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Original poster

MHRA may change advice for young people receiving AZ vaccine

837 replies

IloveSooty424 · 05/04/2021 22:18

I just saw this news story on Channel 4 news tonight.

www.channel4.com/news/uk-medicines-regulator-considers-issuing-new-advice-over-oxford-astrazeneca-jab

It seems the MHRA may follow other European countries and Canada and advise that younger people should not receive the AZ vaccine. It seems the decision will be made imminently in the coming days.

I’m due to book my vaccine this week and don’t know whether to wait and see how this plays out. I’m 42. I’m also concerned that if younger people will only be offered the Pfizer vaccine it will slow down the vaccine programme substantially.

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
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5
ineedaholidaynow · 07/04/2021 18:09

@vickyp0llard is there a reason you don't wash your hands very often

PeasPeasPeas · 07/04/2021 18:10

If they ask questions, I would would be happy. I would happily still take the AZ if I didn't have the extra risk factors. Just hope they are taken into account.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 07/04/2021 18:10

You are right Rafals I should have included that. Personal factors like underlying health issues, familial risk factors allowing...

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 07/04/2021 18:13

@BuggerBognor

what happens if I refuse it? Do I just have to go without?

You might just have to take pot luck on the day if the appointment. Hospitals and larger facilities are more likely to to have non-AZ because (iirc) both Pfizer and Moderna need to be kept below zero until used.

I’ll keep booking until I get one that isn’t AZ (or until I’m permitted to exercise a perfectly reasonable choice).

That would be wasting appointments over people could have and risking vaccine going to waste if they can't get anyone in on short notice to use. I get what you are saying about choice but that is a very selfish thing to do or advise. Their are people around the world without a hope of getting this vaccine anytime soon. If we have it then nobody has the right to waste it.
CuriousaboutSamphire · 07/04/2021 18:13

@Jellykat

I'd like to know why the figures have suddenly increased? It was 30 cases a couple of days ago.. Did they say the increase is over the last week or when? (i missed the press conference)
Amongst other things GPs and others were asked to review their cases and add to the yellow card reports.

They were given new symptoms to look for so it wasn't surprising they found some new cases, but reassuring that there weren't very many.

That data and those symptoms, amongst others, will now be added to the info given out to health professionals and the public.

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 07/04/2021 18:13

*other

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 07/04/2021 18:15

@Jellykat

I'd like to know why the figures have suddenly increased? It was 30 cases a couple of days ago.. Did they say the increase is over the last week or when? (i missed the press conference)
Probably just because they have been raking over the data and it took that long to find so of the cases. It doesn't mean they are new cases just newly logged.
MimiPigeon · 07/04/2021 18:17

I’ll keep booking until I get one that isn’t AZ (or until I’m permitted to exercise a perfectly reasonable choice)
My GP does not permit this. If you refuse the vaccine you’re put down as Refused and won’t be allowed another appointment. It’s not reasonable for you to expect a choice - you’re not special and there isn’t the capacity for everyone to be able to choose.

HazeyJaneII · 07/04/2021 18:17

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum
Thankyou, I keep wondering whether I'd have been better off having Pfizer and just making sure my epipens were at the ready!!
Unfortunately my fantastic GP has just left her practice (sob), but I've made a phone appointment with my new GP, earliest I could get was next Weds. I'll talk to them about it then and see what they suggest.
It's stupid, I keep feeling this inflamed vein throbbing, and I swear it's doing it's best to freak me out! (I'm honestly quite a sensible person normally!!)

worriedatthemoment · 07/04/2021 18:20

So do we assume they are looking at the data now for all the other vaccines as well or have their been zero cases with those ?

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 07/04/2021 18:22

@MimiPigeon

I’ll keep booking until I get one that isn’t AZ (or until I’m permitted to exercise a perfectly reasonable choice) My GP does not permit this. If you refuse the vaccine you’re put down as Refused and won’t be allowed another appointment. It’s not reasonable for you to expect a choice - you’re not special and there isn’t the capacity for everyone to be able to choose.
Glad to hear it!

