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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:
HazeyJaneII · 09/03/2021 14:37

I'm 51, fairly worn out, have had some shit health issues in the past, have allergies and usually get every side effect going....I had the AZ last Thurs, and apart from a slightly achy arm felt fine.

freckles20 · 09/03/2021 14:43

@Bordois

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?
In my case no it's not. But the prospect of feeling really unwell even for a day can be really worrying for people who can't afford a day off or have caring responsibilities.

I had a long awaited apt with DC on Sunday at Cahms. Had Covid jab on Saturday and wild horses would not have made me miss that appointment. But I was really worried about having a fever due to the jab, and failing a temperature check.

I almost didn't have my jab as my DC's appt was so important and I was worried that we wouldn't ever be able to rearrange it.

I gambled and luckily had no side effects.

bearandowl · 09/03/2021 15:39

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Bordois · 09/03/2021 15:43

In my case no it's not. But the prospect of feeling really unwell even for a day can be really worrying for people who can't afford a day off or have caring responsibilities

Worrying, sure.

Terrifying though?

And surely this would apply to all illnesses anyway?

Pan2 · 09/03/2021 15:45

This is from a highly misleading website in the U.S. Will report this post.

BIWI · 09/03/2021 15:48

@bearandowl

The US have vaccinated (at least a first dose) over 60 million people.

That means 0.002% fall into the category you're talking about - yet you didn't give that context. Given the amount of anxiety displayed by some posters on this thread, that's massively irresponsible of you.

There's a fine line between discussion and fearmongering.

Pan2 · 09/03/2021 15:50

bearandowl - you are posting fake news on vaccines, the Nat Vacc Info Centre has zero credibility and simply makes stuff up.

BIWI · 09/03/2021 15:50

... and I really wouldn't describe 0.002% as 'numerous' Hmm

Parker231 · 09/03/2021 15:51

fullfact.org/online/yellow-card-astrazeneca-reactions/

People are not dying as a result of the vaccine.

freckles20 · 09/03/2021 15:55

@Bordois

In my case no it's not. But the prospect of feeling really unwell even for a day can be really worrying for people who can't afford a day off or have caring responsibilities

Worrying, sure.

Terrifying though?

And surely this would apply to all illnesses anyway?

Yes absolutely it does apply to all illnesses, but you don't know when they are coming....

I'm all for the vaccine. I'm just trying to explain why I'm certain circumstances the prospect of being laid up for a day is very worrying.

Bordois · 09/03/2021 15:59

But I'm not talking about people being worried about feeling ill after the jab. That's perfectly normal and understandable.

I'm asking why people are terrified of feeling ill.

Gwenhwyfar · 09/03/2021 16:23

@bathsh3ba

I read somewhere that 14% (I think) had systemic side effects (like fever, headaches) after the first vaccine and a bit more after the second. Either way, more people didn't have them than did. I'll try to find the link as it may reassure those who are anxious.
Not that re-assuring if the reason why it was only 14% at the time is because older people don't get the side effects, as suggested by pp.
Gwenhwyfar · 09/03/2021 16:33

[quote Mumisnotmyonlyname]@PusheenLove ah I see! No, the wrong side of 50! [/quote]
Or the right side, if we're talking about side effects!

Gwenhwyfar · 09/03/2021 16:42

@tiredteacher100

I actually think that if this thread is scaring people into not getting the jab it should be taken down. The side effects are on the nhs website. They are not severe. Please get the jab if you are offered it, for your own sake and for your loved ones sake
People like you make me so angry. We are allowed to know what it's like. It helps people plan for the vaccine. We shouldn't be censored when discussing this.
Xenia · 09/03/2021 16:50

It is a useful thread. People are just reporting how they feel and as expected many have no side effects at all.

My son's landlord could not come to a pre-arranged appointment today as he was so ill from the vaccine he could not get out of bed! it does not seem to last very long however for most who have symptoms at all - just a few days.

Gwenhwyfar · 09/03/2021 16:52

@Xenia

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.
Sounds like you're thinking just of yourself though. It's true that many people get Covid in a very mild way - I know someone who felt a slight tickle in his throat and nothing less. However, the vaccine isn't just about the risk and benefits to yourself, it's for the good of us all and to have a chance to get out of lockdown and back into normal life.
Beaniecats · 09/03/2021 16:56

I've been ok to work just feel sicky with stinking headache and feeling tired

LemonSherbetFancies · 09/03/2021 17:12

Perhaps terrified was the wrong word but days of feeling very sick, with a migraine (already very prone to them) with aches and pains really worries me. I know I may not get them but it does seem, going by this thread, that I would be in the very small minority to be fine.

Gwenhwyfar · 09/03/2021 17:15

@LemonSherbetFancies

Perhaps terrified was the wrong word but days of feeling very sick, with a migraine (already very prone to them) with aches and pains really worries me. I know I may not get them but it does seem, going by this thread, that I would be in the very small minority to be fine.
I had a migraine recently and it was horrible at the time. It was over the next day, but I felt tired and stiff for two more days. The thought of that again would scare me! Not enough to not have the vaccine of course. But I think you said you suffer from anxiety anyway didn't you Lemon?
Timeisavirtue · 09/03/2021 17:25

All of the people I know that had the Oxford vaccine had no side effects at all. So talking around 20...

Parker231 · 09/03/2021 17:31

Sympathy for those with health anxiety however for the small number of people who have a couple of days of unpleasant side effects, it’s nothing compared to what could happen if you caught Covid. The benefits of the vaccine are for you and the rest of the population, especially your family around you.
I’ve still not had any side effects.

BIWI · 09/03/2021 17:33

@LemonSherbetFancies

Perhaps terrified was the wrong word but days of feeling very sick, with a migraine (already very prone to them) with aches and pains really worries me. I know I may not get them but it does seem, going by this thread, that I would be in the very small minority to be fine.
FGS @LemonSherbetFancies I understand that you're anxious - but you're totally misreading all of this.

It's not a very small minority to be fine! The majority of people will be fine, the minority will experience side effects - less than 2 in 10 people.

This is from the Government's website:

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was evaluated in clinical trials involving more than 44,000 participants. The most frequent adverse reactions in trials were pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, myalgia (muscle pains), chills, arthralgia (joint pains), and fever; these were each reported in more than 1 in 10 people. These reactions were usually mild or moderate in intensity and resolved within a few days after vaccination. Adverse reactions were reported less frequently in older adults (over 55 years) than in younger people

The Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine was evaluated in clinical trials involving more than 23,000 participants. The most frequently reported adverse reactions in these trials were injection-site tenderness, injection-site pain, headache, fatigue, myalgia, malaise, pyrexia (fever), chills, arthralgia, and nausea; these were each reported in more than 1 in 10 people. The majority of adverse reactions were mild to moderate in severity and usually resolved within a few days of vaccination. Adverse reactions reported after the second dose were milder and reported less frequently than after the first dose. Adverse reactions were generally milder and reported less frequently in older adults (65 years and older) than in younger people

Please don't get things out of proportion. I realise this is your anxiety speaking, but it doesn't do you any good.

Timeisavirtue · 09/03/2021 17:33

I have a general fear of being sick. I’ve had to bite the bullet. I’ve booked it around childcare, thankfully being off work has helped so no need to worry about that. I got bad symptoms from the flu jab back in October, so I hope it’s not the same.

Gwenhwyfar · 09/03/2021 17:33

@Timeisavirtue

All of the people I know that had the Oxford vaccine had no side effects at all. So talking around 20...
What kind of ages? Seems old people don't get many side effects.