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Original poster

Other countries offering choice of vaccine

624 replies

doireallyneedaname · 13/02/2021 07:52

I have relatives in Cyprus who are able to choose with vaccine they’d like - AZ or Pfizer.

They have been given an appointment for next week and told that they will be told beforehand which vaccine they are having, and if they want the other they can reschedule for that one.

I just read a news article which seems to confirm this.

Appreciate the population is minuscule compared to the UK and many other countries but given the recent news re AZ efficacy against the SA strain (which I believe will likely be the same against further mutations) - I can’t help but wish we’d order more Pfizer and give people the choice.

OP posts:
Original poster
doireallyneedaname · 15/02/2021 18:14

@CuriousaboutSamphire I have no idea why you can’t just accept that there are better vaccines available 😂 Have you or loved ones already had AZ? Is that what this is about?

ANYONE in their right mind would look at the data we do have available and choose Pfizer, Moderna, or anything else, to be honest.

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 15/02/2021 18:14

I am assuming you didn't read my last post...

Original poster
doireallyneedaname · 15/02/2021 18:20

@CuriousaboutSamphire Skimmed over it because you’ve been repeatedly insulting and rude, to be honest. You should probably think about the way you speak to people if you expect them to take you seriously.

OP posts:
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 15/02/2021 18:20

My family have all had AZ and I'm pleased they have been vaccinated with something that works against the current strain. They are all in their right minds, hence deciding to be vaccinated rather than wait.

Original poster
doireallyneedaname · 15/02/2021 18:24

@PinkSparklyPussyCat Sure. But in a scenario where there was a choice, I doubt they’d have chosen AZ.

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 15/02/2021 18:24

Ooh! That's me told!

Truly exasperating, OP!

And I'll not apologise if I have been terse. Spreading such I'll informed disinformation and refusing to actually engage with the posters upthread who were genuinely sharing their expertise and knowledge has not shown you in a good light.

You definitely don't understand the language of science, you are misinterpreting data and seem to think that a poor piece of information oft repeated somehow gains credence.

It does not.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 15/02/2021 18:26

There is no choice. I have no idea which my parents, aunts and uncles have had. Some of each I would assume.

They wouldn't have cavilled. They took what was offered.

Original poster
doireallyneedaname · 15/02/2021 18:32

@CuriousaboutSamphire It seems you think very highly of yourself and the way you repeatedly try to demonstrate it is honestly really embarrassing. Just stop.

I posted a thread saying I would prefer Pfizer as some countries are offering a choice. From that, you’ve fought a relentless and absolutely pointless battle proving absolutely nothing. In the end, as I have said several times now, AZ is the least effective vaccine, even at tackling the current dominant strain - so YES, if given a choice a different vaccine is what I would want and I’m sure most people would.

OP posts:
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 15/02/2021 18:32

[quote doireallyneedaname]@PinkSparklyPussyCat Sure. But in a scenario where there was a choice, I doubt they’d have chosen AZ.[/quote]
I know DH would have chosen AZ in case there were supply issues with getting the second dose of Pfizer. Like most people it was more important to him to make sure he was vaccinated against the current strain and would be able to get the second dose than stamping his size 10s and whinging.

To be honest, if he'd come home and said he'd refused the vaccine I'd have probably told him to pack a bag and come back when he'd developed some common sense and had the jab.

KeepWashingThoseHands · 15/02/2021 18:39

Don’t agree with you OP. We had to bet on some horses - they amazingly all came in the top 4 but inevitably there’s one winner. No one could have known which that would be and there’s not enough to go round so a reduced (but still v effective vaccine) is still an awesome solution if the alternative is none. As others have no doubt pointed out there are far more logistics issues too. In a couple of years time the landscape may have changed.

Original poster
doireallyneedaname · 15/02/2021 18:40

@KeepWashingThoseHands Perhaps. But it seems to me we backed the wrong horse.

OP posts:
donewithitalltodayandxmas · 15/02/2021 18:42

Op where can I find the data that its as good against sa strain as you say as I haven't found that report ?

CuriousaboutSamphire · 15/02/2021 18:43

Based on what?

Stop giving your opinion, show us the specific data you based your opinions on.

Maybe if we can read it we will be persuaded...

TheLaughingGenome · 15/02/2021 18:43

we need to wait for real life data but it’s highly likely to be

0/10 as in 'unmarkable' on a biomedical science course.

Original poster
doireallyneedaname · 15/02/2021 18:44

@donewithitalltodayandxmas in vitro testing, as I specified.

www.biopharma-reporter.com/Article/2021/01/28/Pfizer-BioNTech-vaccine-elicits-antibodies-against-South-African-strain

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TheLaughingGenome · 15/02/2021 18:45

AstraZeneca Oxford vaccines are the only ones not making a profit, right? Being provided at cost? For the greater good?

CuriousaboutSamphire · 15/02/2021 18:46

Yes, the data that suggests it should be as good, that they tentatively believe will not have a significant reduction in efficacy, but will be reduced.

That data!

donewithitalltodayandxmas · 15/02/2021 18:46

Perhaps. But it seems to me we backed the wrong horse.
Why ? What happens if it mutates again? None if them may be ok and need tweaking again? As others have said we may end up with a booster and that may apply no matter what first one you have, there are others coming and you forget az is approved elsewhere as well
Maybe a different age group but approved none the less
Where have you read its only 10 % efficient against SA
We have ordered lots of different vaccines and no one knew which would work best and even less so against variants that didn't exsist a few months back
Like I said you want to choose that isn't an option here , but you can refuse and wait until the one you want is availible

Original poster
doireallyneedaname · 15/02/2021 18:47

@CuriousaboutSamphire Why are you still waffling? You have already agreed Pfizer is more effective overall.

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 15/02/2021 18:48

Stop it OP!

Your knickers are showing 😀

Original poster
doireallyneedaname · 15/02/2021 18:49

@donewithitalltodayandxmas I’m talking about here and now. At this point in time there are vaccines that can offer better protection than AZ. Why wouldn’t you want that? It’s obviously not a choice at tbe moment which is why I posted this in the first place, and I wouldn’t necessarily refuse AZ - but if given a choice, why wouldn’t you want the best one?

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Original poster
doireallyneedaname · 15/02/2021 18:50

@CuriousaboutSamphire I don’t even know what that means, I’m going to guess you’re over 40.

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 15/02/2021 18:50

The answer remains a mix of logistics and expediency with a good dose of data as yet unknown.

MRex · 15/02/2021 18:53

You have amazing stamina @CuriousaboutSamphire, I've enjoyed your calm logic and persistence.

donewithitalltodayandxmas · 15/02/2021 18:53

Because its not a choice so I don't try to think about something I can't change, I will take whatever they offer and hope it works on me and it helps protect others.
There are lots of things I do not have a choice in so try not to loose sleep over it as what can you do .