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.

Have you ever got on a plane? Blood clots there.

You are more likely, far FAR more likely, to be run over by a bus on the way to the centre.

Interesting how it’s the not for profit vaccine getting all the negative attention. As others have said your much more likely to get a clot with COVID than the vaccine. Many every day meds carry the same risk it’s just not plastered all over the internet

I will have my second dose as planned in early May. I think the risks are minimal and the benefits outweigh any tiny risks there are.
Nearly 130,000 deaths due to Covid in this country alone!

That said, I am getting increasingly sceptical at the number of times the term, "there is no evidence" is wheeled out by Government agencies. That usually means they just haven't looked for any, or that nothing has been officially confirmed yet.

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/astrazeneca-vaccine-only-to-be-give-to-over-50s/news-story/c87bb932034a00f9ed2ec3d06a4f03c5

Scientific data is not as some people think a fixed thing as more is known or more is sought out it changes, usually this flies under most peoples radar but at the moment people who don't usually interpret data and writing newspaper articles in it and the proper analysis is lost in headlines

I know someone who is a researcher. As an aside or maybe not, some researchers despair of the media, as articles will be written by someone who does not necessarily have much knowledge[how could they if they were not involved in that particular, often niche piece, of science]. So the article ends up being a mish mash at best, or emphasising particular, not very important points.

ii hope people that refuse their second dose are happy t wait as long as is needed and dont demand another one whilst those vaccines should have gone for other people (30-50) who so far haven't had the chance to have one

Interesting how it’s the not for profit vaccine getting all the negative attention.
Yes, I'm very suspicious of that, too. I'm having my second jab with no particular qualms, just as I'm happy to drive on the motorway.

[quote MarsandPluto]www.google.com/amp/s/amp.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/astrazeneca-vaccine-only-to-be-give-to-over-50s/news-story/c87bb932034a00f9ed2ec3d06a4f03c5[/quote]
They were lacking 2m doses as o the other day I think, so right now it's normal to focus to give it only to some people as they barely have received them

@Looneytune253 No this is a specific and rare type of blood clot, which is why it is standing out, German health authorities are very concerned, etc. I think the claims by the vaccine manufacturer that there are more blood clots in the general population didn't make the distinction between different types of blood clot so it seems as if they were dishonest statements.

I don't blame you OP. Who knows , it may take a few more months for the government to say it probably shouldn't have given the AZ to anyone under 50 or even 60 either. I wouldn't take that risk. When it's my turn I will go and if I am getting anything other than Pfizer or Moderna I am turning back. I appreciate Pfizer carries a small risk but its doesn't seem as bad as AZ.

RoseWineTime many thanks to you and all the others who are taking one for the team.
I hope you get good immunity with no ill effects.

Dont have it then OP. But you aren’t getting another one instead as it’s not yet be approved in any way shape or form. 🤷🏼‍♀️

The risk is beyond tiny. But we now know there is a risk. So keep an eye out for specific symptoms & any serious concerns, get straight to a doc. Clots can be treated if caught in time. It’s not an automatic death sentence. So just be vigilant.

I saw this interesting tweet today.. a drug they give patients in hospital to prevent clots has a side effect of causing this specific type of clot at a far higher risk than the vaccine. I think that sums it all up. It reminds me of my anti-sickness meds in pregnancy. A common side effect listed was ‘may cause nausea’ 🥴😂

Don't be so ridiculous.

I have the same concern . I'm due my 2nd in the next few weeks. Phoned my GP yesterday to ask a few questions, but told need to phone back today if want a phone consultation.
Last night spent a few hours having a look at information ( did this as I have had a dvt in the past )
I was somewhat relieved to read info that no-one has had any episode after their 2nd vaccination. If it's going to happen it would have been after the 1st.
It satisfied my concern to not phone my Dr this morning.

You're certainly not being an idiot but you have to remember on MN you have to subscribe to certain points of view. Either that or keep quiet or be prepared to made to feel you're an idiot.

I have a packet of paracetamol in my bag. The leaflet says.

Side effects;

Allergic reactions which may be severe such as skin rash, or itching, sometimes with shortness of breath or swelling of the mouth, lips tongue, throat, or face.

Breathing problems (!)

Severe rash or peeling of the skin

Skin rash, yellowing of the skin or eyes, pale stools or upper abdominal pain ( these may be the signs of liver problems)

More rarely you may become prone to bleeding, bruising, fever and infection, such as sore throat and ulcers.

And of course, if you take too many you will die.

How many of us even read these leaflets? I've never read that one before and does it stop me taking them?. No.

I've had the yellow fever vaccine a couple of times. It states as possible side effects, death. It's a mandatory vaccine to travel to certain countries.

If you are worried, maybe ask your doctor to run blood tests to see if you might be at risk and pay close attention to any symptoms after taking the vaccine.

I was somewhat relieved to read info that no-one has had any episode after their 2nd vaccination. If it's going to happen it would have been after the 1st.

Probably because not many people have had a second dose yet, especially younger people. Remember, 2 weeks ago there was NO link between first dose AZ and blood clots, now there's 79 cases and 19 deaths. I fully don't think we have all the information we need yet - even the scientists don't really know why this is happening so can't say for sure that a second dose is any safer.

OP, as the info currently stands I'm not going for my second dose (mid 30s) but I'm just going to wait and see what we know by then. Given how fast this has moved, I hope there will be a lot more movement then (rather than a stoical silence from the government). For example, if they say that the cases had a particular linking factor that doesn't apply to me, or if there is a way to test for susceptibility (like if they had low platelets to begin with - just a random example) then I'll reconsider.

I definitely won't mix vaccines though, OP, because the one thing that's hit me in all this is that the bloody scientists don't know as much as I thought they did. I'm not being their guinea pig a second time.

Pretty sure that won’t be an option for you at the moment. With al due respect. Your quite a long way from being under 30 so I don’t think they’ll give you a choice. Your choice not ti have it though and all the shit stuff that goes with not having it- ie not being able to go anywhere basically.....

Op I think it’s better to read up and make an informed decision rather than a knee jerk one based on media reports?

You can’t mix the vaccines and they think the same risk applies to them all. It’s likely as Covid causes clots then it’s linked to that. The risk is tiny. At your age you must understand you’re at more risk from getting a clot from Covid right? Much, much more risk.

As said, spend some time and make an informed decision not an overly emotional one based ignorance of the facts and scare stories in the media.

Probably because not many people have had a second dose yet

I think we differ, I think five million people is a lot of people.

I really wish they taught more statistics at school, and that people would stop basing decisions about their health on based what they read in the Daily Fail.

According to a Professor on the BBC last night, none of the blood lots have been recorded after the second dose- they have all been after the first dose.

I'm having mine and I'm bloody grateful.

I just walked through town, that was riskier. I drive a car, that's riskier. I'm on 2 medications, both riskier.

I've been on the pill, given birth, had a general anesthetic, flown in a plane. All riskier.

There are no reports of blood clot issues after a second dose. If you were going to have a problem with it, you'd have already had it. Get the jab.