Quick Poll - if offered AZ vaccine tomorrow would you have it?

[Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady]

Just interested to see what people's feelings are given the latest news on AZ from Canada and Germany.

So, as the title says..

If you were offered the AZ vaccine tomorrow would you take it?

Heparin is a very commonly used dug and is much more clearly associated with this same rare clotting disorder (it is even called heparin induced thrombocytopenia) than any vaccine and yet people are happily injected with it in hospitals for VTE prophylaxis on a daily basis.

This really is a very very rare condition. The highest estimate is 1/100000 from the German estimate the WHO and U.K. figures are 1 in a million. I'd take a 1 in a million chance of nearly anything tbh. It's not worth the level of worry that some people are expending on this IMHO.

It is also not the same as a normal DVT or PE which the vaccine actually reduces the incidence of (and COVID hugely increases)

I'm considering photographing the paracetamol, ibuprofen, oestrogen pill and other side effect leaflets. Then posting them under anyone who says 1 in 1,000,000 or 1 in 100,000 are an unacceptable risk. Or at least an NHS screenshot.

I think everyone is aware that all drugs carry risks, I always read the risks, and for me, that does sometimes stop me taking them. I only take medication for the odd headache when I really need it, but then that's my choice. Although the vaccine is everyone's choice, I feel there is more and more pressure to take it being put upon us through tv and media, and I personally feel if I don't take it I will be frowned upon. This is not helping anyone with health anxiety (or the fear of getting ill).

I can’t get worried about a 1 in 100,000 or 1 million chance. It’s just so tiny.

Yes, already had 1st dose Ox/Az and 2nd dose due by 1st June.

I'm due my second one tomorrow. Not worried at all.

Ginandfantalemon I am sorry you are so worried but honestly you need to think it through a bit more rationally

-Your chances of dying at all of anything are very small. That is the most important thing.

• your chances of dying of COVID are many times higher than of dying of VIPIT
• about 1/1000 risk of dying of COVID vs 1 in a few million of dying of VIPIT. 7 deaths in 17 million people vaccinated across Europe which may or may not be linked to the vaccine.

The risks of being vaccinated vs the risks of getting COVID are in no way comparable. The risk of COVID is much higher. But both those risks are very low.

If you choose not to have it that is fine but you are definitely at higher risk of dying of COVID than the vaccine otherwise it would not be allowed to be given to people. They are not equal risks as your first post seemed to imply you were thinking.

No. I want to wait and see how it pans out. I have a strong family history of blood clots (VTE, which I appreciate is different), one incidence of which involved a family member pretty much dropping dead in her 40’s.

I am a doctor and have looked at the evidence. The risk of thrombotic event is tiny and much smaller than the risk of having a thrombotic event with Covid. As with any new treatments the medical need to be vigilant with any possible complications. I would have the vaccine myself as a female under 55 and would be happy for my family to be given it too.

We had our first dose last week. We had no side effects except a sore arm.

I have no concerns about getting the next dose in June.

As I said on another thread, people have operations all the time, some of them purely for cosmetic reasons!

No one worries much about the risk of blood clots following surgery, although the risk is probably far higher.

I had AZ yesterday.

The reported numbers of people developing blood clots following both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are apparently about the same as after the AZ, the media only seem to be getting hysterical about the AZ cases though. 🤔

@olympicsrock

I am a doctor and have looked at the evidence. The risk of thrombotic event is tiny and much smaller than the risk of having a thrombotic event with Covid. As with any new treatments the medical need to be vigilant with any possible complications. I would have the vaccine myself as a female under 55 and would be happy for my family to be given it too.

What is your medical opinion on the hundreds of women online reporting missed periods?

Yes. Had it last week

That is lazy confusing reporting

The numbers having 'blood clots' of the common variety DVTs and PEs are the same for both vaccines and less than for those unvaccinated

Then as a separate issue these is this very very rare blood clotting with low platelets disorder called VIPIT. This has been seen in 1 in a million (WHO figure) or 1/100000 (German figure) people who had the AZ vaccine and isn't an issue with Pfizer or Moderna. It is not clear that it's a vaccine associated issue at all. Germany and Canada think it might be the U.K. MHRA thinks not.

CovoidOfAllHumanity
I know you are right, and I feel I'm being quite immature about the whole thing. I think it's just such a scary time for everyone at the minute, with so many mixed views. I appreciate your wise words, it makes sense. Thank you

Can low blood platelet disorders be picked up with a routine blood test?
(Before a vaccine?)

I would be delighted to be called for my second AZ vaccine tomorrow instead of waiting until the end of April.

I had my AZ in January. Second dose due next week. I did suggest dh booked for Pfizer rather than AZ only because I felt really rough for 24 hours after the jab. But if AZ was the only jab on offer then I would encourage him and anyone else to take it.

I'm going to get my 2nd jab next week and have got no concerns. There are less risks with the AZ jab than there are with the pill, which I took for years, or with some of the other medication I'm taking.

Re: the missed period I have an interesting anecdote

I took part in the AZ vaccine trial and after my first dose of trial vaccine I missed a period for the first time ever. I reported it as an adverse effect. I am 45 though so equally I thought it could be start of perimenopause/ coincidence. I had also been under immense stress as I guess many of us had been.

You might think this is further evidence that it was the vaccine but in fact when the trial was unblinded I'd had placebo.

So that goes to show that sometimes things can be a coincidence and also that if this was a common side effect caused by the vaccine the trial would have picked it up because it would be reported just as I reported it.

Yes, with no concerns.

You can certainly get your platelet level checked very easily. It's part of any standard full blood count which is a very common routinely ordered test (are you old enough to remember on ER when they were always ordering a Chem 7 and a CBC- the U.K. equivalent is U&Es and an FBC)

Feeling rough for 24-48h is common after having either vaccine AZ or Pfizer and seems to be worse in younger people. It's not related to which one you had at all. It is your immune system mounting a response to the vaccine so it's a good thing.

Yes