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?

[RuleWithAWoodenFoot]

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.

Well dur.

This thread is infuriating.

[Nhsisfucked]

“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.”

But that’s a medical reason not just ‘well ‘cause’ is it!!!

[TuvoknotSpock]

I can't have it due to medical reasons so I suppose I will have to keep booking and hoping they having something non AZ when I arrive. That's mad.

If I didn't have my blood disorder I would defo get it and my parent who also has the disorder is getting AZ as they are at a much higher risk of covid complications due to being old.

And fwiw I never take the pill/have medication for long haul flights/have lots of extra precautions when I have operations etc as i already have to do things to avoid a clot.

I would much rather not have my disorder and be able to get AZ

[PeasPeasPeas]

@Nhsisfucked

“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.”

But that’s a medical reason not just ‘well ‘cause’ is it!!!

This is my point. I hope I am listened to but it's impossible to speak to a GP at the moment at my surgery so I don't know what to do about it. I don't want to turn up at a vaccination centre and refuse, wasting an appointment.

My GP surgery is a vaccination hub for my area and are applying blanket rules. My DH was done (aged 39) in February due to asthma. He has the most mild form of asthma possible - only uses an inhaler when he has a cold to stop a cough keeping him awake. In other areas, this would not qualify someone for a vaccine if many posts on here are to be believed. Who knows what they will do with regards to people with a clotting risk as there seems to be no logic to which rules they are applying. This is why I'm scared, I can't talk to anyone about it and I have been through enough trauma in this past year already. It feels neverending.

[StrawberryLipstickStateOfMind]

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.

I think this is understandably why people who have yet to have the vaccine and would happily take anything offered to them are getting pissed off at the thought of having to wait longer for their vaccine, because of people refusing AZ with no real reason for it, and delaying the rollout to younger age groups.

It's entirely different when people have genuine medical reason for having a preference- it obviously may not even be a preference but a necessity.

[MRex]

@PeasPeasPeas

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.

If your GP or consultant thinks you should take a different vaccine because you fall into a contraindicated group, that's clearly different. It's people deciding for themselves what's best and refusing appointments that are going to cause issues.

[Dissimilitude]

I don't think we should delay the roll out at all. If people in eligible age groups refuse the offered vaccine for any reason other than it being medically contraindicated, stick them to the back of the queue.

If we were swimming in alternative vaccines I would have more sympathy - the US can afford to be picky about AZ, for example, but we can't. It's the backbone of our vaccination effort.

[ImAlrightThanx]

If your GP or consultant thinks you should take a different vaccine because you fall into a contraindicated group, that's clearly different. It's people deciding for themselves what's best and refusing appointments that are going to cause issues

A few people back at the beginning were saying they were going to refuse Pfizer and wait for the Oxford/AZ vaccine, though. I don't see the difference, personally. I took what was offered and was grateful for it when I was invited.

[PeasPeasPeas]

If your GP or consultant thinks you should take a different vaccine because you fall into a contraindicated group, that's clearly different. It's people deciding for themselves what's best and refusing appointments that are going to cause issues.

Absolutely. Unfortunately it seems to be a bit of a postcode lottery as to what is considered a contraindication.

[cuparfull]

Frankly, given you are more likely to suffer a blood clot after air travel or when taking the contraceptive pill, healthy people are daft not to take the AZ jab when offered.
If you were offered a flight to the Maldives, would you say...no thanks I might get a blood clot???

The risk/benefit ratio changes for the under 30yrs which is why the JVCI have said to offer the younger profile alternative jabs IF available.
Listen to the science.

[ginghamstarfish]

I don't think they should let people know in advance, or there would be mass rejection of the AZ, and I would guess many of those who make light of the whole AZ debate would still choose a different one. I

[MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously]

I was on my health boards reserve list and was supposed to go at the weekend. I would have received AZ. However they called yesterday and asked me to go in and I received Pfizer. The person booking me in knew which vaccine was offered on each day but they do not volunteer this information when making initial bookings. It would save wasted appointments if they did tell people which vaccine they would get in advance. I suspect they are not saying because they hope that once people are actually on site, they will just go ahead and get vaccinated, even if they are a bit nervous about it.
But for so long as the health boards don't tell people then it's unfair to blame individuals for turning up and then refusing the vaccine. The risk may well be tiny but it is the right to individuals to take that risk or not! Particularly when lots of countries won't give AZ to those under 55. There is no consensus of opinion amongst scientists, so it's no wonder ordinary people are concerned.
Also we have all lived with the fear of death for the past year. Covid hasn't killed only people over the age of 65. It's not crass to say that it's a tough time for 30-49 year olds too.

[Noname99]

I shall find out tomorrow! There is apparently no way of finding out which vaccine is on offer beforehand so I shall have to turn up to my appointment tomorrow; if it’s AZ I will decline and ask what my options are.

