I had my Astra zeneca jab this morning. Am I worried?

[user1465822474]

No. I have a background in clinical research and the stats speak for themselves. The blood clot rate across the population that has been vaccinated is actually lower than the expected average. I've read all of the clinical trials for the Modena, Astra Zeneca and Pfizer jab and unless people have actually gone and read and understood the scientific facts and analyses, they really shouldn't be posting damaging rhetoric that will needlessly reduce vaccine uptake.

Well done, op. I'd take it in a heartbeat.

Had first dose today, AZ and it’s fine by me

I want my life back. I want the world back

Had my first AZ today, too. I feel a bit crap this evening (knackered, achy) but I have rheumatoid arthritis which is playing up at the moment, so it could be that. Or it could be that because my immune system is so shit hot it eats my body (that's RA for you!), it's going in all guns blazing against the vaccine and making me feel a bit rubbish.

What I feel most, though, is happy and relieved. I was quite emotional when the nurse jabbed me. An early night or two and a few doses of paracetamol is a small price to pay. I'm not worried in the slightest but I'm so, so grateful to everyone who has pulled out all the stops to make vaccines happen.

I’ve had mine too. But I WAS worried and I’m not ashamed to admit it and I wouldn’t dismiss other’s concerns as irrational either. We are all different and process things differently and are affected by things in different ways. I suffer with MH issues. I obsess over literally everything. So my worries about the vaccination are a totally normal reaction to something I’ve not experienced before. I think it’s brilliant so many are being vaccinated and brilliant so many aren’t worried. But I also have huge sympathy for those who are.

@feckwit

I’ve had mine too. But I WAS worried and I’m not ashamed to admit it and I wouldn’t dismiss other’s concerns as irrational either. We are all different and process things differently and are affected by things in different ways. I suffer with MH issues. I obsess over literally everything. So my worries about the vaccination are a totally normal reaction to something I’ve not experienced before. I think it’s brilliant so many are being vaccinated and brilliant so many aren’t worried. But I also have huge sympathy for those who are.

Being worried isn't so strange. You had it despite your worries; that's all that really matters.

FWIW Pfizer

I’m more concerned about the vile side effects I’m hearing lots of reports from friends and family of all night vomiting, diarrhoea, sweats, flu like symptoms...etc and all from AZ.

Weird that, @Windchangeface, because I know loads of people who have had the AZ vaccine and none of them have had more than minimal side effects. Have you any theories as to why that could be?

What worries me is the people who are jumping on the bandwagon of the dangers of this jag have probably never read the patient information leaflet for paracetamol!

@TidyOmlette

What worries me is the people who are jumping on the bandwagon of the dangers of this jag have probably never read the patient information leaflet for paracetamol!

How true 🤣

Ffs. What I was trying to post with my fat finger is that the incidence of post Vac blood clots is broadly similar with the Pfizer vaccine.

Really can't imagine why so many people are so determined to undermine a not for profit vaccine.

Getting my jab tomorrow and can't bloody wait but sad for DH as it looks like he will have to wait longer for his now (he's under 50)

Well said OP

@gellico

One reason for alleged lower rates of blots in the general population now could be reduced flying/travel for example ie. there are population behaviour changes.

I always enjoy reading this: myth of the perfect drug. Doubt many people think aspirin is ‘dangerous’

archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/06/28/the_myth_of_the_perfect_drug/

@Windchangeface

I’m more concerned about the vile side effects I’m hearing lots of reports from friends and family of all night vomiting, diarrhoea, sweats, flu like symptoms...etc and all from AZ. Not heard anyone say they had this from Phizer yet

If it makes you feel any better, other than the vomiting, I had all this from Pfizer.

I suspect the main difference is Pfizer was rolled out a month earlier, so was largely given to the very very elderly. We know that the very elderly get fewer side-effects; Pfizer was disproportionately used in those cohorts.

As for us youngsters who got it, a decent proportion seemed to have sideeffects. Ohhh well. My second dose is booked next week, and I can't wait for my next bounce of feeling shit (and protected).

I would still take it tomorrow if offered, as I feel the chance of suffering a serious side effect is far less than the risk of harm from covid however it was only after really reading up about it that I realised they aren’t just referring to standard blood clots but a very specific type of blood clot called a cerebral sinus thrombosis which statistically is much rarer than standard blood clots.

@secular39

Good luck to you. Just hope your not in that percentage!

She’s got more chance of dying tripping over the carpet in the vaccination centre and banging her head than from the vaccine itself.

The thing is, it isn’t the numbers of people with clots that has triggered a red flag. It was the “highly unusual” concurrent symptoms. Clots, bleeding and low platelets. Apparently it’s very rare. So a very rare outcome that has occurred multiple times directly after a vaccine needs to be thoroughly investigated.

And no, unless there is a statistically significant lower number of cases of clots in the vaccinated population then the unvaccinated population then there is no evidence that having the vaccine would be protective. People have only been receiving the vaccine for a couple of months. You can’t possibly make that assumption yet and anyhow there’s no reason why a concoction of chimpanzee virus grown in fetal kidney cells should reduce your likelihood of developing clots.

I had the AZ this week and have a history of blood clots including a DVT (no idea why, none of the usual risk factors) I can’t say it entered my mind to not have it or to be worried. I was just happy and felt very fortunate. The 2 day migraine since having it hasn’t been so fun but I’ll take that over covid any day. Each to their own and I’m not trying to diminish anyone’s feelings or concerns, just offering the perspective of someone who is at risk anyway of blood clots amongst all the scaremongering headlines.