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've read this thread with great interest. Whilst I agree there seems to be some initial info around claiming Pfizer to be the superior one- I think it's actually too early to tell. Especially taking into account current variants AND variants which most certainly will come in the future. So just take what you're given I think. A new variant could come along that will make all vaccines useless. I personally don't think it will happen and I think what we currently have ( all of them ) will provide some kind of immunity and protection to all variants. ( just my opinion )

Once more. There has not been a real life study of Pfizer nor Moderna with the SA variant. The most likely outcome for all vaccines with the new variant and lower titre values is that they prevent severe disease, but there needs to be a booster to prevent the mild/moderate shootings. That means journalists can say it isn't protective (FT) and it is protective (CNN), depending on what slant they want to take. Mass media is not science journalism and shouldn't be mistaken for it. No vaccine has actual percentages from proper phase 3 trials except Novovax and Janssen who had reasonable efficacy (but lower).
What we do know is that ALL these vaccines Pfizer, Oxford AZ, Moderna, Novovax and Janssen are safe, and they all protect against the Kent variant. So if you're lucky enough to be in the UK then you should take whichever you can get, as quickly as you can get it, and when you're offered a booster later then take that too.

*mild/moderate shootings - should say symptoms, obviously

@MRex

Most individuals don't have the scientific expertise to pick between medical treatments. Leave it to the professionals.

Yep

What we do know is that ALL these vaccines Pfizer, Oxford AZ, Moderna, Novovax and Janssen are safe, and they all protect against the Kent variant. So if you're lucky enough to be in the UK then you should take whichever you can get, as quickly as you can get it, and when you're offered a booster later then take that too.

This.

@MRex

Once more. There has not been a real life study of Pfizer nor Moderna with the SA variant. The most likely outcome for all vaccines with the new variant and lower titre values is that they prevent severe disease, but there needs to be a booster to prevent the mild/moderate shootings. That means journalists can say it isn't protective (FT) and it is protective (CNN), depending on what slant they want to take. Mass media is not science journalism and shouldn't be mistaken for it. No vaccine has actual percentages from proper phase 3 trials except Novovax and Janssen who had reasonable efficacy (but lower). What we do know is that ALL these vaccines Pfizer, Oxford AZ, Moderna, Novovax and Janssen are safe, and they all protect against the Kent variant. So if you're lucky enough to be in the UK then you should take whichever you can get, as quickly as you can get it, and when you're offered a booster later then take that too.

This Thanks @MRex !

While the blood serum samples produced less neutralizing antibody activity, it was still enough to neutralize the virus

This is from your article OP. Pfizer produces less neutralizing antibody but still enough to neutralize the virus.
So far with the AZ study it's the same. It produces less antibodies but will still protect you from severe illness.
Anyways seems you have made up your mind you want the "superior" vaccine, so 🤷

[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]
Oddly that was the very reason posters like me responded, way back on page 1. Saying you didn't mean it doesn't help, does it?

That is also the reason posters like myself keep on responding, over and over and over again. So posters like the one you sacred can see other infomtation, other viewpoints.

Nothing about "really not liking" you, as you said on that thread! But not liking the entirely foreseaable results of your stubborn refusal to engage with information provided and crowing that you were right, because, as many posters have agreed, SOME places can offer a choice SOME TIMES!

By tehe way, have you apologised to that poster? The one you scared!

In fairness to the OP, there was an apology on that thread. At roughly the exact same time as posting here "I’d be bloody devastated. After all of this? No. Not when there are better options." Continuation of the original behaviour suggests it was not a sincere regret.

@MRex

In fairness to the OP, there was an apology on that thread. At roughly the exact same time as posting here "I’d be bloody devastated. After all of this? No. Not when there are better options." Continuation of the original behaviour suggests it was not a sincere regret.

Thanks, I missed that!

@MRex I didn’t say I regret asking my question or posting this thread. I said I felt awful that poster felt worried/upset about it. I explained my feelings as best I could to them. As they mentioned, they have read various sources discussing the same thing - don’t act like I have singlehandedly come up with Pfizer being more effective!

I can be devastated at having the Oxford vaccine and still feel awful someone was upset by things I said. Is that really so hard to grasp?

"I'm sorry that you felt upset because of my actions" is an apology on behalf of the other person, which is at best condescending. I'm not sure why you think it should work online when it isn't an acceptable apology in real life?

You shouldn't feel awful about asking your original question OP. It's valid. Most of us search the net in search of information away from pharma multinationals and governments nationalism crap.

I know the UK mostly have the Oxford vaccine (my nephew, niece and kids will get it) and I will too in Australia. I'm not happy about it but I don't have a choice. Australia will vaccine with Pfizer the first two groups - quarantine staff, nurses, doctors in first line, and disabled and nursing home residents. The rest of us will get the Oxford.

In Spain (where I come from) is different. The Oxford has only been approved to people between 45-55 y.o. The first lot of vaccination (the 2 vaccines) have already been supplied to front line health care and over 75s. Spain is producing the Moderna vaccine and most population should be vaccinated by September.

@Alondra How refreshing to read a normal, mature response. Thank you :)

@Alondra

You shouldn't feel awful about asking your original question OP. It's valid. Most of us search the net in search of information away from pharma multinationals and governments nationalism crap.

I know the UK mostly have the Oxford vaccine (my nephew, niece and kids will get it) and I will too in Australia. I'm not happy about it but I don't have a choice. Australia will vaccine with Pfizer the first two groups - quarantine staff, nurses, doctors in first line, and disabled and nursing home residents. The rest of us will get the Oxford.