[mumwon]

The sister of a man who died from blood clots has stated that people should still have AZ - the reason this rare possibility of clots has been publicised is so anyone who gets symptoms of clots will be treated & people at risk won't be given this. Aspirin use to be used much more as pain relief years ago but because it was closely linked to stomach ulcers & other gastro bleeding affects & some deaths (many ulcers where definitely caused by this & yes I saw patients affected years ago) advice changed & tightened - it is still used & prescribed but there is strong advise given to prevent this. The numbers of people who are sadly affected is very low & people should not panic but take note what to look out for, like statins for instance.
Pfizer & Moderna have had instances of haemorrhage because of development of ITP
But the incidence of side effects (other than death) in covid is far higher even in young people & the long term affects of this disease & how the individual might react to it is not always as easy to forecast.
Its basically knowing who might be vulnerable & acting quickly to treat it (quick diagnosis & quick treatment)

[FlyingBurrito]

@XiCi

You just get a text to book online though PeasPeasPeas. I dont think there's a way to find out until you get there

It's not the same for everyone, I didn't get a text. I don't know if I could have found out beforehand which one it was going to be but I do know from all the threads on here that there's no one system covering all the millions who need to be done.

[Changemusthappen]

I think what's sad about this is that it will probably be women who are more likely to refuse it since it has been mostly women who have died.

I don't know what the answer is here because I suspect many will have already had one dose and the trial combining doses hasn't finished yet (and the cynic in me thinks if it said it was ok to combine the news would be hidden).

[LemonTT]

The offer will be of whatever the centre has in stock and which is appropriate to your age and health. They won’t offer anything else and they won’t rearrange unless for clinical reasons (age and specified health conditions).

Basically you will have to try to work out when and where other vaccines are available. Which is quite impossible without inside information on supply. And no one knows what the future supply is going to be.

Right now there is no first dose Pfizer and any excess 2nd Pfizer will be offered to eligible under 30’s. There is not a lot of excess and where it is is unpredictable. Moderna supplies are low and it’s only going to be offered at special locations with controlled access. Basically targeted at the group who can’t have AZ.

From now till the end of April AZ remains the predominant 1st dose vaccine. Unless you get lucky you won’t get offered anything else. From May the 1st vaccine type remains unknown. It could well be a mix of types changing from day to day and week to week.

[StrawberryLipstickStateOfMind]

Also we have all lived with the fear of death for the past year. Covid hasn't killed only people over the age of 65. It's not crass to say that it's a tough time for 30-49 year olds too.

Of course it's been a tough time for 30-49 year olds- this is also the age group that have been most likely to be homeschooling, worried about their children's education (I know there are also some slightly younger and older this has affected too). Also worries about jobs etc. It's been horrible for everyone for lots of reasons.

This is why I think it's important for the vaccine to be rolled as as quickly as possible and it's not fair on this age group, and obviously younger people in their 20s, to have to wait longer for the vaccine because of delays caused by people refusing AZ or whichever one they don't want to take. I felt the same earlier on when some were wanting to wait for AZ over Pfizer- well fine but unless there's a medical reason, I don't think it's right to keep chasing up these people- it's not unreasonable for them to have to wait whilst they work through the people who do actually want to have the vaccine, and shouldn't face delays because of others refusing it.

[Daisydoor12]

Just seen France are highly likely to advise their citizens under 55 not to get a 2nd AZ vaccine.

[MarshaBradyo]

@Daisydoor12

Just seen France are highly likely to advise their citizens under 55 not to get a 2nd AZ vaccine.

Let them do that. They have high case numbers though.

We’re at the stage where we can open up as numbers are so low. AZ has helped with this.

[StrawberryLipstickStateOfMind]

Are other countries restricting use of AZ in younger people because it's easier to say that the vaccine may not be safe, rather than admit they don't have enough vaccines?

I'm not saying that is correct but I do wonder.

Also, given the risks of the AZ vaccine are so so tiny compared to coronavirus, I wonder how many under 55s in France are angry at not being able to access a vaccine that would protect them from something far more likely to kill them or cause serious harm to their health.

[MRex]

@Noname99

I shall find out tomorrow! There is apparently no way of finding out which vaccine is on offer beforehand so I shall have to turn up to my appointment tomorrow; if it’s AZ I will decline and ask what my options are.

Please don't do that, you know very well it will be AZ offered. There are so many in their 40s who are waiting who have asthma, autoimmune conditions and other covid risk factors considered too mild to allow vaccination, or with a pregnant wife they want to help protect. Give up your appointment and let someone who wants to be vaccinated get their jab.

[MarshaBradyo]

@Noname99

I shall find out tomorrow! There is apparently no way of finding out which vaccine is on offer beforehand so I shall have to turn up to my appointment tomorrow; if it’s AZ I will decline and ask what my options are.

This time wasting is a shame.

It will slow everyone down.

[pinkearedcow]

@Daisydoor12

Just seen France are highly likely to advise their citizens under 55 not to get a 2nd AZ vaccine.

Yes, I saw that they are going to give them a different vaccine as a 2nd jab. I'm happy to get the second AZ jab, I'd be more worried about getting a different 2nd jab I think.

[Nootkah]

@LemonTT

I dont think the "no Pfizer first doses" is the same everywhere? Our health board is vaccinating 40-49 at the moment (my age group so know lots of people whove had it this week) and it's been Pfizer. AZ first doses were in March at this vaccination centre but it seems that this week they're doing Pfizer first doses. My husband has his on Tuesday... Could even be Moderna! He'll have whatever is offered on the day.