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?

The name calling is ridiculous. Imagine how things would go down if people started saying you're an idiot, moron, Fuckwit, tool for being a guinea pig?

You can see exactly this on social media every day so I’m not sure what your point is?

The risk vs benefit analysis might look different if you are in a country with high mortality rate from Covid like U.K. and Brazil vs Norway where very few people and especially younger people have died.

hello

tragic might be a better description!

@merrymelody I thought the AZ had been paused in Canada for under 55s? So how will you get it anyway?

I understand your concern. I get really anxious about this kind of thing too.

The thing is, you need to examine your anxieties rationally. It makes no sense to refuse the AZ jab when your risks from covid itself are so much higher.

I've had the first AZ jab and I was grateful for it. I'm watching the news carefully, but as things stand at present, I will certainly be going back for my second shot.

In your shoes, I would definitely have the vaccine while you have the chance.

There are more and more reports about children suffering inflammatory disease after they’ve had covid but not having any symptoms of covid itself. Different countries seem to call it different things. These reports were what confirmed my decision to have the vaccination as I work with children/teens and im a single parent.

www.gosh.nhs.uk/conditions-and-treatments/conditions-we-treat/paediatric-inflammatory-multisystem-syndrome-pims/

If you're me and uncertain, you're not being silly. But if you DON'T have a clotting disorder plus a blood vessel disorder that has resulted in multiple blood clots over the years, and a torn coronary artery which caused a 100% blockage--> widowmaker heart attack, then get the vaccine.
I have a really rare health condition. My arteries are at risk of dissection, always. There is nothing I can do to improve them. All I can do is take blood thinners and hope I don't get another tear.

I've had covid in my household. DH was hospitalised and ventilated. I was totally exposed and yet tested negative and didn't become ill. So in a weird way, I've had the 'covid risk' and I'm still here.
That's the devil I do know.
The devil I don't know is the vaccine so I am a bit more nervous about the vaccine, given my weird disorders.
Even with my disorders, part of me knows I am being a bit silly and should just go for the vaccine. But another part of me knows that my own concerns are valid ones. I feel very confused. So I think, while I'm in this place, I'll hold off.
DH had his vaccine. Terrible side effect lasting 4 days, but apparently side effects can be worse if you've had covid (and in his case, he nearly died of covid). But he's the other side of it. The only thing he's left experiencing since his vaccination is hair loss and lots of it. Weird. I wonder if he's having an autoimmune response to the vaccine. I haven't a clue. But otherwise, he's fine.

I am 24 and I have had the first AstraZeneca vaccine, so far I do not have any bad side effects apart from feeling like I had the flu for a few days but other than that I have been ok. It's the scaremongering of the news putting everyone off. If everyone continued following the rules and getting the vaccine as soon as they are offered, we could be looking at life returning to normal sooner rather than later.

My point @MrsFezziwig is that on these threads people are so quick to start calling those with valid concerns various names but how would they feel if they were called fuck wits or whatever for having it and treated as guinea pigs?
I wouldn't know what the responses are on sm as I haven't seen it been said.
Others forums I have seen it on, those posts get removed because of personal attacks. Even though they let the granny killing anti had fuck wits gets tossed around.

Thank you for responding

@TheVanguardSix

If you're me and uncertain, you're not being silly. But if you DON'T have a clotting disorder plus a blood vessel disorder that has resulted in multiple blood clots over the years, and a torn coronary artery which caused a 100% blockage--> widowmaker heart attack, then get the vaccine. I have a really rare health condition. My arteries are at risk of dissection, always. There is nothing I can do to improve them. All I can do is take blood thinners and hope I don't get another tear.

I've had covid in my household. DH was hospitalised and ventilated. I was totally exposed and yet tested negative and didn't become ill. So in a weird way, I've had the 'covid risk' and I'm still here.
That's the devil I do know.
The devil I don't know is the vaccine so I am a bit more nervous about the vaccine, given my weird disorders.
Even with my disorders, part of me knows I am being a bit silly and should just go for the vaccine. But another part of me knows that my own concerns are valid ones. I feel very confused. So I think, while I'm in this place, I'll hold off.
DH had his vaccine. Terrible side effect lasting 4 days, but apparently side effects can be worse if you've had covid (and in his case, he nearly died of covid). But he's the other side of it. The only thing he's left experiencing since his vaccination is hair loss and lots of it. Weird. I wonder if he's having an autoimmune response to the vaccine. I haven't a clue. But otherwise, he's fine.

I have a clotting disorder and my risk of covid and disability with severe covid is much higher. Close Relatives both died 6 months after their second covid infection with multiple blood clots because the disease itself causes those. Another relative passed away yesterday because of a massive brain bleed due to covid caused high blood pressure. All of them under 50. The relative yesterday wasn’t even 30 yet.

So I would say don’t trust gut instinct. Go to a medical professional that knows your condition and ask them.

@BIWI absolutely it’s all a fine line to tread but right now we aren’t in that position and people holding off until we have more data available won’t put us in that position as there are lots of people happy to take it and other vaccinations in the pipeline too. I say this as a female in my 30s who has had the first dose of AZ 11 days ago.

Who is scaremongering? The doctors who treated the clot patients are saying there is a clear link?

@Pyewackect

Take your chance with Covid then : it’s your funeral !

Fear mongering post^ have you looked at the actual stats for your chances of getting covid and then dying from it. You’ve probably got a much, much higher risk of getting cancer and dying from it than covid.

