Other countries offering choice of vaccine

[doireallyneedaname]

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.

I really hope that after the pandemic the Government looks into improving science education in the UK.

Two, yes two of DDs Nuse friends have tested positive in the last 7 days. Both 4 weeks post Pzifer vaccine, so I don’t think that vaccine is so marvellous anyway.

I’d still take either offered though.

In the news this morning:

“ variant.

"AstraZeneca in particular has a challenge with the variant. And the other two, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax, are slightly less effective, but still effective enough that we absolutely should get them out as fast as we can while we study this idea of tuning the vaccine," Gates said. ”

Quick, you should write to Bill Gates and tell him how uneducated he is.

Neither Novovax nor Janssen are available to roll out until summer 2021 as far as I'm aware @doireallyneedaname. Gates is correctly focused on pressuring the pace of the Gavi roll-out for doses that can be produced for roll-out quickly with an aim to minimise boosters due to affordability, the global remit has a different strategic focus than the UK's "reduce UK cases NOW". Depending on the AZ booster trial, (plus similar from Moderna and Pfizer), the boosters may be available only a few months after the first Novovax/ Janssen. Both are great additions to the global vaccine effort and personally I'd love to mix in a Novovax because it attacks the protein rather than spike, so it potentially brings a different antibody response that could really help. All the vaccines are good, what we've been saying is that you take the one available now and leave the professionals to worry about what boosters you might need later.

Quick, you should write to Bill Gates and tell him how uneducated he is.

Really showing your true colours now, aren’t you OP?

@MrsFezziwig How is that? You all repeatedly berated me for stating that the Oxford vaccine is not so great with the SA variant hence
my preferences. Now Bill Gates has said the same thing, surely you are disgusting with him too.

@doireallyneedaname - I already explained the difference in strategy for you, did you not understand it or are you ignoring me again because what I say is inconvenient to your narrative?
In case it's comprehension, let me simplify. Gates is helping the Gavi roll-out that includes African countries based on their vaccine supply, cases and variants; UK bodies are making decisions for the UK based on our vaccine supply, cases and variants. Different circumstances.

But AZ impedes the spread of the virus so swings and roundabouts. I’m fairly young, well under 40, and for work see several people per day - for me the fact that I’m less likely to spread the virus after having AZ is crucial.

You all repeatedly berated me for stating that the Oxford vaccine is not so great with the SA variant

No-one was berating anyone (oh, wait, who was it who called me “judgemental and rude”?). I didn’t even disagree with you, obviously not all vaccines are going to have the same efficacy, I just thought that given the current situation in the UK and the scale of the operation the main thrust should be that everyone gets vaccinated with what is offered rather than slowing up the rollout with phone queries and cancelled appointments (not you btw). And suggesting that posters were advocating a similar approach for reasons of “patriotism” is just nonsensical.

@MRex Blimey, do you think people sit around desperately waiting for the chance to reply to your posts? I wasn’t “ignoring” anyone, I read your post. I can’t reply to everything!

@MRex All I have to say about your post is... I don’t really care. I don’t need you or anyone else to point out the obvious, despite what you think I’m not an idiot.

I’m fully aware of why the UK is rolling out the programme the way they are, but that doesn’t make AZ the best vaccine for me personally. Out of all approved vaccines, Oxford is the least efficacious as standard, and when you take into account the variants, even more so. So, you better believe if when my turn comes I am able to get a better vaccine to protect myself and my child, then that is what I am going to be doing.

@MrsFezziwig

You all repeatedly berated me for stating that the Oxford vaccine is not so great with the SA variant

No-one was berating anyone (oh, wait, who was it who called me “judgemental and rude”?). I didn’t even disagree with you, obviously not all vaccines are going to have the same efficacy, I just thought that given the current situation in the UK and the scale of the operation the main thrust should be that everyone gets vaccinated with what is offered rather than slowing up the rollout with phone queries and cancelled appointments (not you btw). And suggesting that posters were advocating a similar approach for reasons of “patriotism” is just nonsensical.

I think that’s me you’re referring to there with the ‘slowing down the system with phone queries etc.’

Well I’m bloody glad I did else tomorrow night I’d be feeling depressed about having had the AZ vaccine like some poor sod on another thread is as every day there is more evidence that Pfizer is the better vaccine. I have hardly been out the house since last March as I was so worried about catching it. Other people were having a right knees up in the summer, eating out to spread it about, holiday and all sorts. So I am not going to feel bad or guilty about making sure I got the best vaccine. Tomorrow night I will feel on top of the world

@CrackOpenTheGin Couldn’t agree more. Whilst I wouldn’t refuse it (some protection better than none) - I’d be bloody devastated. After all of this? No. Not when there are better options.

It’s a bit like when posters come on here to complain about their appalling maternity care and others just screech about how wonderful the NHS is and how we should be grateful for whatever crumbs they throw us rather than being in charge of your own medical care

@CrackOpenTheGin I do feel really awful about the poster you mentioned - I’ve just seen their thread. It was never my intention to make anybody feel that way.

@doireallyneedaname - you don't care about facts. Well, great. However, other people may get confused by what you say when you paraphrase half sentences into your own narrative, so it is important for others like me to balance that with real information about why it is both normal and appropriate for there to be different strategies.

@CrackOpenTheGin - So now being offered an effective vaccine is similar to "appalling maternity care". Wow.

[quote doireallyneedaname]@CrackOpenTheGin I do feel really awful about the poster you mentioned - I’ve just seen their thread. It was never my intention to make anybody feel that way.[/quote]
Oh like fuck do you care. You would engage with all the information that's been provided to you if that wasn't precisely your purpose behind this thread.

@MRex You know absolutely nothing about me apart from the fact that I would prefer a vaccine other than Oxford. Have a word with yourself.

You've done 50-100 posts on this thread, responding to or ignoring a range of posters, perspectives and points. I know more of your behaviour than one sentence of your OP.

@MRex Ah right, I see. So because I don’t engage with every poster that insults or patronises me, I must be void of empathy and all other human emotion. Makes sense.

I think that’s me you’re referring to there with the ‘slowing down the system with phone queries etc.

Indeed it was. And tbh I can see why you might do that due to your particular circumstances - I was more making the point that if everyone jumps on board and hundreds of people start ringing their GPs then that’s unsustainable. Not so sure about the OP who would be “bloody devastated” if she didn’t get the vaccine she wants “after all of this” (because obviously the rest of us haven’t suffered at all) but admits she is very low risk. Embarrassing when a large proportion of the developing world are struggling to get vaccines at all.

I do feel really awful about the poster you mentioned - I’ve just seen their thread. It was never my intention to make anybody feel that way.

I’m sure you feeling awful about it makes them feel so much better.

@MrsFezziwig I might be low risk personally but you don’t know my circumstances. Again, judgemental.

[quote doireallyneedaname]@MrsFezziwig I might be low risk personally but you don’t know my circumstances. Again, judgemental.[/quote]
As I said, hilarious that you’re accusing others of berating you! (and I’m not the only poster that you’ve had a go at)

amp.ft.com/content/2eb05859-54c1-45b5-9058-fa50fa6ca7da

@Shehz21

www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/health/pfizer-vaccine-south-africa-variant/index.html