Pfizer or Oxford

[starchildmum]

Hi

I was wondering which vaccine centres use Pfizer and which one Oxford? I have a strong preference for Pfizer and my appointment was originally in a pharmacy in Ealing London. After I called and found out that they only do Oxford I rebooked but not sure if I will get Pfizer. They explained that most phamacies and community centres won't offer Pfizer as they don't have the storage facilities and Pfizer would most likely only be offered in Hospitals etc.

Any views on that? I am just curious if that is how it works?
Thank you!

Why not get the AZ now and hope they have more supplies of Pfizer you can access down the road?

Is there a reason you care? I'd kill for any vaccine right now.

Why do you have such a strong preference?

Just take whatever you are offered. Either will reduce your risk of hospitalisation or death by an enormous amount, AZ possibly better than Pfizer. Why the preference? There are people literally dying for lack of vaccine.

I only wanted Pfizer. I got jabbed at a health centre/GP

I had my vaccine last week at a GP surgery (not my own though) and the practice manager said they didn't know from week to week what they would be getting.

Maybe you could call on the day and find out?

I got Pfizer by the way, but tbh would have been happy with either.

It’s okay for people to have a preference, at least she is actually wanting to get vaccinated!

I got example prefer the idea that AZ is a tried and tested formula but prefer that Pfizer seems to give fewer side effects.

Back to your question

I don’t know about pharmacies, I am sure I heard somewhere though that GP hubs often have Pfizer while the large nhs centres usually have AZ. Not sure if this is accurate! Just something I thought I had read/heard somewhere.
At the GP hub you might get either as when my husband had his - they told him they were using Pfizer that week but used AZ week before.

People that are refusing vaccines because are not the brand they want wish were put at the end of the queue ! When you get any other vaccine do you ask whether they are one brand or another ? Then why do you do this for this one ? Aztraceneca would prevent you needing a bed in hospital , needing ventilator and dying ...

I have a preference for the Pfizer vaccine too as it seems to have fewer side effects anecdotally. I have underlying health conditions and would prefer a vaccine that less likely to cause additional ill health even if temporary or trigger any other issues (obviously I don't know the latter).

Ours (GPs and vaccination centres) is offering Pfizer and Astra Zeneca, and don't know which batch is being sent until a couple of days before.
I was offered Pfizer, but can't have it so have had to wait for Astra Zeneca to come in.

@HazeyJaneII

Ours (GPs and vaccination centres) is offering Pfizer and Astra Zeneca, and don't know which batch is being sent until a couple of days before. I was offered Pfizer, but can't have it so have had to wait for Astra Zeneca to come in.

Did they tell you before you went or did you find out when you turned up?

The vaccination center in my town has been giving out both - it seems to be lucky dip.

The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at -70 so most vaccine hubs/centres do not have the equipment to store. Mainly hospitals and GPS offering Pfizer, but the supply has been more bumpy with it. I say supply, I mean the supply chain and logistics not the actual supplier. So the appointments are more susceptible to change/cancellation as it’s been unpredictable.

Generally speaking, Pfizer gives no side effects after the 1st dose, but you might have some (normal) side effects after the 2nd. AZ is the other way around.

Both have been shown to be highly effective in terms of cutting severe disease and hospitalisation. Ironically, real world data suggest AZ might be slightly more effective but let's not split hairs. I had AZ but would have had either.

Just get what you're given. Honestly. Billions of people want to be as lucky as you.

@RavingAnnie
Did they tell you before you went or did you find out when you turned up?

I asked the woman on the phone which vaccine it was, as I had a feeling I wouldn't be able to have Pfizer - she rang back the next day having spoken to a Dr, and said they would re book me when Astra Zeneca came in.

I really wanted the Oxford one because it was tried and tested, similar to the flu vaccine as I understand it. To my disappointment I could only have the Pfizer. After I had it, the relief I had having had either was enormous. There are swings and roundabouts, just be grateful to have either.

@HazeyJaneII oh ok so they can maybe find out in advance. I assume you have allergies? I'm not sure whether my concern over the fact the AZ jab seems to have more side effects would carry as much weight. That's just anecdotal, I've not seen anything official backing that up....

Well, no, you’re unlikely to get Pfizer at a pharmacy (or other non medical setting) because they won’t have the capacity to store it at the temperature required. So if you book at a pharmacy, pub, drive through etc, you’re almost certainly getting AZ. However, even if you do book at a hospital hub or GP etc, you might still get AZ because they might not know in advance which they’ll have ready to go first and will probably have deliveries of both. To the PP, no, you won’t know til you turn turn up but they will tell you before you’re actually vaccinated which one they’re using at the time. But, without wanting to sound trite, the best vaccine is the one in your arm.

As others have said, Pfizer is not offered at any community pharmacies. GPs, large vaccine hubs and hospitals mostly offer both but do not allow for preferences as they themselves do not know what they are due to receive until shortly before.

I’m Ealing too but I got vaccinated in RBKC due to work.
My mum had Pfizer at the town hall - and I know others who have had it at the local larger vaccine centres. Everyone I know locally who has had a jab at pharmacies have had AZ.

[quote RavingAnnie]@HazeyJaneII oh ok so they can maybe find out in advance. I assume you have allergies? I'm not sure whether my concern over the fact the AZ jab seems to have more side effects would carry as much weight. That's just anecdotal, I've not seen anything official backing that up....[/quote]
The call was 2 days before the date of the jab, when stocks had come in.
Yes, I have an epipen and have had allergic reactions to various medications in the past.
I'm not sure if you could choose because of worries over side effects (especially as there have been reported side effects from both).

Why do you have a strong preference, OP? What are you basing that preference on?

OP, if you have a history of allergic reactions you cannot have the Pfizer, only the AstraZeneca.

I think side effects are just as likely with both - it's a good thing, it means your immune system is doing it's stuff. Just have whatever you can, if you wait you may catch Covid. Is it still really high in Ealing?

My GP has mostly been doing Pfizer ones. I'd have taken either though, but was pleased I got the Pfizer one. I figured that either was better protection than the 0% I walked into the GP's surgery with!