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!

The community hubs all have provision for emergencies including epipens etc (although take your own if you have one). The major part of my SJA training was first aid rather than vaccine delivery. Our local hub has given something like 20000 vaccinations without a single emergency.

I'm not sure that reading other people's experiences will help you decide, Xenia. They vary from nothing to feeling quite ill, with many grades in between. The vast majority though seem to be relatively mild,certainly in comparison to getting covid.

I had a slightly flu-like headache but no raised temperature, for a few days and a sore arm for nearly 3 weeks (which I reported ) but my DH,who is on the Oxford trial, had no noticeable reaction at all with both doses.
The risk from a vaccination versus the risk of getting covid (and long covid) seemed a no-brainer to me.

When I decided to have the vaccine (was never any doubt in my mind that I would be having it), the side effects didn’t come into my decision. The potential of a few days of mild but unpleasant side effects would be a small price to pay for the benefits. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t had the vaccine when they have been offered it.

@Parker231

From NHS website

Most side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are mild and should not last longer than a week, such as:

a sore arm where the needle went in
feeling tired
a headache
feeling achy
feeling or being sick
You can take painkillers, such as paracetamol, if you need to.

If you have a high temperature you may have coronavirus or another infection.

If your symptoms get worse or you are worried, call 111.

Hmm, yet people are reporting fever, chills, shaking, which are not on that list. It's unlikely that all those people caught coronavirus the same time as they had the vaccine.

"I don’t know anyone who hasn’t had the vaccine when they have been offered it."

Yes, even the person I know who's denyer took the vaccine!

The leaflet for the vaccine does cite chills and shivering as a side effect actually so no it doesn't mean you had covid

"The vast majority though seem to be relatively mild,certainly in comparison to getting covid."

Covid varies greatly in severity so this doesn't make sense to me.

@Beaniecats

The leaflet for the vaccine does cite chills and shivering as a side effect actually so no it doesn't mean you had covid

NHS needs to update its website then.

"my DH,who is on the Oxford trial, had no noticeable reaction at all with both doses."

My friend on the trial had cold symptoms, including fever for a few days. He's not supposed to know he's had the vaccine, but seems pretty likely as I think he said the placebo was just salt water.

"The risk from a vaccination versus the risk of getting covid (and long covid) seemed a no-brainer to me."

I'm not sure it is for me when you look at the actual risk for the under 60s of getting a serious form of Covid or developing long Covid.
I've had the flue vaccine once (not in the vulnerable group, but it was offered) and if I'd actually developed flu symptoms from it, I wouldn't have it again as my risk of flu complications wouldn't be high enough to go through it.

However, the vaccine is a no-brainer for getting out of lockdown and stopping the pandemic. Everyone who can should be vaccinated.

Just to provide balance I was warned that as I have a low white blood cell count my reaction might be “deeper and longer”. I prepared myself for a day (days) in bed but the only side effect was slightly raised glands for a couple of hours in the evening. I don’t know anyone who had side effects beyond 24 hours and of those who did they were mainly just feeling a bit bleugh. I am not underestimating the side effects of those who did have them more severely, I fully anticipated being laid low (though definitely preferable to Covid) but it is not the majority story.

It was the easiest vaccination I have ever had. Typhoid and Swine Flu were far worse.

Gwenhwyfar how will you know how severely an individual will get covid? You're less likely to die or be seriously ill if you're young and fit but that leaves a large number who are at real risk.

Plus everyone who gets a vaccine contributes to lowering the prevalence of the virus in society.

I'm 57 and had it last week. Had a headache the day after and felt a bit slow & slightly achey.
So, so, so glad I've had my first shot and looking forward to my 2nd in May. First steps to freedom!

@Gwenhwyfar

"my DH,who is on the Oxford trial, had no noticeable reaction at all with both doses."

My friend on the trial had cold symptoms, including fever for a few days. He's not supposed to know he's had the vaccine, but seems pretty likely as I think he said the placebo was just salt water.

"The risk from a vaccination versus the risk of getting covid (and long covid) seemed a no-brainer to me."

I'm not sure it is for me when you look at the actual risk for the under 60s of getting a serious form of Covid or developing long Covid.
I've had the flue vaccine once (not in the vulnerable group, but it was offered) and if I'd actually developed flu symptoms from it, I wouldn't have it again as my risk of flu complications wouldn't be high enough to go through it.

However, the vaccine is a no-brainer for getting out of lockdown and stopping the pandemic. Everyone who can should be vaccinated.

The placebo was a meningitis vaccine given so that a reaction was a possibility and you couldn't make any assumption. My DH knows he had the covid vaccine as he was unblinded when his NHS call came.

But we seem to agree that the vaccine should be taken up by everyone who can have it.

"The placebo was a meningitis vaccine given so that a reaction was a possibility and you couldn't make any assumption. "

Must be a different trial then because in the trial my friend did, the placebo was not the meningitis vaccine.

@campion

Gwenhwyfar how will you know how severely an individual will get covid? You're less likely to die or be seriously ill if you're young and fit but that leaves a large number who are at real risk.

Plus everyone who gets a vaccine contributes to lowering the prevalence of the virus in society.

Obviously you don't know how severely you would get Covid. Nobody can predict the future, but you can figure out your risk of getting a very serious form and it's likely to be very low for a person under 50.

"everyone who gets a vaccine contributes to lowering the prevalence of the virus in society."

Well, that is stating the obvious. Of course the virus is a good thing because of this.

@Gwenhwyfar

"The placebo was a meningitis vaccine given so that a reaction was a possibility and you couldn't make any assumption. "

Must be a different trial then because in the trial my friend did, the placebo was not the meningitis vaccine.

I'm pretty sure Oxford are running several parallel trials which would make sense when comparing results.Some of them get paid!! Not DH though. I've seen his paperwork for it and also he was definitely told it was meningitis as the control at the time. He genuinely couldn't guess which one he'd had.

Stating the obvious is never a bad thing, as I've found many times during my teaching career!

They're saying you have more chance of side effects if you've had covid or been exposed to it before. Not proven or anything but seems to be a trend.

It was placebo in some other countries, meningitis vaccine here as the comparator I believe.

Only Phase I trials would get paid in this country.

Anyone get severe indigestion after their vaccine? I am in agony.

It's now 48 hours since I vaccinated (age 57, had Covid last spring with some symptoms lasting months afterwards). I feel fine today. Slight tenderness on the vaccinated arm and only if I touch it.

I had mine yesterday morning. I've felt pretty rough tbh since about 7pm yesterday.
I'm in my 30s.

I don't agree with the point that compared with the side effects of covid the vaccine is mild. Loads of people have covid with no symptoms. So are not saying I should risk being pretty ill for 2 days to avoid ICU or long covid. We are doing a calculation about chances of my catching covid in the 4 or 6 months before the vaccine wears off ie over the spring and summer given I don't go out much against the chances I have covid badly rather than covid mildly or with no symptoms.

Xenia - having the vaccine isn’t just for your benefit but for everyone else as well. If the majority refused the vaccine the numbers of cases and deaths would remain high and forms of lockdown would have to continue.

The vaccine won't wear off in 4-6 months. People who have had Covid still have antibodies 5 months later & that's only because that's what they've measured up to. Vaccine response is likely to be stronger. Antibodies to every infection fade to a certain extent - otherwise you'd be stuffed full.of antibodies to everything you've ever encountered. Your cells will recognise it & mount a response. The reason we have flu jabs every year is because it changes, which is a different matter. Top.ups may be needed every so often but it won't be after 4-5 months.