Massive vaccine anxiety

[MoonshineWashingLine]

I'm eligible for the vaccine as my job is technically heath & social care. I'm a personal assistant for a disabled person, I visit the family at their home, although I've pretty much been furloughed since March so haven't seen them for ages. I'm eligible for the vaccine because of my job but I'm terrified of having the Pfizer mRNA vaccine as it's never been used on such a massive sale before and the government aren't sticking to the recommended 21 days between doses. The vaccination site is at a hospital, my sister got hers there and she had the Pfizer vaccine. The incidence of adverse reactions also seems to be higher with the Pfizer one than the Astra Zeneca one. I have pretty bad vaccine anxiety anyway but this is on another level. I've done loads of research but nothing is reassuring me at all. I really was hoping to have the more traditional Oxford/astra zeneca vaccine but it looks like they are mostly being rolled out in the community and the Pfizer ones are at specific vaccine centres/hospitals.
I don't really know why I'm posting this, maybe for reassurance or just to vent. But trying to make the decision on whether to get it done now (pfizer) or wait until May /June when everyone else in my age group is likely to get it in the community (likely Oxford) is really bothering me.

People I know who were vaccinated had a choice. Are you sure they only give one type? Call and ask.

The reactions to the vaccine have been worse with the Oxford Az vaccine both in my experience (of working in a setting where nearly all staff have been vaccinated with a mixture of both vaccines) and as reported by Tim Spector from the Covid study.

It has excellent efficacy 3 weeks after the first dose and you are lucky to be able to have it.

I'm sorry you're feeling anxious OP. What research have you done that doesn't reassure you? The Pfizer vaccine has minimum side effects that resolve within a couple of days. I had it and had a sore arm for 2 days.

Vaccines, remember, have minimum side effects and have been shown to work very well, medications have far more side effects, more serious ones. Look at a box of ibuprofen to see what I mean

I’m rationally sceptical about all medicines as big pharma don’t have the best track record in terms of integrity. So I do my own research and make informed choices. I’m not anti vaccine but I’m also not completely happy with vaccine information and protocols in the UK. Some I have and some I don’t. I had the Pfizer when offered because over all rates of adverse reactions are minuscule and weighed against the societal harm that Covid is doing it felt like a no-brainer.

You have to make your own decision and feel good about it but I am more concerned about the effects of Covid than the vaccine.

I had a sore arm and some numbness a couple of days after but otherwise nothing.

Good luck with making your decision.

Also, be careful what you read and check sources. There is a lot of mis-information, scaremongering and pseudo-science out there.

I think one of the biggest concerns around Pfizer is the an allergic reaction but if you don’t have a history of allergies then it’s not really something you have to worry about. Everyone is monitored for fifteen minutes afterwards regardless.

If you’re not currently working or have any other issues to consider then I wouldn’t feel pressurised to make an immediate decision. Community prevalence should be low as restrictions are eased which count in your favour till May.

I’ve also got the same anxiety. I’ve seen lots of people reporting feeling really ill after the vaccine then I read this apa.az/en/europe/Norway-links-13-deaths-to-Pfizer-vaccines-side-effects-340231

I've lost count of the articles I've read. I've tried not to read anything other than science based info. Maybe it's a case of too much information and I've overwhelmed myself.

This is why I relied on senior consultants - I work in a hospital and every single one of our consultants jumped at the chance to have the pfizer vaccine. They are medical experts and wouldn’t have had it if they had concerns. I’m not medically trained so would be in danger of reading what looked like truth that was fake. Doctors were fighting their way to the front of the queue so I’m happy it’s safe.

I had the Pfizer. No side effects whatsoever if that helps. I don’t think you can choose which one to have because each trust uses what they are given. I feel fortunate to have had it. A shame I now have to wait three months for the next one.

@Cornettoninja if the schools really do go back in 3 weeks then I think I should or have it as I've two children in primary school. The anxiety of covid was horrendous last term.

@Dodie66 do you mean that article reassured you or made you feel like you don't want to have it? It said only very frail people died after the jab.

[quote Dodie66]I’ve also got the same anxiety. I’ve seen lots of people reporting feeling really ill after the vaccine then I read this apa.az/en/europe/Norway-links-13-deaths-to-Pfizer-vaccines-side-effects-340231[/quote]
But to put that in context these were very elderly (80/90+) and frail people, 23 deaths with 13 investigated so far according to that article. The side effects can be harsh which will obviously take more more of a toll on a person naturally near the end of their life.