That particular statement makes my blood boil😡 All for free choice but the tactic their would seriously delay the national roll out everyone thought like that. So irresponsible.

RedcurrantPuff · 07/04/2021 18:25

@worriedatthemoment

So do we assume they are looking at the data now for all the other vaccines as well or have their been zero cases with those ?
I got the impression they were going to look at that too but as there haven’t been as many doses given as AZ there isn’t the data yet
Jellykat · 07/04/2021 18:26

Ahaa Curious and Truely thank you..
Seems odd these cases weren't yellow carded immediately.. maybe they were but dismissed as coincidental before now maybe..

worriedatthemoment · 07/04/2021 18:27

@RedcurrantPuff i would of thought there would be in europe as haven't they used more pfizer ? Plus we have used a fair bit but tbf most I know who had it were older other than a few health workers

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 07/04/2021 18:28

@worriedatthemoment

So do we assume they are looking at the data now for all the other vaccines as well or have their been zero cases with those ?
They are constantly watching the data for side affects anyway but yes since the clotting was spotted particularly this. They released some Pfizer clotting data last week too. So that is being watched for sure. Also they are still trying to work out if the AZ is definitely linked. It now looks very likely but not 100% yet. An old covid infection itself flaring back up for some reason has also been suggested. The research into it will be on going until they have an answer.
Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 07/04/2021 18:32

Hopefully they will work out the link etc quickly because I do worry about the roll out to poorer countries. The older people can be done but what about young health care workers. Suppose it will be up to the individual governments and WHO now.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 07/04/2021 18:33

Both pressers included the reassurance that all vaccines were constantly being monitored and that the monitoring and reporting criteria reviews and updated all the time.

worriedatthemoment · 07/04/2021 18:36

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum I hadn't seen any info come out in pfizer ?

scottish83 · 07/04/2021 18:38

@MimiPigeon

I’ll keep booking until I get one that isn’t AZ (or until I’m permitted to exercise a perfectly reasonable choice) My GP does not permit this. If you refuse the vaccine you’re put down as Refused and won’t be allowed another appointment. It’s not reasonable for you to expect a choice - you’re not special and there isn’t the capacity for everyone to be able to choose.
Why is it unreasonable?

If I have a headache I get to choose between three different painkillers.

When I went on long term medicine for skin problems, the dermatologist at the hospital gave me leaflets about the different medicines I could choose and allowed me to choose.

Before my last operation, I had a chat with the anaesthetist and told him that I didn't like a particular medicine which caused pain in my arm during a previous operation, so he said he would use something different.

Surely it's GPs need to realise that they aren't special. We pay for their service through taxation and we have agency to decide what goes in our bodies.

worriedatthemoment · 07/04/2021 18:41

@scottish83 because at the moment we don't have supplies to allow choice

CuriousaboutSamphire · 07/04/2021 18:44

That's the same as telling teachers that you pay their wages. Never goes down well, is deeply flawed and puts backs up immediately.

That and agency is one thing but a GP has to help you make an informed decision. That means real science not the deeply heartfelt information found across t'internet.

How much of a GPs time do you want to take in the middle of a pandemic?

Listen to the HRMC press conference today, look at their graphs... and take the vaccine you are offered.

MissDollyMix · 07/04/2021 18:56

I do wonder if a woman in her 30s is more at risk of developing blood clots than a man in his 20’s... perhaps in an ideal world preference for alternative vaccines should be sex based and not age based but I can’t see the government doing that!

CuriousaboutSamphire · 07/04/2021 18:59

They would if the science said it was necessary. Why wouldn't they? The NHS copes with lots of sex based interventions, this would just be one more.

It would add more complexity to the logistics, but with enough vaccines it wouldn't be impossible.

anyoldtime · 07/04/2021 19:02

What 31 year old is going to happily take AZ?

I’m in my mid 40s and had seeks of side effects from AZ. Had blood tests and will not be taking a second. EMA said today there is not enough data to mix vaccines. I wouldn’t go there anyway as feel I’ve already been a guinea pig by taking the first,