Ireland halting the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine

[Kaylasmum49]

This just came up on my phone. I had the AZ vaccine 10 days ago. I'm concerned about the news of blood clotting issues.

And you have very little need to, unless you are very overweight, inactive and smoke. In which case you should have been worried anyway.

My guess is that, eventually, when more is known, the side effects and risks of coronavirus vaccines will all be listed on the leaftlet given out when someone gets the vaccine.
At the moment, not all the risks are known, or even known to be definitely related, plus the percentage chance of getting an effect is not yet known either.
It feels to me like the eventual full leaflet is still in the process of being written. And the leaflet which you might get today, will almost definitely be a bit different to one given out in a year's time for instance.

Anyone know what exactly within a vaccine could potentially cause blood clots?

@MRex

I've looked up the MHRA yellow cards reporting. It's available to everyone here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-adverse-reactions/coronavirus-vaccine-summary-of-yellow-card-reporting.

About 100 cases linked to stroke or embolism from each of Pfizer BioNTec and Oxford Astrazeneca if you tot up across all categories, a few more reported for Pfizer than for Oxford.
Call it 230 from 23 million doses. That's 1 per 100,000. You'd normally expect 1 in 10,000 per year, so in 3 months of vaccination that's 1 in 30,000.
It's actually lower risk for vaccinated people than unvaccinated. Good news!

Very reassuring, thank you 🙂 Even paracetamol has risks but people think nothing of taking it!

@lightand

My guess is that, eventually, when more is known, the side effects and risks of coronavirus vaccines will all be listed on the leaftlet given out when someone gets the vaccine. At the moment, not all the risks are known, or even known to be definitely related, plus the percentage chance of getting an effect is not yet known either. It feels to me like the eventual full leaflet is still in the process of being written. And the leaflet which you might get today, will almost definitely be a bit different to one given out in a year's time for instance.

Agreed, if you read the leaflets that comes with many common medications there are extensive lists of potential side effects that we all ignore.

There is nothing in a vaccine that could potentially cause blood clots. It's the body's own immune response in response to that vaccine that could - probably around inflammation or damage to epithelial cells lining blood vessels maybe (like actually getting covid)

Its a worry for Ireland as think az the one they can get most of.

Only other week they reporting they annoyed with az and can't get enough

www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40237532.html

They were looking to other European countries for extra supply according to Irish media

www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/ireland-may-ask-eu-countries-to-share-their-covid-19-vaccines-1.4501668

How is Ireland doing in regards to the virus?
Its complex as they share a land border so many cross both ways if everyone in ni is vaccinated but Republic of Ireland is not.

I'm not sure if is wise to suspend.
Wonder how long for or will confidence in az be too badly damaged and they just have hope they get some moderna and janson soon.

Even though Europe brought vaccines together.
It was up to each country how much of each type and quantity.
Being cheaper many may have ordered more Oxford az than phizer or moderna which are a lot more expensive.

I guess they have to way up is delay in vaccinating more harmful than potential tiny risk of clotting with az Ireland have 3rd wave how annoyed will Irish be.
I do fear some European countries are playing politics with vaccines sadly.

minchinfin I am actually overweight due to a condition called lipoedema and due to severe depression and anxiety over the last few years my activity levels have been very low. I don't smoke. My mum died from a stroke aged 45. I am very concerned about this news.

Something flashed up on my phone this morning that Pakistan I think has suspended AZ use due to blood clots too. I didn't get to click into it.

@lightand

My guess is that, eventually, when more is known, the side effects and risks of coronavirus vaccines will all be listed on the leaftlet given out when someone gets the vaccine. At the moment, not all the risks are known, or even known to be definitely related, plus the percentage chance of getting an effect is not yet known either. It feels to me like the eventual full leaflet is still in the process of being written. And the leaflet which you might get today, will almost definitely be a bit different to one given out in a year's time for instance.

Yes, when you receive the vaccine, you are given a leaflet (similar to those in tablet boxes) which lists out possible side effects and how to report side effects, alongside other information, and asked to read it before vaccination.

My DD (in another EU country, not Ireland) last week had a AZ shot from the very batch that Austria rejected. I am not worried. She is frontline medical.

There was a poster on here a few days ago, who had a blood clot. I wonder whether she had had the vaccine. I don't recall her mentioning it.

When I got the AZ vaccine, the nurse first asked me if I was taking any medication for blood clotting. Is there a reason they would ask that if the vaccine isn't associated with clots?

Cap fits?? Your vaccine choice is take or leave. This kind of scaremongering in a world where many are fools does not help.

There are risks. My drive to get the vaccine was probably higher personal risk than the vaccine itself. Worry about that.

Anyone who isn't a fool can assess risk and say 'yes it is there but we must make hard choices'.

Kaylasmum49 if you had the vaccine 10 days ago and you are fine, I honestly think there is not much for you to worry about now. Maybe have a chat with your GP?

The BBC website says there is no confirmed link and it’s being done as precautionary, ie Ireland is being over cautious based on about 10 cases out of 17m vaccinated

If there was an issue it’s one batch spread across the EU
WHO, our regulators, even the EU regulators say it’s safe

I had AZ yesterday, loads going in for it

Get a grip

I was invited to make an appointment with my GP for the vaccine yesterday. I'm holding out on making the appointment for the moment. At least for a week or so until they can figure out what the risks are.

murbblurb would you like to explain why you find it reasonable to insult my intelligence?

@WhoWants2Know

When I got the AZ vaccine, the nurse first asked me if I was taking any medication for blood clotting. Is there a reason they would ask that if the vaccine isn't associated with clots?

I'm not a medic I would have thought they want to know if you are on anti-coagulants because those medications can delay the blood clotting and they are about to stick a needle in you. So the reverse of them being worried about blood clots!

@WhoWants2Know

That question is asked for both AZ and Phizer it’s a standard question along with have you had covid recently, did you have your flu jab etc

It’s nothing to do with suggesting it could cause blood clots

maybe see your GP anyway perhaps they will put you on blood thinners. If you are overweight and your mother sadly dies if a stroke very young aren't they advising you to take a daily aspirin anyway? I think I'd be tempted to. Did you tell them about your mum when you went for the vaccine and they did the medical history? I'm surprised they wouldmt have mentioned something.

@murbblurb

Cap fits?? Your vaccine choice is take or leave. This kind of scaremongering in a world where many are fools does not help.

There are risks. My drive to get the vaccine was probably higher personal risk than the vaccine itself. Worry about that.

Anyone who isn't a fool can assess risk and say 'yes it is there but we must make hard choices'.

“The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.”

― Charles Bukowski

Don't call anyone a fool.

I can't help thinking that more people will actually die or end up with serious health issues by catching Covid due to a delay in being given the vaccine.

The EU's roll out is very slow and full of bureaucracy. That's a bigger health risk than a minute number of people who unfortunately have a vaccine side effect. All medicines have some potential side effects. If you read your packaging properly is a wonder that any of us ever take any kind of pill at all. The risk is generally very very low.

I had my Astra Zeneca injection yesterday. I have confidence in the science.

Chloemol I don't need to get a grip!! Sick of people like you who feel the need to ridicule people for their concerns.

I think the elderly are very keen to get it whereas younger generations, not so much.