It is less effective than Pfizer
From 22 days after the first AZ dose in the trials there were no cases of severe covid and no hospitalisation. Oh yes, hardly worth bothering with.
www.cambridgesciencepark.co.uk/news/covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca-confirms-100-protecti-900/

AZ means no severe covid. It’s 100% effective there. So I imagine it will be the vaccine of choice for people with diabetes or other conditions.

I think what is needed is some decent guidance on what pre existing conditions MAY be a risk factor for the AZ vaccine. It is normal to have a list of 'Cautions' and 'contraindications' for drugs with the cautions being relative to the individuals personal covid risk (not societal risk). This list may need to be over cautious for now, but it won't necessarily exclude people from the vaccines it would just give medical professionals the support with decision making and authority to direct individuals towards the other (Pfizer) vaccine.

I have a history of immune thrombocytopenia, other than that I'm a fit, healthy, active, but slightly overweight (lockdowns fault) 40 year old female and therefore have a low covid risk. Currently I will not be accepting the AZ vaccine. That doesn't mean I wouldn't accept a different one, or wouldn't accept AZ in the future if it could be shown to be equally safe given my history.

There are likely to be many low covid risk individuals with thrombocytopenia and clotting history or risk factors who are in the same difficult position right now not knowing what to do, but not feeling like they can talk about it because they get shouted down and called stupid and selfish. Not wanting to risk dying who be left severely disabled from a blood clot at 40 is not unreasonable.

GrumpyHoonMain sorry to hear of your family's multiple tragedies shaped profoundly by covid. That is very sad indeed and I hope you are getting a lot of support. Would you mind me asking you what your own personal experience of the vaccine has been? Did you have side effects and how long has it been since you had your jab (I'm assuming, based on your history, you've had the jab)?

So I would say don’t trust gut instinct. Go to a medical professional that knows your condition and ask them.

I'm married to a GP and I am seeing my cardiologist on Friday. So, I am fortunate to be well guided (disclaimer: neither have told me 'don't get the vaccine'.).

EgonSpengler2020 your post is exactly how I feel and it's an entirely reasonable approach!

Fear mongering post^ have you looked at the actual stats for your chances of getting covid and then dying from it. hmm You’ve probably got a much, much higher risk of getting cancer and dying from it than covid.

Absolutely... especially since we've clapped ourselves silly to 'save' a national health service that hasn't been providing adequate screening or delivering cancer treatment throughout the pandemic.
My brother in California was able to continue his cancer treatment throughout this entire pandemic. I'd be writing about him in past tense if the delivery of care had been akin to what's been on offer here in the UK.

Actually I got checked out for breast symptoms very efficiently in the autumn. The NHS is working in many areas to cover urgent care.

@TheVanguardSix

GrumpyHoonMain sorry to hear of your family's multiple tragedies shaped profoundly by covid. That is very sad indeed and I hope you are getting a lot of support. Would you mind me asking you what your own personal experience of the vaccine has been? Did you have side effects and how long has it been since you had your jab (I'm assuming, based on your history, you've had the jab)?

So I would say don’t trust gut instinct. Go to a medical professional that knows your condition and ask them.

I'm married to a GP and I am seeing my cardiologist on Friday. So, I am fortunate to be well guided (disclaimer: neither have told me 'don't get the vaccine'.).

My side effects were muscle aches and fever but it only lasted 1-2 days. I don’t take the pill and have never taken it but I do have a clotting disorder. I also have an autoimmune disorder and response that overreacts on the rare cases where I get ill.

Grumpymoon that is so reassuring! I have Incomplete Lupus (which is a friendlier version of SLE), so it's really reassuring to hear that you've been fine, post-vaccine, given your very own disorders that would make one question whether or not the vaccine is right for them.
I think if I'd never gone into cardiac arrest last year, I wouldn't be nearly as worried. But that just made me pretty much scared of everything, really. Covid, the vaccine, life in general. My heart is in constant arrhythmia despite being on beta-blockers and it's such a physical reminder of what I live with. Funny, I couldn't bloody wait for the vaccination roll-out and here I am... scared, confused, and unvaccinated.

I'm due to have mine this week, and have some concerns about AZ after everything that's been in the news this week - I accept the risks are small, and I do absolutely want to be vaccinated, but I feel there's no smoke without fire and I'd rather have one of the alternatives, or wait a bit and see how the AZ investigations play out.

In case it's helpful to anyone, I rang the number on my vaccination appointment letter to ask some questions - they advised that they thought I would be given Pfizer based on the vaccination centre but they couldn't guarantee it, but encouraged me to attend the appointment anyway, and that if I refused the AZ (or any vaccination if for any reason if I didn't feel comfortable once I got there) I could simply rebook another appointment, I wouldn't be blacklisted or anything.

@Itsalonghaul

prt once enough people have had the vaccine, and hospital admissions are back to normal (they almost are now) then yes we will see a return to normal life. I am quite confused as to why you think we won't?

We will see those UNVACCINATED people continue to be ill and die, yes but no one else. The vaccines do actually work - that has already been proved. So yes I can see an almost complete return to normal, with testing continuing and updating vaccinations - but yes I do believe I will be travelling this year, and I am having a party in June and my life from next week onwards will look vastly different to what it does now.

If you want to stay in an endless lockdown be my guest, but the future is vaccines.

I think we won’t ever return to normal as pandemics like this will potentially become more frequent, and the effects on society long term through job losses, loss of vital services, increase in the cost of living etc will take a very long time to recover from. Many poor and disadvantaged people will suffer because of it. A vaccine will not be the answer to their problems.