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.

@doireallyneedaname

I find it hard to believe that so many don’t seem to feel that Pfizer is overall a better vaccine. I am proud of what our scientists have achieved but it’s not bad to say it how it is!

When it was created we didn’t even have the SA strain and yet it is almost as effective against it as the dominant strain. Does this not show that it is likely to be just as effective against further strains too?

I agree with you OP. This thread is hilarious to be honest, people getting emotional about AZ because you’ve raised valid concerns based on the data that’s currently available? I’ve looked at current data from a number of sources and I’d still rather have Pfizer than AZ. You aren’t alarmist, you are just informed about your health.

Also 🙄 about people who say they just blindly accept whatever their doctor offers. It’s not being an armchair expert to be aware of your options; it’s just smart. So many people are blindly uncritical these days. It’s quite worrying.

Agree. It was making me feel a bit mad, but there you go.

@doireallyneedaname

Obviously I don’t work for Pfizer - is there really any need for that kind of comment?

I’m fully aware of the efficacy for the current dominant strains, I’m not talking about those. I’m talking about the SA strain which could very well become dominant at some point in the near future meaning our population are being vaccinated with the least effective of all major vaccines available to combat it. Yes the others have said they are “less effective” but their data shows they are still far more effective than AZ at tackling it.

The vaccines are to prevent death and serious illness. And they are effective in that.

Are you suggesting that we stop the roll out of the AZ vaccine

I will definitely refuse the Oxford vaccine and hope to be reoffered the Pfizer one. I have hardly been out the house as a CV person since last March and having the Oxford one wouldn’t make me feel safe enough to. So for my own mental health going forward I need the Pfizer.

I’m not sure about the Pfizer one because they’ve been involved in several lawsuits regarding fraud.

@CrackOpenTheGin

I will definitely refuse the Oxford vaccine and hope to be reoffered the Pfizer one. I have hardly been out the house as a CV person since last March and having the Oxford one wouldn’t make me feel safe enough to. So for my own mental health going forward I need the Pfizer.

Well so be it. If you feel you will need to keep isolating and wait that’s on you

I have several CEV family and a young baby, so naturally I want the best protection for us.

So what? Do you think that other people don't want 'the best protection' for their family? Your OP is bonkers, but this comment is double bonkers.

You can choose in the UK as well if not booked by your doctor, you book online and it tells you which vaccine are being used at each vaccination sites but I would be quite happy to have either, they are also talks about a top up in autumn for SA variant.

@InterfectoremVulpes

I’m not sure about the Pfizer one because they’ve been involved in several lawsuits regarding fraud.

Oh Christ...

Oh Christ

I know, right!

Forgot to add, that was what the OP said a few weeks back.

I can see people even after being vaccinated to frightened to go outside their front door, what a way to live.

Obviously not, since so many are happy to have AZ

For the hundredth time - we do not know if AZ prevents severe disease against the SA strain, but we do know the other vaccines do. Those other vaccines are overall more effective also.

And surely anyone with an ounce of sense can see that the SA strain will become dominant as people become immune to the other strains. Believing that it won’t and taking some word of someone on TV who says ‘we have no reason to believe it will become dominant’ is like believing that ‘schools are safe’ and we all know where that got us....here, back in lockdown with another 50k dead.

Is this the Cyprus with the population of 1.2 million?

Yes, they have been involved in lots of “scandal” - I read that too. However, most big pharma have so it’s not a concern of mine anymore.

@Baileysforchristmas

You can choose in the UK as well if not booked by your doctor, you book online and it tells you which vaccine are being used at each vaccination sites but I would be quite happy to have either, they are also talks about a top up in autumn for SA variant.

Can you? Because my mother couldn’t see this when she booked last week.

@Baileysforchristmas

I can see people even after being vaccinated to frightened to go outside their front door, what a way to live.

So can I. I actually think anyone who refuses a particular vaccine because they think they know better than doctors abs scientists should go to the back of the queue.

The “doctors and scientists” all agree that Pfizer is more effective. That is factual information. What on earth are you talking about?

@Stressedoutsomuch

I can’t get worked up over this. The Government have done a phenomenal job in obtaining and rolling out the vaccine.

Allowing people to window shop is pointless. Both vaccines deliver significant protection.

You could always refuse your vaccination op to wait for your preferred choice.

No. The NHS have done a phenomenal job despite the Government.

Agreed.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-55976037

I was given a choice and selected Pfizer.

But any vaccine is better than no vaccine and I would have gladly accepted the Oxford one rather than wait for the Pfizer to become available to me.

@Baileysforchristmas

I can see people even after being vaccinated to frightened to go outside their front door, what a way to live.

This has happened to my grandmother. She is 88 and had both her jabs but she is now scared to death of the SA variant.

There has been a lot of assurances that the vaccines will give a good level of protection against death and serious illness and we are bloody lucky to have that.

I wish the media would fuck off now about different variants/ can’t go out all summer/lockdown may never end. It’s too much information. We are now at the point people are wanting to refuse vaccinations for themselves and families leaving themselves at risk because of information circulating about their effectiveness.

No one ever said you will not catch covid if you have the vaccine but they have said it will probably stop you from dying!

@Baileysforchristmas

That is all well and good, but a booster ready in months time isn’t going to fix the problem we will have if the SA variant (or any other similar variant) becomes dominant over the next few months. Having a vaccine that currently protects against those variants, however, would.