep, feeling heavy was one of my first side affects
Gwenhwyfar · 09/03/2021 14:08

@Sparklingbrook

This thread could be very alarming/off putting to people about to have the vaccine.

If so many people that work at the same place have been so ill with it that definitely needs reporting.

I would prefer to know.
Pan2 · 09/03/2021 14:10

Heavy achy legs are fairly common....and also after the A-Z jab.

Xenia · 09/03/2021 14:12

I am certainly not trying to put anyone off. However one reason the UK has high vaccination rates generally (a very good thing) is that it is truly voluntary. I want us to get back to our rights and freedoms and indeed the minority of people like I am who have been extremely unhappy with every cv19 restriction - better dead than free in chains etc - does not put me in a mood to be going along with this vaccine at all.

I did not want my GP to have my mobile number last year but they insisted due to the pandemic - they had never had it in 20 plus years.... anyway now they are using it to put pressure on, first a call on it and today a text which says I must call them if I don't want the vaccine - there is no way I am calling them. I will simply make up my own mind.

TheDogsMother · 09/03/2021 14:16

Mild headache, extremely tired, heavy limbs and cold feet. I had the vaccination on Saturday, got the side effects on Sunday (and they weren't so bad that I couldn't get on with my day), felt fine again by Monday. I would far rather this than risk getting ill with Covid.

Gwenhwyfar · 09/03/2021 14:16

@borntobequiet

I know a number people who have had one or the other vaccine and the most they have reported is a sore arm and felt a bit tired. The side effects have been widely reported. The OP is alarmist, irresponsible and possibly ill-intentioned.
I know someone who took part in a vaccine trial and had cold and fever symptoms for a few days afterwards. It's quite common and OP has every right to talk about it. I hate the attempts to silence people. It's better to know in advance that we may get side effects.
freckles20 · 09/03/2021 14:17

Adding my experience.

DH and I had the Oxford jab on Saturday morning. DH had Covid over Christmas.

Didn't feel anything at all whilst it was done.

I felt no side effects at all other than a slightly sore arm. DH felt a bit fluey but not enough to stop him going about life as normal.

We are both in our mid forties.

Gwenhwyfar · 09/03/2021 14:22

@WishingHopingThinkingPraying

For goodness sake, calm down everyone. OP has started a perfectly valid discussion. Nobody is saying 'beware' of having the vaccination. More sounds like 'dont be surprised by feeling shit after'. I know a few people who have had it and none said they had any reaction though I didn't specifically ask. My sister had the Moderna one on Sat and was fluey and miserable on Sunday. Wasn't chatting to her yesterday so hopefully is grand now.

Thanks for the heads up OP, when it's finally my turn I'll be ready to take it handy the few days after, just in case I also have a reaction. In fact, I'll be expecting one and then if none happens, will consider myself lucky!

Exactly. I would like to be able to plan when it comes to having mine.
RealisticSketch · 09/03/2021 14:26

When I went to her my vaccine there was an introductory video down to everyone before it was administered to say that you might get some feelings like a cold or flu type but it would last 2-3 days. It's not a state secret. All vaccines can do this, some more than others some people more likely to get this then others, it's your immune system responding nothing alarming. I think being open about it is helpful as it doesn't make people suspicious things are being hidden.

Bordois · 09/03/2021 14:31

I can understand why people would be terrified of catching covid as it can lead to hospitalisation and death (even if the odds are slim). However the same doesn't apply to jab side effects- you may feel a bit ill for a few days but how is that terrifying?

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