People Refusing Astra Zeneca - What Happens?

[Nootkah]

I've seen an increasing number of people on here and on social media saying they'll go to their mass vaccination centre appointment but if it's Astea Zeneca, they'll refuse. I'm curious as to what actually happens next? They've had an appointment, been offered a vaccine that remains approved for their group, and have declined. Are they "ticked off" the list as "offered" or do they stay at the top of the list for upcoming appointments and continue to be invited?

I’d still like to know which age group Moderna goes to when it comes in.

There is so little Moderna available that I do not expect it to go to any particular age group. I assume it will just be used for first time doses in larger vaccination hubs along with other vaccines.

The first shipment received this week was only meant to be 50k for whole of UK. There is a lot of enthusiasm in the media about the new vaccine but it is not going to make any real difference over April ad May. The numbers are just too small.

I don’t think @PeasPeasPeas meant to be crass. I kind of share the same view, because this age group (which I’m also in) is seeing other countries say they don’t think AZ is appropriate for them and yet in the UK we are taking a different approach. Please correct me if I’m wrong, but in all the other countries that have restricted the use of AZ the cut off has been much older.

I’ll get whatever vaccine is offered, including if it’s AZ, and I want it as soon as possible. But it’s not hard to see why people might feel like they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to be a bit upset.

I think anyone who refuses a vaccine should go straight to the back of the queue and the vaccination centres should crack on with the vast majority of people who are listening to medical and scientific professionals who are telling us that the vaccines are safe.

Hopefully they will go to the back or the queue.

If it was down to me, that would be it - their only option in future would be to pay to have the jab privately as they've wasted a perfectly good dose that someone else could have used, not to mention the time of the vaccine centre staff.

What a judgemental , self-righteous statement.

They have not wasted a dose.

At my GP's surgery thye list the number of missed appointments every month. Pre-Covid, it was running at around 80 hours of wasted GPs' time every month. Presumably you think those people should only see private doctors from now on.

I'm 33 (next week 😁) and don't feel it's crappy to be in the 30-49 age group.

I'll only feel pissed off if it means waiting longer for the vaccine if they decide to switch the order of vaccination now, if the stock at the time is moderna.

I'd happily take any vaccine I'm offered as the risks of any of them are absolutely tiny compared to the risks of coronavirus. And I'm not particularly worried about coronavirus either given my risk level.

But @PeasPeasPeas I totally get why you'd feel differently, I'm so sorry about your mum.

I’m allergic to morphine does anyone know if that is a reason why I can’t have a certain vaccine

When I booked mine it said it would be AZ (and it was). I hope people would cancel beforehand rather than waste appointments.

Peas that’s really hard and I understand why you feel as you do

@StrawberryLipstickStateOfMind - I think it's the opposite, that they'll be offered Pfizer/ Moderna, but allowed to switch to AZ if needed (e.g. due to anaphylaxis risk).

I would hope anyone refusing it goes to the back of the queue once we're past groups 1-9, it isn't the fault of those still waiting if some older people can't risk assess effectively and decline a good vaccine. Appointments for younger people shouldn't be delayed to accommodate refuses, if people really think they're better off getting covid then let them. The higher death and illness rate of unvaccinated might prove more convincing for those who think they know better than experts.

People are so, so bad at quantifying the level of risk. It's minuscule, certainly far lower than many of the treatments or drugs people routinely take without a seconds thought.

I spoke to a GP friend about this the other day, her sentiments were rather unsympathetic!

Along the lines of "if people don't want to take AZ, fine, then don't, I can't force them, but I don't have time to hold their hands trying to make them feel better about a tiny risk. People seem to expect me to stay on the phone for ages listening endlessly to their fears, whilst ignoring everything I'm telling them".

Be an adult about it. Get the vaccine, or if you can't face it, don't and step aside for someone who will.

@Dissimilitude. Well said!

