Which vaccine should I choose?

[Serendipity09]

I have just been sent the link for my Covid vaccine, I'm 44 but have underlying health problems and am a carer.
I wasn't expecting to be given the choice about which vaccine to choose before I book!
So now I have no idea....initially I was all for the more natural Oxford vaccine as opposed to the synthetically made Pfizer vaccine, but now studies seem to show that Pfizer is more effective?
I do have allergies, not severe, but moderate I would say - although that doesn't seem to be so much of a worry with Pfizer now?
I really didn't mind which one I was having, just felt pleased to be having it, but now I've been given the choice, I feel anxious about it!!
Any wise words please?

@Belladonna12

Regardless of which one is the best, aren't people worried about whether there will be supply problems by the time the second dose is due? The Pfizer vaccine is imported and the EU have threatened to block this if they don't get enough vaccine.

Pfizer and BioNTech said today that they have finalized an agreement to supply the European Union with another 200 million doses of their Covid-19 vaccine. The EU will also be almost trebling their order of the Moderna vaccine (also confirmed today). Janssen vaccine application for EU approval also now underway (EU have already ordered 400 million and it's a single dose vaccine). Novavax also likely to be approved and start supply at some stage. mobile.twitter.com/jfkirkegaard/status/1361990549922848769

One thing worth considering for people who are offered a choice and who have already had covid? There are now at least 3 studies showing that for people who have previously had covid, a single dose of the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna) effectively acts as a booster dose to their existing immunity acquired by natural infection. So you will probably have very good protection in the 12 week gap between doses. This may equally apply to AstraZeneca and other vaccines but as the studies were done in the US where so far they are only using Pfizer and Moderna, they only tested those 2 vaccines.

Another thing is one advantage of being further down the vaccine priority list, is that more data will come soon - on Pfizer from Israel, on AZ and Pfizer from PHE and on AZ from the phase 3 US trials.

@Serendipity09

So, to clarify (and I honestly don't give two hoots to the troll hunters)... I did not click a link in an email, I was sent a text from the number I always receive my GP messages from, from there I clicked the link which took me to a booking screen where I could choose which vaccine I wanted. No choice of location, it's just a local church. I did not wish to choose as I would rather just be given it. But I could not book without choosing. I come on here to ask for any advice, get accused of it being fake. I contact my GP to check it's real and they look on their system and say it is definitely booked. Weeks ago I was hoping for the Oxford vaccine as i have allergies. After speaking with doctors i know and doing a bit of research, I decided on the Pfizer. But I will mention my allergies tomorrow and if I am advised it then I will be happy to go with the Oxford. Also, no, I am not whichjab with a name change fail! There really are some strange and bored people out there! Thanks to all those who offered sensible replies and thoughts!

I wasn't trying to imply anything bad when I said name change fail.

It happens often when someone name changes and people were trying to imply you were a troll/sock puppet. I was sticking up for you but appreciate it might not have have come across that way.

Hope your vaccine went well.

I didn't mean it to you Mewling, it was the troll hunter calling me a sock puppet mainly! (I admit I had to google the phrase 'sock puppet', as I am not wise in the world of troll-hunting (thankfully) and to me a sock puppet is something I made to amuse the children when they were very young! Anyway, I was glad said troll hunter found the time to report to Mumsnet and clarify that myself and Whichjab are indeed not sock puppets. Amused me though and I now have a new phrase in my vocabulary (although I do tend to mainly live in the real world where this particular phrase would not be required!).

Anyway, vaccine went well, had it a few hours ago and feeling nothing untoward so far, not even a sore arm. They did query my allergies and the lady doing the vaccine went to speak to the doctor about whether I should have the Oxford instead, but the Pfizer went ahead, with the doctor watching me for 15 mins after :)

Reality glad to hear all went well.

I have booked the Pfizer, went with the understanding that in any other aspect of my life if something was rated out of 100 and 100 was the best I'd go for that one, as there is 30% difference I've booked for the one nearer 100. May not be scientific but I had to decide one way or the other.

Pfizer and BioNTech said today that they have finalized an agreement to supply the European Union with another 200 million doses of their Covid-19 vaccine.

