MHRA may change advice for young people receiving AZ vaccine

[IloveSooty424]

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?

It’s 8 per 100000 isn’t it? Not per 100?

I honestly don't understand some of the reactions here. It is good news, isn't it?

The vaccine's benefits outweigh the tiny risks, but people will be advised on what to look for. MHRA/JCVI are being ultra-cautious for the under 30s by offering an alternative where possible.

If people are waiting for a vaccine with zero risk attached, then there will never be a vaccine for them.

I'm 45 and take the mini-pill, there is so much more risk of a blood clot from that than there is from the AZ vaccine.

@CuriousaboutSamphire

Some of you are not hearing what is actually being said.

Just wait... See what the correction actually is!

What do you mean? Isn’t not giving AZ to under 30s the course correction?

@littlepeas

It’s 8 per 100000 isn’t it? Not per 100?

yes sorry so 8/100k vs 0.8/100k

MHRA chief says risk of rare blood clotting condition after AZ vaccine about four people per million
Raine says the benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh the risks for “the vast majority of people”.

She says up to 31 March there had been 79 cases of this condition, with 19 deaths. All occurred after the first dose.

The risk is about four people in a million, she says.

She says three of the 19 people who died were under the age of 30.

^from Guardian live blog. So on;y 3 out of 19 that died were under 30 yet they only cut off AZ to under 30s?

@Username198

Awesome 31 and doctors have refused to prescribe me the pill because they deem me to be of increased risk of a stroke/blood clot. What do I do now.

Talk to your GP and see if you can get a different vaccine? I am sure there will be leeway for those deemed at extra risk.

Well I went for my first today, AZ and was the oldest by a long way. Looked like lots of under 40s certainly.
I think I would still go for whatever was offered first tbh.

@littlepeas

This is an extremely shit outcome for women in their 30’s and 40’s. I do not feel confident enough to have the vaccine based on this latest briefing. I’m 38.

It’s also shit if you’re 19yo and just had your first dose of AZ and are now told it’s ok to have a second dose.....even though it’s no longer safe for under 30s. 🤷‍♀️

I'm 29 and had my first AZ a couple of weeks ago. Am interested to understand the cut off of 30, not feeling very happy about my second shot at the moment. I am breastfeeding and wasn't sure whether to get it or not but booked it before supplies dipped in April. Bit annoyed at myself now.

@freddiesmoustache

Can't see them giving moderna to anybody over 30 now, surely they'll need to be reserved for the under 30s

Last week there were newspaper reports that the under 29s were going to be given the one jab Jansen/J&J vaccine when it's available in July.

They still have most of the 40s and 30s age groups to vaccinate, why not use Pfizer and Moderna for us?

JCVI - Information to individuals and health workers need to be updated

If you have had AZ jab 1, take your second,

18 - 29 year olds, with NO underlying issues, should be offered a different vaccine if possible.

Not advising a stop to being vaccinated to anyone. Just advising offering a different vaccine if it is available.

All occurred after the first dose

Not reassuring when you consider the rollout schedule and the fact that only a small portion of younger people will have had the chance to get their second dose yet.

@usernotfound0000

MHRA chief says risk of rare blood clotting condition after AZ vaccine about four people per million Raine says the benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh the risks for “the vast majority of people”.

She says up to 31 March there had been 79 cases of this condition, with 19 deaths. All occurred after the first dose.

The risk is about four people in a million, she says.

She says three of the 19 people who died were under the age of 30.

^from Guardian live blog. So on;y 3 out of 19 that died were under 30 yet they only cut off AZ to under 30s?

I think the slide that JVT showed first explained it

In 18 - 29 the risk of admission to ICU with Covid was lower than the risk of the vaccine

In over that age group the risk of the vaccine was lower than the risk of admission to ICU.

Christina I'm listening to them, not reading it in a newspaper that had it earlier...

Urrrgh. While I will still be happy to have the AZ if offered as I am well aware Covid is more of a risk, this does feel a bit scary for a 39 year old overweight woman. I'm 10 years off being old enough to need vaccinating already, but also 10 years off being young enough to warrant a different vaccine.

Also annoying that the Moderna and J&J will now go to under 30s - I'd hoped that the delay would at least mean a better chance of getting the Moderna, as the MRNA vaccines seem to work better against the SA and Brazil variants. Hmmmm.

@usernotfound0000

MHRA chief says risk of rare blood clotting condition after AZ vaccine about four people per million Raine says the benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh the risks for “the vast majority of people”.

She says up to 31 March there had been 79 cases of this condition, with 19 deaths. All occurred after the first dose.

The risk is about four people in a million, she says.

She says three of the 19 people who died were under the age of 30.

^from Guardian live blog. So on;y 3 out of 19 that died were under 30 yet they only cut off AZ to under 30s?

If only 1000 people under 30 have had it then that is a scary number. It would be helpful for them to give meaningful numbers.

I’m nearly 48 and am so pleased I’ll still be getting my second dose.

If 1 million people have the AZ, 4 may die of blood clots, based on German data.

If 1 million 40 year olds catch Covid, 1000 of them will die. More will suffer long term effects.

I’m in my forties and I’d have it.

@CovidCorvid

It isn't that it isn't safe or indeed has been established to be more dangerous for under 30s, it's about the balance of risk.

even though it’s no longer safe for under 30s

They haven't said that. I would suggest it's more of a physcological cut-off. People under 30 were less likely to bother to have the jab anyway, due to risk/benefit. Add in uncertainty about AZ, which you display, and the take up will be even less. Offer a different vaccine, and the uncertainty diminishes, and uptake (hopefully) increases.

@EnglishRain

I'm 29 and had my first AZ a couple of weeks ago. Am interested to understand the cut off of 30, not feeling very happy about my second shot at the moment. I am breastfeeding and wasn't sure whether to get it or not but booked it before supplies dipped in April. Bit annoyed at myself now.

@EnglishRain they've displayed several slides where they weight age and also ICU vs vaccine side effects seen . The numbers were recalling getting increasing in the ICU whilst the vaccine was 0.8/100k all the time for the 30+ at the current covid state we're at you'd get 8/100k to get in icu vs 0.8/100k for the vaccine

whilst below 30 it was 2.2/100k for icu and 1.1/100k for vaccine

No one has to be vaccinated. People in their 20s/30s/40s are at low risk from the virus. If you don’t want the vaccine or would rather wait until you have a choice of a different one then just do that.

@CuriousaboutSamphire

Christina I'm listening to them, not reading it in a newspaper that had it earlier...

So am I. I thought you’d seen some other leak about a second change and were being very enigmatic and saying “wait and see what it is...”

The advice is clear that people should still get their second dose.

Here are the risk/benefit charts from the briefing. The benefits of taking the vaccine remain clear - and this is only v icu admission, never mind any of the other covid complications.

I am a healthy 41 year old and remain happy to get this vaccine if/when offered.