The upshot of that article that vaccination of the very elderly and frail should be decided on a case by case basis, risk vs benefit.

I don’t think it’s of any concern to people

I’ve had both pfizer vaccines. Working where I do i know more than a thousand colleagues who have been and about 50 had chills and felt unwell but only for a short term and each decided they would go ahead and have the second but make sure they had paracetamol and an early night after. My only reaction was an achey arm (same as I get for flu jab)

It didn’t reassure me.I’m 70 and have health problems

@MoonshineWashingLine

I've lost count of the articles I've read. I've tried not to read anything other than science based info. Maybe it's a case of too much information and I've overwhelmed myself.

sounds like it. You've not really 'done research', tbh - you've read a lot of stuff, some of which you maybe don't fully understand. I'm a scientist and don't understand everything in papers for a different specialism, this isn't a personal criticism of you! So, by far the best plan is to do what the medical and science professionals advise, isn't it? The people who've done the actual research. The people who are responsible, the ones the buck stops with if they're wrong.

@MoonshineWashingLine well then you have to weigh up whether your concerns over side effects from the vaccine are greater than your concerns over your chances of infection through your dc.

Fwiw I’ve had my first dose of Pfizer, I felt a bit rough for a couple of days and could have happily vegged out in bed but could and did carry on going to work. Tbh I has a similar reaction to the flu vaccine this year whereas I don’t normally, I think my immune system just hasn’t been challenged much this past year.

[quote Dodie66]I’ve also got the same anxiety. I’ve seen lots of people reporting feeling really ill after the vaccine then I read this apa.az/en/europe/Norway-links-13-deaths-to-Pfizer-vaccines-side-effects-340231[/quote]
@Dodie66 these were very frail and very elderly people

@MoonshineWashingLine

I've lost count of the articles I've read. I've tried not to read anything other than science based info. Maybe it's a case of too much information and I've overwhelmed myself.

@MoonshineWashingLine but the point is there is no science based info that shows the Pfizer vaccine has serious or even moderate side effects. Hence I wonder what you're reading

Dh had AZ and I had the Pfizer one. Sore arm and neck for both of us. Felt fine a day or two later. It's a no brainer and I think you owe it to your clients

@Dodie66

It didn’t reassure me.I’m 70 and have health problems

Unless you’re in the realms of end of life I don’t think you should be concerned personally.

Either way maybe you need to have a discussion with your GP about it. They’ll be best placed to advise you on the risk vs benefit for your particular conditions and general health status.

I had the Pfizer jab yesterday, no problems at all. I was called as one of the 16-64 with medical issues (heart attack) group 6.

I am a worrier, have a bit of health anxiety - not surprisingly due to my heart issues - went through all of the "what ifs" and was concerned about it (I'm not anti-vax). Was just glad not to be called before I felt ready to have it.

Not a single side effect. No pain at the vaccine site, no redness, no racing heartbeat, no muscle pain, no joint pain, no fever, no chills, nothing. So my anxiety and lack of sleep were all for nought - thankfully.

Did not know which was being given until I sat in the chair. Did not care to be honest.

In your position - as in mine, I would go for the vaccine now. Before any "new" ones start being used. The anxiety of the unknown is bigger than that which has been in circulation for some weeks now.

Here's a useful guide from the British Society for Immunology www.immunology.org/public-information/guide-vaccinations-for-covid-19

It has to be thought of in terms of risk vs benefit. The risk of developing serious side effects or dying from the vaccine, and many common medications for that matter, is extremely low.

The risk of being unvaccinated and contracting covid and/or passing it on to other people, however, is high...

You seem to be worried about lots of totally different things in relation to the vaccine, OP, would you find it helpful to break them down? E.g.

Short term side effects - reasonably likely but very manageable

Leaving a longer gap than 21 days - might slightly reduce efficacy (though I think the data on this is encouraging? - and even with a longer gap the vaccine is much more effective than no vaccine)

New mRNA approach - what is your concern here, it's not really clear?

@Dodie66

It didn’t reassure me.I’m 70 and have health problems

This is really not logical. Why do you think the vaccine side effects will be worse than COVID-19? With the vaccine you only have the short lived immune response. With COVID-19 you may additionally get the associated respiratory symptoms and day 9 “cytokine storm” reaction.

Leaving a longer gap than 21 days - might slightly reduce efficacy (though I think the data on this is encouraging? - and even with a longer gap the vaccine is much more effective than no vaccine)

The evidence suggests the opposite, certainly for the AZ vaccine. A longer gap is associated with a better response. This is consistent with other vaccines.