Yes, but it's also been reported that they are behind with supplying the EU and that Pfizer and BioNTech have not delivered to schedule so far and some in the EU are questioning why it's being exported in the circumstances. In contrast the AstraZeneca vaccine is made here and some EU countries don't seem too keen on it anyway.

Ok I apologise for not previously believing this to be true. I’m pleased you got a choice and got the one you want.
I think I’d struggle to choose tbh but probably have slight preference for Pfizer. Fingers crossed for no side effects☮️

Sorry did not mean to post the logo!

I was turned away for the Pfizer because of my history of allergic reactions, but was offered the Astra Zeneca one instead and was fine with that.

@Frazzled2207

Ok I apologise for not previously believing this to be true. I’m pleased you got a choice and got the one you want. I think I’d struggle to choose tbh but probably have slight preference for Pfizer. Fingers crossed for no side effects☮️

I'm not the op and so the apology isn't for me but it does still mean something. I felt jumped on last night, which I accept is my fault I shouldn't care what strangers say and I'm normally tough, but this year has been tough. My child is still ECV and I'm CV and I never thought I'd have a choice (and I'm the sort of person as a pp said that struggles to choose on a restaurant menu and then invariably regrets the decision)

@Belladonna12

Pfizer and BioNTech said today that they have finalized an agreement to supply the European Union with another 200 million doses of their Covid-19 vaccine.

Yes, but it's also been reported that they are behind with supplying the EU and that Pfizer and BioNTech have not delivered to schedule so far and some in the EU are questioning why it's being exported in the circumstances. In contrast the AstraZeneca vaccine is made here and some EU countries don't seem too keen on it anyway.

I wonder why

crack I don't want to put words into your mouth, why are you wondering?

It does concern me that many countries either won’t accept the Oxford vaccine full stop or are only using it for their under 65s. Obviously they find the data worrying too and yet here we are injecting 90 year olds with it

Thanks for replying, I thought i understood. There is quite a lot online about Italian doctors complaining that they are getting a sub standard vaccine (oxford) and that South Africa have just given away 1 million Oxford vaccines

@SandSeaBeach Yes, link to one study is here (pre-print):

mobile.twitter.com/florian_krammer/status/1358939148313362433

www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.02.05.21251182v1

Should add that this Moderna scientist says this should be the case with most of the vaccines, not just the mRNA ones, it's just there is no data/ study yet on that.
mobile.twitter.com/sailorrooscout/status/1360198464743895047

@Ceriane could I please ask if you were not allowed Pfizer (because of allergic reactions) at a Vaccine Centre or by your GP.

My GP’s receptionist said the same thing to me yesterday, but several articles I have read seem to indicate my allergies should not prevent the use of Pfizer.

I would prefer Pfizer on efficacy grounds and am just trying to decide whether to question what I have been told.

@CrackOpenTheGin

It does concern me that many countries either won’t accept the Oxford vaccine full stop or are only using it for their under 65s. Obviously they find the data worrying too and yet here we are injecting 90 year olds with it

They are not worried by the data. They just claim that there is not enough evidence for effectiveness in the over 65s even though European regulatory authorities think there is. Regardless, there is good evidence that it is effective in people under 65.

@Whichjab

Thanks for replying, I thought i understood. There is quite a lot online about Italian doctors complaining that they are getting a sub standard vaccine (oxford) and that South Africa have just given away 1 million Oxford vaccines

In South Africa they have a variant that none of the vaccines are very effective against (I think the Oxford one is the least effective). That's not a problem here so far. Regardless, no vaccine is much worse than accepting the Oxford one though refusing it in Italy is pretty stupid.

I had mine through work. It was at a vaccine centre.

I had Pfizer vaccine the other day. I told the nurse that I had a nut allergy but she confirmed that this wasn’t a problem and that none of the vaccines contained nut products. I was absolutely fine with my jab and only side effect has been a bit of a sore arm for around 24 hours

Pfizer definitely!!!

New data available today might make this moot.

@CuriousaboutSamphire

New data available today might make this moot.

Yes, just read about it. Appears I may have worried for nothing.