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.

I thought it was under 30 and only the first one that there was an issue. I had AZ on Wednesday and look forward to the second one.
Early doors there was a suggestion that they could be mixed but that's fallen by the wayside.

OP make sure you tell your GP practice you're not having the 2nd jab so they can stop the follow -up reminders/tel calls.
Also someone else can have the vaccine.
Unlikely you'll be allowed an alternative vac as it could set a precedent and affect supplies.

I had my first AZ vaccine yesterday (I’m 50) and was hesitant to go ahead, it’s only natural. You have to look at it in term of overall risk though and I decided the risk of becoming ill with covid was greater. I feel shocking today though, but reading the threads on here about side effects it’s to be expected. It’s an individual decision OP; one that only you can make.

The details were plucked out of the air - remember the "8% effective" - Handelsblatt and "Quasi effetive" - Macron, comments?

My point still stands. AZ didn't provide data in their initial testing. 2 people isn't enough to base anything on. The half dose/full dose wasn't tested on any over 55s at all. It isn't a bad thing to want rigorous testing before injecting vulnerable people.

I'm not saying that Macron or a german newspaper were right to say what they did but the fact remains that AZ provided next to no data on the over 55 age group and countries reacted to that as they saw fit.

I don't remember that being the facts at the time.

www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/articles/2020/covid-19-vaccine-azd1222-is-better-tolerated-in-older-adults-than-younger-adults-with-similar-immune-responses-across-all-age-groups.html

www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32466-1/fulltext

[quote CuriousaboutSamphire]I don't remember that being the facts at the time.

www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/articles/2020/covid-19-vaccine-azd1222-is-better-tolerated-in-older-adults-than-younger-adults-with-similar-immune-responses-across-all-age-groups.html

www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32466-1/fulltext[/quote]
It is. Even a 'fact checking' article from the bbc concedes that The issue for some European countries, acting upon the recommendation from their vaccine advisory bodies, is that they think not enough of the AZ trial participants aged over 65 caught the virus to make conclusions on the vaccine's effectiveness. This is because only two of the 660 people in that age group were infected.

Like many people, I don't want to be at risk of constant lockdown, not knowing what's around the corner and when covid is going to get me or a loved one. I've got through it, but I'm not really living (that's how it seems to me) and want a better life for everyone, not just myself.

The morning of my first vaccination was the best one I've had this year, I felt a great sense of relief. My second one is due next week. The 12 miles I have to drive to get there will probably carry a similar risk to getting the vaccine, but I'll do that as well. Plan on going away for a few days in the summer, that drive will pose an even greater risk, but I'll do it.

Op, I think it is a decision you have to make for yourself.

On the plus side, you will have a lot of immunity from the first jab.

However, I do think all people 55 and below should be offered the chance of alternative vaccines before you. It would be wrong to do otherwise.

The risk to you of the second jab is small, very small. Just because you are nervous about it, doesn’t mean you should get Pfizer before those who would benefit more.

Other than that - up to you.

No. I was reading an article this morning about why it's not possible. I think it was linked to from BBC News but I didn't save the link.

How many long haul flights have you been on in your life? The risk is said to be about the same as on a long haul flight.

The increased number of blood clot cases is surely due to the increased number of people having the vaccine?

And it's still a very small risk imo.
Pretty sure no medication comes without some form of risk.

exactly everything comes with a risk

www.who.int/vaccine_safety/committee/topics/smallpox/questions/en/

Looks at the smallpox vaccine and the risks there - yet it was necessary to avoid even more death.

Have you been out on the roads this week? The risk you were taking was several times greater than the risk of having a second AZ vaccine.

@Aloethere Ah! That makes sense. I was answering/querying a different question.

Sorry.

What about people who have had Covid, but still decided to ‘do the right thing’ and go ahead have the AZ jab like me? Even though the scientific jury (aka the great gods who can do no wrong, ever) are still very much unsure on the longevity of immunity acquired through infection?

Where is the motive to continue down the AZ path for somebody in that situation?

Wish I hadn’t have bowed to morality pressures & not bothered with the first, relying on my immune system to do its job rather than a dubious concoction in a syringe that hadn’t been tested over a period of significant time tbh

I don't know if it's been said but I read this morning on the BBC that every clot had happened on the FIRST jab. If I'd had the first I'd definitely have the second.

It's pretty non existant now anyway, no need to risk clots or anything else not known about these vaccines.
Most people have had the jab who want it, except for the younger groups who will be next.

[quote Rainbowsandstorms]@Bagamoyo1 are you able to advise the best place to access the official data? Thank you.[/quote]
Not sure how to attach images of the letter I’ve had. I’ll try.

[quote Rainbowsandstorms]@Bagamoyo1 are you able to advise the best place to access the official data? Thank you.[/quote]
Final 3 pages

Pretty non existent?

As of April 8th

www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/geographical-distribution-2019-ncov-cases

@MummyPop00 I don't know of any data on AZ but I know that when Pfizer was given to those who had already had covid, they got a significant immune system boost, this was from tracking and testing for antibodies in Israel. So, having a first vaccine after Covid appears significantly advantageous for this group- perhaps lengthening the protection or giving better protection.

I don't think there's anything to regret really, is there? My only debate would be whether to have the second, which is absolutely your choice. If you are not keen you have had two ways to get protection- your own body and one AZ already.

So EU is recommending everyone who got AZ first dose gets a different second dose. Not the advice here yet but may change. I suspect we don’t have enough to follow Europe who have more mRNA.

Trial ongoing re mixing in U.K. results summer.

Have you had prolonged headaches? If not crack on and get your second dose!

@Oaktree55

So EU is recommending everyone who got AZ first dose gets a different second dose. Not the advice here yet but may change. I suspect we don’t have enough to follow Europe who have more mRNA.

Trial ongoing re mixing in U.K. results summer.

@Oaktree55 do you have a link to it?

@Oaktree55

So EU is recommending everyone who got AZ first dose gets a different second dose. Not the advice here yet but may change. I suspect we don’t have enough to follow Europe who have more mRNA.

Trial ongoing re mixing in U.K. results summer.

Well there is profit to be made in the other ones after all.