Oxford vaccine - blood clots

[emilyjane29]

Hi all,

So I'm due to get my vaccine on Friday, due to vulnerability caused by some health issues.

Have been reading about the issues surrounding the Oxford vaccine, and at first I wasn't overly worried but now more and more countries are pausing it, I'm feeling quite anxious.

My health issues include being diagnosed with venous sinus thrombosis a couple of years ago, and as far as I can tell this is what they are saying is the risk here with the Oxford vaccine. I'm fine now and not on any blood thinners.

I get that it hasn't been pulled by the UK gov, but should I check with my GP just incase, if this would be a safe option for me? Or should I just go ahead, given I have been invited to get it anyway and if it wasn't safe surely I wouldn't have been put forward for it?

@Aintnoshepherdess

Why do you feel the need to ask a bunch of strangers if you should ask your GP for advice on a medical issue?

Christ. Why do you feel the need to be so rude to people on the internet? Hope it added a little spice to your evening!!

Personally I would check in with your GP just in case x

Yes check with your GP but your risk from Covid is far, far greater than from the vaccine. Covid itself causes blood clots - you don’t want to catch Covid

I'd def check if it helps ease your concerns

You do need to speak to your GP. I am certain that the vaccine has nothing to do with the blood clots that have been reported, but I am just a random person on the internet. Your GP knows your history, and more importantly, will know where to get expert advice on your condition.

@Oly4

Yes check with your GP but your risk from Covid is far, far greater than from the vaccine. Covid itself causes blood clots - you don’t want to catch Covid

This is how I've been feeling, have been very scared of catching covid as aware of the risk of blood clots! So now this is all coming out about the vaccine I feel so confused after being so excited about it.

There have been 17 million doses of AZ vaccine given in the EU and UK.
37 reports of blood clots in those vaccinated, so the overall risk is something like 0.0002%.
The background risk in the general population is higher - around 1 person in 1000 per year.
The risk of blood clots on the contraceptive pill is much higher than the vaccine and yet they’re commonly prescribed.
It is a very knee jerk response to have pulled the vaccine, and will cause huge lack of confidence.

For context there have been reports of blood clots with the Pfizer vaccine too; but again lower than expected in the general population. No countries have pulled Pfizer

Also the risk of getting a blood clot if you catch COVID is around 20%

@mouldygrapes couldn’t have put it better myself. You rock!

@mouldygrapes you have summed it up very clearly.

@mouldygrapes

There have been 17 million doses of AZ vaccine given in the EU and UK. 37 reports of blood clots in those vaccinated, so the overall risk is something like 0.0002%. The background risk in the general population is higher - around 1 person in 1000 per year. The risk of blood clots on the contraceptive pill is much higher than the vaccine and yet they’re commonly prescribed. It is a very knee jerk response to have pulled the vaccine, and will cause huge lack of confidence.

For context there have been reports of blood clots with the Pfizer vaccine too; but again lower than expected in the general population. No countries have pulled Pfizer

That's actually really interesting about the pill, I hadn't even thought about that. You're right, the risk is so much higher yet the pill is still so widely prescribed. In comparison, it does seem very strange now that this has paused based on the stats so far.

@Bluenightowl how's the tin foil hat working out 😂

In the U.K. there have been the following reports of clots:

AZ: 13 cases
Pfizer: 15 cases

Yet no-ones talking about the Pfizer vaccine?!

I can’t help think the EU are ballsing up their vaccine programme for a political point to be honest.. their attitude to AZ has been appalling since AZ struggled to deliver on doses. I’m not saying concerns shouldn’t be investigated but I’m not sure at the detriment of getting the vaccine out there. Unless it became apparent hundreds were suffering from clots immediately after the vaccine..

Chat to your GP if you're worried, but definitely important to remember that there is no evidence AZ causes blood clots, but there is a huge amount showing that COVID infection itself does.

The guardian article below by one of Cambridge's top statisticians is super reassuring regarding explaining how the figures should be interpreted www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/15/evidence-oxford-vaccine-blood-clots-data-causal-links

I also have a history of VTE, so have been following this story and my understanding is as mouldygrapes has explained it. Thrombosis UK also have a statement on their website thrombosisuk.org/news/post.php?s=2020-03-20-blood-clots-thrombosis-and-covid-19

@HolmeH

In the U.K. there have been the following reports of clots:

AZ: 13 cases
Pfizer: 15 cases

Yet no-ones talking about the Pfizer vaccine?!

I can’t help think the EU are ballsing up their vaccine programme for a political point to be honest.. their attitude to AZ has been appalling since AZ struggled to deliver on doses. I’m not saying concerns shouldn’t be investigated but I’m not sure at the detriment of getting the vaccine out there. Unless it became apparent hundreds were suffering from clots immediately after the vaccine..

Do you think so? I just struggle to see how the counties could be putting so many people at risk just to make a political point. Surely once they eventually come out and say the vaccines are safe again, the trust will have gone and uptake will be low. Meaning they're in lockdown etc for longer. I just can't see why they'd take that risk just to make a political point, however that could just be naivety on my part!

@Bluenightowl

Personally I’d reconsider it. There are a number of posters on MN who are trying to stamp out anything negative being said about AZ. I am starting to wonder what is going on here.....

Could you articulate more about what you think is “going on here”?

Full disclosure - I don’t work for AZ and have no agenda to force anyone to get vaccinated. Of course it’s still a personal choice, but use actual facts, not scaremongering and flawed data / risk comparisons to base any decisions on

Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 at lunchtime was really interesting today, they were discussing the relative safety of AZ vaccine for people who might be more prone/at risk of blood clots due to various health conditions.
Dr Sarah Harvis was answering calls and unanimously the message was go get the vaccine, it is far, far safer than risking Covid.
There is a teeny tiny risk of clots (I think she said 1/200,000) but compared to getting Covid, which I think she suggested there was a resulting 1/6 chance of platelet problems/clots. Forgive me if I heard those numbers incorrectly, but the message was loud and clear to get vaccinated.
I had the AZ vaccine nearly 2wks ago (some underlying health conditions) and I am so relieved to have had it.

@Bluenightowl - hi. just your regular mum of two kids here. Masters degree in biology & immunology. Huge vaccine supporter across all walks of life. Helped vaccinate children in Tanzania, who’s parents sobbed with gratitude at their children being immunised against nasty diseases. Couple of my uni friends work in vaccine development, so I have a little inside knowledge here & there plus my masters in the human body & its functions.

I’ve got no agenda. I look at the facts and say what I see. I think everyone should be vaccinated, these vaccines are a phenomenal feat of science & are key to getting our life back. But it’s a personal choice.

*Jarvis, sorry!