I've decided not to go ahead with my 2nd dose of the AZ vaccine. I'm happy having the Pfizer - will this be allowed?

[Ashleys63]

I've just lost all confidence in the AZ vaccine and regret having it at all.
I know the risks are tiny etc etc but I want a vaccine without these associated risks.
I'm 56 so in one of the top groups but just feel so uneasy about it all now.

Ok but there are literally no risk-free drugs.

Are you never going to take any medication again?

I'm concerned that if people do start demanding pfizer instead that there won't be enough alternatives for the under 30s left. That age group. really need do vaccinating as they tend to be the most mobile and could drive future outbreaks if left with nothing.

@CuriousaboutSamphire and @Bluntness100 thanks for the correction, sorry I must have got the number wrapped around my neck. Does the five million second doses include ones given in the EU too or just the U.K.? I thought the number I’d read related to the U.K. though I had been planning to try and hunt down the overall figure for second doses. Happy to hear that it’s closer to five million as that’s more statistically reassuring. Do either of you have a link re the number of second doses given? I’m following the data closely re second doses as I’m in my 30s and recently had my first dose. @curious at the press conference they were very clear it was too early to draw and conclusions re second doses, I was listening very carefully to that bit as it’s relevant to my circumstances but as you’ve said it seems that more scientists have come out with a bit more reassurance re second doses which is good news especially if the number of second doses is much higher than I realised.

@Ashleys63

I've just lost all confidence in the AZ vaccine and regret having it at all. I know the risks are tiny etc etc but I want a vaccine without these associated risks. I'm 56 so in one of the top groups but just feel so uneasy about it all now.

Increase in risk of being admitted to hospital for heart failure due to taking ibuprofen: 10-20%

Scientist on Radio 4 just now: the risks of dying from the AZ vaccine are less than the risks of dying from choking on your breakfast or drowning in your bath.

@OhYouBadBadKitten

I'm concerned that if people do start demanding pfizer instead that there won't be enough alternatives for the under 30s left. That age group. really need do vaccinating as they tend to be the most mobile and could drive future outbreaks if left with nothing.

Many of them could already be immune anyway. There are reports today showing that UCL has predicted that over 70% of the population will have immunity next week - either from the vaccine or after recovery from infection. It's great news and should reassure people who are worried about delays or lower uptake of the vaccine in younger groups.

Rainbow, it’s the Uk.

Also in the same slot, a pharmacologist whose brother died of a clot after the AZ vaccine at the weekend, telling everyone why they must still get the vaccine. Because she actually understands medication risks.

Don't have it then, no one particular cares if you do or don't 🙄
But don't then start moaning if you catch covid because you're not fully vaccinated.

@Rainbowsandstorms Over 5 million people in the UK have been given the second dose of their vaccine but it's hard to find a breakdown of how many were Pfizer (which started before AZ) and how many are AZ. So it's not 5 million second doses of AZ that have been given.

I am 52, I am very risk adverse and admit I overthink many things.

You need to take the media dramatising for headlines with a pinch of salt and look at the facts, some of which many have stated on this thread.

I had my AZ jab on Monday, no regrets.

bumbley, I saw that yesterday. It is encouraging. The fewer people left overall without antibodies, the less the chance of vaccine escape though.

Christ almighty, people need to start getting a fucking grip. It's get the damn vaccine or potentially catch Covid. Neither terrify me but I look forward to not having to worry about isolating for 10 days here and there anymore.

@Overit20

The risks maybe minimal but are still real. My daughter had these side effects from AZ vaccine and was bluelighted to hospital and was kept in for days. She is still experiencing side effects and had been told it was a direc5 link to vaccine and that she cannot have the next AZ vaccine. We were so lucky that we acted promptly and that the NHS were amazing. She has underlying health issues. However, she had COVID in November and this was no more than heavy cold. I am so frustrated with people being so dismissive regarding the risks. The risks of actually dying from COVID are also low. OP you need to make your own assessment and speak to GP

@Overit20 I’m sorry to hear your daughter was effected. I hope she’s recovering and will be ok. Do you mind me asking what her symptoms were? I think this is the difficulty, serious side effects are rare however if they effect you or a loved one they are devastating. I think it’s important that there is a discussion around this and acceptance that each person has the right to make their own risk v benefits. I also accept it’s a hard balance as we need to have as many people as possible vaccinated but the situation is complex and it’s understandable that people are concerned. I think it becomes harder with the AZ to weigh it up in the younger age groups as the risks v benefits becomes much more finely balanced. Nothing is risk free but never has there been such a focus on our risk of death as this last year. I’ve found some really useful factual information among all the opinions on these threads and I think the ability to discuss concerns is important.