In Spain (where I come from) is different. The Oxford has only been approved to people between 45-55 y.o. The first lot of vaccination (the 2 vaccines) have already been supplied to front line health care and over 75s. Spain is producing the Moderna vaccine and most population should be vaccinated by September.

"The first lot of vaccination (the 2 vaccines) have already been supplied to front line health care and over 75s. Spain is producing the Moderna vaccine and most population should be vaccinated by September."

I'm Spanish as well (Basque) and a minority of the health care professionals (30%) have received their vaccine. They'd better speed up as otherwise what Pedro (and the EU) has promised.. won't happen

[quote doireallyneedaname]@Alondra How refreshing to read a normal, mature response. Thank you :)[/quote]
is It mature because doesnt say something opposite to what you're saying OP? I've read loads of mature replies , with links many of them... arent they mature because they say something opposite to you> you're allowed to feel devastated if you get the AZ... gimme a call and i'lll have it for you seeing I'll be one of the latest ones having it

You shouldn't feel awful about asking your original question OP. It's valid. Most of us search the net in search of information away from pharma multinationals and governments nationalism crap. Yes, and few of us underytsand the data. Those of us who do have been trying to explain it, but OP has ever engaged with it

I know the UK mostly have the Oxford vaccine (my nephew, niece and kids will get it) and I will too in Australia. I'm not happy about it but I don't have a choice. Australia will vaccine with Pfizer the first two groups - quarantine staff, nurses, doctors in first line, and disabled and nursing home residents. The rest of us will get the Oxford. As did the UK! That's how they became available and how they best fit the distribution logistics.

In Spain (where I come from) is different. The Oxford has only been approved to people between 45-55 y.o. The first lot of vaccination (the 2 vaccines) have already been supplied to front line health care and over 75s. Spain is producing the Moderna vaccine and most population should be vaccinated by September. That isn't quite what is happening, it's the plan but not the reality. I have family there, some front line heath workers. They haven't seen anyone vaccinated as yet!

@EasterIssland Nope. No matter how “mature” someone’s response could be, the minute they start resorting to play ground behaviours and abusive language, it becomes immature and frankly, uninteresting. This thread is full of it. If I’d reported, half of it would be gone!

@CuriousaboutSamphire I did, but I don’t believe your understanding of it to be any better than mine. You really need to try and understand that.

[quote doireallyneedaname]@CuriousaboutSamphire I did, but I don’t believe your understanding of it to be any better than mine. You really need to try and understand that.[/quote]
I do understand it. You believe that because, as I think you, or A N Other Poster, said upthread, that you/they didn't believe anyone's stated experience or knowledge on the matter.

I fully understand that we are all supposed to understand and accept your thoughts on the matter, regardless of our own experiences and expertise!

@CuriousaboutSamphire You don’t have any professional experience working with covid vaccines and neither do l. We are both going by what we have researched ourselves and drawing different conclusions. You want me to believe you are right and I don’t. As for my feelings, I don’t really care if you think I’m right or wrong. This thread isn’t titled “am I right or wrong?”

I appreciate you feel like you’re doing your due diligence by saying your piece and that’s fine, but don’t expect me to agree with everything you say.

OK! If you want to know me that well.

And you haven't agreed with anything anyone has said! Just stuck to your guns throughout.

As I have explained before, I have quite extensive experience designing and analysing health based research studies, my own and those of students! I have not said I understand vaccines, but I do understand the language of scientific studies. Which is what I was trying to explain to you upthread! That you chose to ignore!

Others here have already explained their expereince - and you don't believe them either!

Your prerogative.

I'm Spanish as well (Basque) and a minority of the health care professionals (30%) have received their vaccine. They'd better speed up as otherwise what Pedro (and the EU) has promised.. won't happen

Maybe you have to look to what your autonomous Basque region delivers. Pedro (central government) can only give you the vaccines, not how you deliver them.

@Alondra

I'm Spanish as well (Basque) and a minority of the health care professionals (30%) have received their vaccine. They'd better speed up as otherwise what Pedro (and the EU) has promised.. won't happen

Maybe you have to look to what your autonomous Basque region delivers. Pedro (central government) can only give you the vaccines, not how you deliver them.

not sure what I understand what you mean, many areas have stopped giving first doses to front line (madrid/ cataluna) because there weren't enough. Of course PS can only give the vaccines, however, there barely are any vaccines that's why I don't understand your sentence of "The first lot of vaccination (the 2 vaccines) have already been supplied to front line health care and over 75s. " as it's not happening, not every front line nor over 75 has been vaccinated twice around Spain atm.

That's why I dont think PS should overpromise what it's out o his hands (vaccine deliveries as this is up to the pharmacist) and secondly dont think they have the option of vaccine they can have in spain neither.. as the OP claims on the initial post as at least in Spain people cant choose

That isn't quite what is happening, it's the plan but not the reality. I have family there, some front line heath workers. They haven't seen anyone vaccinated as yet!

I think you better get some real stats. Spain has a different vaccine policy from the Uk. In the Uk they are prioritising a first dose of a vaccine to most of the populating delaying the second dose. In Spain is the opposite, second doses are given as per vaccine recommendation.

There is a 5-6 week vaccine Oxford delay compared to the UK. That delay however will be negligible with the approval of the Moderna vaccines which Spain produces.