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!

DH had pzeier one last week. He got his usual post flu jab night of sweats and a sore arm. Far better than the 3 weeks in bed plus ongoing fatigued he had with Covid in November.

@CuriousaboutSamphire yes, I am reporting whole teams with nasty side effects because it is TRUE, just like others are stating on this thread. If you don’t want to believe me, don’t, that’s your choice.

I didn’t come on here for arguments about whether I’m telling the truth or not, I really thought people may like to know and be prepared.

It is definitely not widely known that other emergency services are getting vaccinated. I have just checked on BBC and still it says elderly, vulnerable and healthcare workers so it was extremely easy to make the leap from your words that you are in medical emergency services! But I can see reading back you didn’t actually claim to be medically trained and I myself put two and two together from your posts and the context. I apologise for that. I would imagine I am not the only one to do this though and many will have read the first page and not questioned it thinking you are a paramedic. This is why this important stuff needs be moderated on places like this! I know a few people who say they’re not getting the vaccine as they just don’t like the sound of it, FFS, we all need to be properly informed rather than spreading alarm (not I didn’t say alarmist crap, but your post literally alarmed me) on social media.

I think it's a good thing to be as transparent as possible about side effects, even if they are severe, so that people can be mentally prepared and also make sure they have nothing big planned for a day or so after having their jab, and have sufficient pain medication in the house. It's always good to be prepared.

Thanks OP for the post.

The OP’s workplace is extremely lucky that they’ve been vaccinated in dribs and drabs.

The fact that they've had a higher than average frequency of common side effects could just be chance, or it could be the result of them all having been exposed to the same strain of Covid at the same time so their immune systems are primed in similar ways to overreact.

I know 40 people that have had it - including 36 CEV and none had any more side effects than a sore arm for a day or so.

And yes, people who are going to be vaccinated need to proceed on the assumption that the day after will be a write off.

I would imagine employers would have mixed reactions to people ringing in sick because of the side effects of a vaccine.

OP, you are very brave. Anything apart from excited anticipation and admiration about the vaccines will be considered as anti-vax propaganda.
Apparently we are not allowed to talk about/know side effects, allergic reactions or anything else in fact that would have been absolutely normal for any other vaccine, like MMR, flu etc.
Well done for posting, I appreciate it. There is nothing in the newspapers that would even remotely mention any meaningful information

@atomt

How come everyone at your work has already had the vaccine if you're not NHS or care home staff? They are only just vaccinating the top priority groups, health workers and the over 75/CEV.

I think it depends on where you are in the country. In my area they have pretty much done all of the over 75s via their GP surgeries.

When I went to the vaccine clinic yesterday at the hospital most of the people queuing up were social services staff, police and care workers and a scattering of health professionals.

We all had to show our work ID so it was easy to work out from the lanyards.

Most of the staff at the hospital were done weeks ago. In some areas like ours the roll out has been extraordinarily well organised and very rapid.

@FunnyItWorkedLastTime sorry, when I say “workplace” this is a few workplaces within the same organisation, I should have been cleaner as that’s generally the terminology we use here. Within my ACTUAL workplace building there are probably around 20 that have been vaccinated so far. We work in different teams and have good COVID secure measures so unlikely we all have COVID or something else that we are all catching from each other as many don’t come into any sort of contact at all. It’s a bit difficult to be more clear without completely outing myself, so hope this makes some sense!

Don't you get the same with the flu vaccine you can get the flu?

Ex wife's staff (100+) in a local NHS trust have all been vaccinated, side effects have been reported, and some staff are off. She said she felt fine.

I had similar effects when I used to have the flu jab, took weeks to shake the sides off. So I'm expecting similar, I'll clear my work diary just in case.

Its really weird. I work in nhs. Out of all my colleagues who've had the vaccine there's just one group reporting side effects and having to take time off. (Vaccinated in variety of places at different times). They are the same group who had most complaints about precautions being put in place, and who generally have the highest sick leave. With some people if you tell them they might get side effects then they will get them.

Wow I can't believe how mean this thread has got.

The government website for the Oxford vaccine states that 1in10 people could experience many side effects including high temp, fever, flu like symptoms, sore arm etc.

I feel ok ish but can't get my temp below 38.8 after medication and have a raging headache. Hopefully will only last for today. It sure beats getting COVID-19. It's good for people to know what to expect and what is normal. I was glad to read others had similar side effects.

@Iwonder08 Brave? Possibly stupid for daring to tell the truth 🤣. I have been here long enough to know that Mumsnet doesn’t always want to hear the truth!

There is nothing in the newspapers that would even remotely mention any meaningful information

You don't need newspapers.

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

Ive had both doses of my Pfizer, first dose I had a terrible headache for 4 days, arm was really stiff and exhausted, most colleagues were the same. Second dose I was rough, same as the first with all over joint pain too.

Luckily only lasted 24-36 hours (other than the first headache). We had a number of people sent home from work/calling in sick but again they were back after a day or so.

I have the flu vaccine every year and I react the same to that too.

I was told to expect it before getting my jab, and it was also in the information leaflet I was given. I had a headache and a temp the next day. Would have been nice to curl up and be bedridden but I have small children so sadly not an option.

It lasted a day and then I was absolutely fine. Everyone at my workplace was similar though some had a sore arm too. No one had to go off sick!

Well I had the Oxford vaccine yesterday and feel like shit. In our hospital we were told to have it when you can have a few days off afterwards. This is because since they started giving them, there was too much staff sickness the next day.
I plan to chill in bed today because I can do so easily and hopefully I'll be fine tmrw.

I would much rather have this for a day or two than covid itself.

Op I don't think you're scaremongering and some of these replies seem so.... angry 🤷‍♀️

I’m interested to know what emergency service you are OP because I’m police and have heard nothing about being vaccinated ahead of the standard schedule. ( other than a few police officers are driving for the ambulance service). That leaves the fire service which doesn’t make any sense.

OP - please tell me that you are not part of the healthcare, patient facing emergency services? Because I would hate to trust my health with you. Hopefully not public facing at all come to think of it.
Your post - and subsequent follow ups - sound wildly ignorant, not only of vaccine side effects but if the damage your comments could do to public confidence in the vaccine effort.

Honestly. This thread is an example of the fear that people let take hold. Op, there is nothing at all wrong with your post.

I am grateful to know that the side effects of some of the Covid vaccines might make me feel very ill for a day or two. That means I'll be prepared with anti pyretic medication and be ready to take time off work if necessary. I too would not expect very severe symptoms from a vaccine. Leaflets often explain side effects but a temperature of 39+ is quite high in an adult and is higher than I'd expect from a vaccine side effect. I have had some reactions from various vaccines in the past but usually pretty mild in nature.

As for people on here posting that it must be ' man flu' or people ' swinging the lead' , it must be a sad life to have that as your first thought based on what the op has said.

@sparklingbrook - it is not the point. Yes, some information is available on gov website, but majority of people who are covered by this vaccine now(over 75) are not going to dig this out. They watch BBC news, where there are only happy people who finally got the vaccine, or crying people who regret of someone in the family dying before they got the vaccine. We don't have any information on the news, just personal stories and stats of people died of covid

I think it's better for people to be prepared.

No one is saying don't have it.

People saying the OP has to be exaggerating because they had it & were fine, are missing the point - everyone has a different reaction.

I'm hoping by the time I have it, I won't have had Covid & fir once being in my fifties is going to be a good thing!!