At the moment the system is that centres often don't know what they are getting so refusers might have to keep rebooking until they get lucky. The centre I work at had Pfizer the other day, but it's a GP hub currently vaccinating 2nd doses, so it had to be Pfizer. They share space with a hub vaccinating those booked on line or through 119 & they were doing AZ that day. Supplies were short though this week so there wasn't much flexibility.
People really need to assess what the actual risk is.

I think the message has been a bit confusing for some people. The MHRA has not restricted AZ for any age group but updated info on the jab to included warnings of a possible rare side effect of clots. The JCVI who are also independent and set all our immunisation policy for everything have recommended that if there is another vaccine available then 18 to 29 should be offered that but if AZ is the only vaccine available on the day they can and should be offered that.

There is no change to the schedule or priority list which is carrying on down the age groups as before.

It might just be me but I found it confusing until I twigged the JCVI were the ones advising on the age thing!

I don’t think it’s fair to say people are terrible at quantifying risk when experts in U.K. are saying people under 30 should be offered alternative and other countries are saying people under 55 should be offered alternative. We ARE listening to the experts recommendations and that’s why were worried!

Half of the people refusing the AZ wouldn’t think twice if they were offered a free holiday to the Caribbean because of the risk of blots clots from the plane flight, or not take contraception pills because of the risks, but then refuse something that could save their lives! The mind boggles!

@Loopylou555

I think the message has been a bit confusing for some people. The MHRA has not restricted AZ for any age group but updated info on the jab to included warnings of a possible rare side effect of clots. The JCVI who are also independent and set all our immunisation policy for everything have recommended that if there is another vaccine available then 18 to 29 should be offered that but if AZ is the only vaccine available on the day they can and should be offered that.

There is no change to the schedule or priority list which is carrying on down the age groups as before.

It might just be me but I found it confusing until I twigged the JCVI were the ones advising on the age thing!

Ok thanks good to know re age order

I am perfectly capable of understanding risk. It is a big part of my profession. As I said, my worries are based on my medical history and I have no intention of wasting appointments.

Appointments for younger people shouldn't be delayed to accommodate refuses, if people really think they're better off getting covid then let them. The higher death and illness rate of unvaccinated might prove more convincing for those who think they know better than experts.

I'll doom myself to covid then. Charming.

you can make an informed choice

Informed by who? The Daily Mail? Auntie Jean on FB? Posters on MN?

Pfizer also has clots linked to it. In the US there were the same number of issues from Pfizer and Moderna as there were from AZ.

Half of the people refusing the AZ wouldn’t think twice if they were offered a free holiday to the Caribbean because of the risk of blots clots from the plane flight, or not take contraception pills because of the risks, but then refuse something that could save their lives! The mind boggles!

Not been allowed the contraceptive pill since I was 20 for this reason.

@user1497873278

I’m allergic to morphine does anyone know if that is a reason why I can’t have a certain vaccine

They do ask about allergies, but I'd ask your GP.

I think it's completely valid to refuse in some circumstances.
My friend has had blood clots before. She will not risk the AZ- it's a tiny chance, but it's still a chance. Her doctor agreed it's better for her to have another when it's available.

People with a history of clots, or who have risk factors are perfectly reasonable to decline this particular brand, IMO.

@user1497873278

I’m allergic to morphine does anyone know if that is a reason why I can’t have a certain vaccine

Definitely random posters on an internet forum would know this. Definitely not better to ask your doctor.

I’m a vaccinator. We’ve had people refusing a certain vaccine. Our lead on site will take time to talk with them to discuss their concerns but we will allow them to rebook.
The problem is previously the centres did not always get much prior notice to which vaccine they were going to get and we have also had to be closed on numerous days as we had no delivery at all.
The current policy is AZ for first jabs and saving Pfizer for second jabs. This will have to be changed for the under 30s now. Not sure how it will be organised as we try to give only 1 vaccine at a time as they are different amounts to draw up. It’s such a pity as the vaccine roll out has been going so well and by people refusing a certain vaccine is going to really slow the roll out.

Definitely random posters on an internet forum would know this. Definitely not better to ask your doctor
was just thinking exactly the same