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?

What basis is there for assuming pandemics will become more frequent?

@Dongdingdong

I’m sick to death of people (and it started with the EU) constantly trying to undermine this vaccine. Next time there’s a pandemic you can forget having a vaccine produced at cost. Ain’t gonna happen.

Huh?

You want to do away with scientific scrutiny and monitoring

@Sansaplans

What basis is there for assuming pandemics will become more frequent?

www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/5-reasons-why-pandemics-like-covid-19-are-becoming-more-likely

www.france24.com/en/environment/20201030-future-pandemics-likely-to-be-deadlier-and-more-frequent-warns-un-panel

In response to the OP’s question, I have my second jab of AZ booked for the start of June and subject to any new information, I will be going ahead with it.

I had the AZ last month. Being honest, I felt like absolute shit for 24 hours afterwards and a bit ropey for another couple of days but that was all

The blood clot thing - well I took the contraceptive pill for 25 years and never once did I worry about clots.

Everything medical carries a small risk - but the benefits far outweigh those risks

Your decision entirely op but I had Oxford one and was fine abd will be having 2nd dose.

Yep you are being silly

@Pumpkyumpkyumpkin
I’m in the same situation.
Waiting for the result of today’s briefing but thinking about cancelling this weeks appointment and book one later this month. Have you cancelled already or waiting as well?

@confusedfriday I think I'm going to go and see what they offer, that was what the lady on the phone advised me earlier. I have to say the briefing isn't filling me with confidence right now despite what they are actually saying!

@Pumpkyumpkyumpkin
Are they saying something? I can see them setting up and can’t wait them to actually start a briefing
Or maybe I’m watching a wrong thing?!

@confusedfriday the UK briefing is just starting now on the BBC website, I watched the European one earlier

Have it! I have - it was fine!

People under-30 are to be offered an alternative Covid jab to the AstraZeneca vaccine due to mounting evidence linking it to rare blood clots, the UK's vaccine advisory body says.

A review by the drugs regulator MHRA found by the end of March 79 people in the UK suffered rare blood clots after vaccination - 19 of whom died.

The regulator said this was not proof the jab had caused the clots - but it said the link was getting firmer.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-56659036

Blood clots are now officially classed as very rare side effects.

Christ if they say 'extremely rare' one more time......!

I’ve been called all types of batshit crazy anti-vaxxer because I listened to my consultants who adviced no because of unknown contras.

Great. Awesome. You had it without issues. Hopefully those who have concerns will now be taken seriously on here without the name calling.

No. You are not being silly.

Yes. I've had both doses. I'd not hesitate to recommend it to my family and friends.

@Pumpkyumpkyumpkin

Christ if they say 'extremely rare' one more time......!

But it is extremely rare, and it's important they reiterate that as you only have to look for MN to see how people cannot evaluate data and risk very well.

IstandwithJackieWeaver

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?

Do you actually know of any children who have died due to their parents refusing to give them the vaccine? How many do you think there have been in the past 30 years?

www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-deaths-by-age-group-from-1980-to-2013-ons-data/measles-notifications-and-deaths-in-england-and-wales-1940-to-2013

And split by age. Where are all these dead unvaccinated children?

www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-deaths-by-age-group-from-1980-to-2013-ons-data/measles-deaths-by-age-group-from-1980-to-2013-ons-data

[quote FrancesSaid]And split by age. Where are all these dead unvaccinated children?

www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-deaths-by-age-group-from-1980-to-2013-ons-data/measles-deaths-by-age-group-from-1980-to-2013-ons-data[/quote]
Measles was eradicated in the U.K. and then re-emerged as vaccination rates went down. The lack of 'dead children' is solely due to the fact that most people still get their children vaccinated and rates therefore currently remain low.

Ethelfromnumber73
I was responding to a poster who claimed “ 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.”

@Sansaplans

It is extremely rare overall. But what we don't know is what the specific risk factors are that, if present, will make it a lot less rare for that individual.

As someone who may have a massive risk factor (past history of immune thrombocytopenia), I'd really like to know more details before making a decision or be offered an alternative vaccine. This is not unreasonable!

@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.🤷‍♀️

The AZ vaccine is not significantly less effective. The trials on the Pfizer vaccine were done in the US last summer when cases were low. The AZ trials were done in Brazil and South Africa when cases were high. So you can’t actually compare them side by side. The risk benefit of the AZ one does change in a younger age group, but the overall risk is still very small.