You are aware that there are similar very rare but deadly cases with both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines too? Just because you don't hear about them doesn't mean they don't exist - they are much more commonly known about in the US / scientific community

They aren’t the same type of clots but I’m prepared to be open minded.
Links please showing evidence of what you have written above?

Germany has just announced a mix and match approach for under 60s I see.

A country noted for its diligence

overit I’m sorry to hear that

Was her case included in the “79” figure do you know? I have heard of similar other cases and don’t think they have so I think the issue is possibly larger than thought

Yes @Roonerspismed I linked to an article about it on another thread. Studies into the effectiveness of the mix and match approach are still ongoing but I can imagine that the announcement is going to cause even more unsettlement in the UK.

www.health.com/condition/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/rare-blood-disorder-covid-vaccine-thrombocytopenia
about Pfizer & Moderna
basically op there is a minuscular risk of clots(maybe it might be the person had asymptomatic covid which gave them this previously) with AZ but you have similar risk of severe haemorrhage from ITP from Pfizer or Moderna

I'm the same age as you and WILL be having my second AZ jab. The risk of having it are far less than the risks of not having it.
Stop panicking and think about it calmly..........we are currently being overwhelmed with information and it's creating doubt. No medication/vaccination is 100% without risk. They may well find some issues with the others once as many doses as the AZ have been given.........

@bumbleymummy thank you yes that makes sense. I’m just trying to see if I can find a source for the number I’d read re second doses.

I agree bumble

The only vaccine I will take is one that has been reviewed and passed for my (young) age group by the German authorities!

The U.K. is shit at this stuff

Check out the various headlines of the Daily Mail in the U.K. today versus Australia, on this issue. I get the impression the government has asked them to play nicely

@Ashleys63 I also feel hesitant having the second dose as I'm closer to 30.
I totally understand the risks from the second dose is probably minuscule but I don't want it right now.

I was wondering if a delayed second dose is possible and I'm pretty sure it is. I base this on the gov guidelines where they advise pregnant women to wait till their pregnancy is over to get the second dose. That means they must feel immunity goes on longer than 3 months or they'd advise these pregnant ladies to start all over post partum.

I presume they won't reveal how long the first dose lasts because if the data shows it lasts over a year (as the first dose is the main dose and the second is actually a just booster) then people might just accept less efficacy and be half vaccinated happily.

I'm going to sit on it and see what happens to people who receive their second doses.
I also would like to follow what advise they now give to people who can't receive their second dose of AZ for whatever reason (allergic reactions/pregnancy).

Stop calling people idiots because they question things on here. You do realise you all look like idiots using analogies on here over the last few weeks like 'I fell over after the vaccine, that means it was from the vaccine' so as to ridicule people who are nervous. All you do is look more incompetent as when global governments announce there are links literally a week later you all go quiet.

Humans question everything. Most of you were also pushing for schools to stay open in previous lockdowns because the risk of covid was little especially under 50. Now if anyone questions the vaccine all of a sudden covid becomes way more deadly to you all and you're all at imminent risk ! I'm sure everyone on here wasn't shit scared of covid.

Double standards! I can't take mumsnet seriously anymore with the amount of backwards and forwards you all go. Used to think this was the more intelligent forum.

No, you cannot switch vaccines.

@Rainbowsandstorms I agree. It is critical that we have discussions. Thank you. She’s def on mend but still having interventions. She had flu like symptoms immediately after injection which we thought we normal. On day four she had a complete loss of vision in one eye, blurred vision in the other and crippling headaches. She was taken in where they performed numerous tests including a lumbar puncture. As she is 19 and due to COVID restrictions, we were not permitted to be with her. She was on morphine and blood thinning drugs. I was cautious about the vaccine but thought it was in her best interests due to underlying health issues. I am just frustrated that people seem so dismissive of the risks. She is still not back at college and we don’t know if there are long term effects. People need to make their own decisions but not be dismissive about other peoples thoughts. We were so lucky that we acted quickly.