AstraZeneca - yes or no?

[merrymelody]

Our local pharmacy is offering the AstraZeneca vaccine. I thought I would jump at the chance to be vaccinated but somehow, I don't feel comfortable about this brand. Am I being silky?

Of course you're not silly. If you're a youngish woman your risk from covid is very small. No reason to rush to get a jab while there are any question marks around the safety.

@littlepeas

The vast majority of people who have received the AZ vaccine are not in the group who are potentially at risk of this rare clot (women under 55). We therefore do not know the risk - not enough women under 55 have been vaccinated yet! The 1 in 2.5 million risk that is always brought up on these threads is a whole population risk based on those who have been vaccinated. I am personally choosing to wait until more is known (late 30's with no additional risk factors for COVID).

Thank you! Why do so many not get this!!? Not enough WOMEN UNDER 50 have been vaccinated yet to properly know the risks!

Made up stats!

No they're not - I gave sources for the ones I was using. And I prefer the British data set to the others because public can access the reporting system directly, no gatekeepers.

Also the bigger the sample the narrower the confidence interval, and you need to see if others they actually overlap. Hove those who are putting forward other countries' data as more representative looked at whether the differences are statistically signifucant?

@pommedeterre indeed.

I'm under 40 and have had it with no side effects other than a sore spot at the injection site. I've taken the pill for years with a similar, if not greater risk, of blood clots, so it was a no brainer for me. The media has a lot to answer for.

There are lots of women under 40 in groups 1, 2, 4 and 6

Does anyone have the numbers?

Yes the risks of covid, particularly long covid are very bad even in young people. My cousin still can not walk, has major organ damage and is now booked in for a brain scan because they think some damage maybe related to his brain and a lack of oxygen.

I don't want to scare you, but he is a very fit healthy young man just under forty. He can not even shower yet by himself (Caught covid early December) He considers himself lucky as almost everyone he was with in ICU died one after another. If/When he can get on some even level with his physical health he will need extensive help for the PTSD he now has thanks to his harrowing experience.

So whatever tiny risks AZ and other jabs may have, the benefits far outweigh the risks. Take the jab and be grateful, I had mine the other day and feel fine.

www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-vaccinations/

Weekly stats report for 1 April says 3.8m women under 50 have had at least one dose of a vaccine in England

I'm more scared of unvaccinated masses, and people changing their minds on getting their second dose of AZ, that leads to mutations and escape variants that causes vaccines not to work.

Also the misinformation and political propaganda, different agendas from various countries over the world creating fear and mistrust for vaccines that could work and creating a general fear and wariness of all vaccines. Where will we be then? In over just a year we are dealing with these worrying worsening mutations.

This is a worldwide problem and we are all dealing with it so differently and divided. Countries able to hold vaccines hostage. Poorer countries not getting help from richer nations. Corrupt countries and enemies... argh I can't even let my mind go there anymore.

I think as time goes on there will be a proven link between AZ and blood clots. This will have huge implications for the UK vaccine rollout,potentially as big as the MMR fiasco. I also believe the other covid vaccines will also pose a rare blood clot risk. I think in UK many people are taking a fingers in ear approach la la la I want my old life back. What’s happened to the “It’s a mild illness for the younger age groups” and “protect the elderly and vulnerable” rhetoric? By the end of the week more will become clear OP you are right to be cautious.

Weekly stats report for 1 April says 3.8m women under 50 have had at least one dose of a vaccine in England

That is a huge amount.

I'm sorry to hear that, Itsalonghaul. Poor man! Long haul Covid is a terrifying prospect.

I think I'll sign up for the AZ vaccine at the pharmacy. Rates of infection are soaring in my area so I'd better go for it. My DC need me; I'm a single parent.

Yes. I've already had one dose AZ and felt a massive sense of relief. Looking forward to my second dose. For many the risks are much higher from Covid which none of us can avoid forever. As a community the more of us vaccinated sooner rather than later will keep this under control while getting our lives back together, and help keep variants under control.

@merrymelody

Normally people in my age group will be offered theirs in June. By the government. So yes, it's tempting but I've read that the AstraZeneca shouldn't be given to the under 50s and also, that it's significantly less effective than the others.🤷‍♀️

I'm under 50 and have had it. No side effects other than soreness when pressed around the vaccination site.

The odds of getting a blood clot from it are about the same as dying from drowning in a swimming pool (1 in 500,000). The odds of dying from it are even less.

We're really bad at calculating risk.

The annual risk of dying in a car accident is much higher.

Just have it.

@Daisydoor12

I think as time goes on there will be a proven link between AZ and blood clots. This will have huge implications for the UK vaccine rollout,potentially as big as the MMR fiasco. I also believe the other covid vaccines will also pose a rare blood clot risk. I think in UK many people are taking a fingers in ear approach la la la I want my old life back. What’s happened to the “It’s a mild illness for the younger age groups” and “protect the elderly and vulnerable” rhetoric? By the end of the week more will become clear OP you are right to be cautious.

Like taking the pill and going on a plane?

After all this is over, everyones going to be eyeballing all info leaflets they get with medications, because I'm pretty sure they haven't been in the past. So some good might come of it at least.

We're really bad at calculating risk

Yes we are.

Some of my friends took half an aspirin - not sure if that is good advice or not, as I didn't feel the need to do anything.

I am a mother, I need to be here and well for my dc, so I took the jab. The idea of being in that ICU unit being unable to breathe worried me more out of the two scenarios. Clots can be easily treated.

Can you tell me which pharmacy is it so I can send my husband ? I’d go myself as well but I’m 36 ans I’ve already had az dose.

I had it with zero side effects. A colleague is waiting because she has severe allergies and has to carry an epi pen everywhere. I understand her decision not to have it.
No one can decide for you.
I'm sure the pharmacist will discuss all your risk factors with you.

Yes I would have it if offered
Statistically you’re more at risk from the contraceptive pill then you are from the vaccine but no one seems to be too bothered about that

@Daisydoor12 - you think there will be a causal link . Well that's a sound scientific reason.

The MMR fiasco was caused by misinformation about a link between that vaccine and autism. Children have died due to their parents refusing to have them given that vaccine. Or are you talking about something else?

I’m 40s and I’ve had the AstraZ, and I’m still here. Just get it!

I would take it.

I wouldn’t worry at all about the effectiveness or efficacy of the vaccine. All emerging studies indicate it’s just as good Pfizer. There’s just not enough data to get a true picture yet. It may even in the long run prove more effective as some studies suggest (data collected in Scotland recently suggested this)
As for the clotting issue, I have not read into it as much, so I will be honest, if I was about to have it, I’d research it first. I think I read somewhere that the regulators were about to make a decision any day now whether to continue giving AZ to the younger population or not. I would try and find out what is happening with that.

Also forgot to mention my parents had it 60s and zero side effects.