Annoying how much negativity towards vaccination there is on MN

[Tonylepony]

It’s actually verging on irresponsible that every other thread in this section is scaremongering about the coronavirus vaccination which basically is our only way out of this hell. If they’re not going on about the almost negligible chance of having a blood clot, there’s some other complaint about a random side effect. I know a lot of people in RL who’ve had the AZ and we’re on the over 40s here. Not one person has has anything worse than feeling tired the day after. We should be grateful for this jab and the negativity really needs to stop before the vaccination rollout is jeopardised.

I know, I have seen 2 posts over the last couple of days from a poster saying that the vaccine has caused blindness! FFS

Luckily in real life the uptake is very good.

I suppose people only post if they have a bad experience or if they are unusually anxious. I'm mid 50s and as a result a lot of the people I socialise with are in the 50-60 age range - every one of them has had at least one vaccination, mostly Astra Zeneca, and nobody has had any serious side effects. Chiefly a sore arm and headache for a day or so, a couple of gastrointestinal side effects for a few hours, some people had nothing at all. For all the people posting that everyone they know has had blood clots, bleeding etc, there are presumably at least 100 people like me who don't know anyone who has had any real adverse effects. Well, loads more, as most people aren't even on Mumsnet.

It is possible to be pro vaccination and worried about the AZ vaccine. People are brushing over the fact that a lot of countries around the world is taking a much more cautious approach than the U.K. government on this.

@ResilienceWanker

I'm not especially worried about the "serious" side effects, but the mild effects do seem very common - more so than any other vaccine I'm aware of.

If you think the AZ (mild) side effects are bad, you haven't seen Moderna in action. A lot rougher than Pfizer based on the experiences of my US colleagues.

Expect a flurry of threads in the coming weeks about this too.

@Ontopofthesunset

I suppose people only post if they have a bad experience or if they are unusually anxious. I'm mid 50s and as a result a lot of the people I socialise with are in the 50-60 age range - every one of them has had at least one vaccination, mostly Astra Zeneca, and nobody has had any serious side effects. Chiefly a sore arm and headache for a day or so, a couple of gastrointestinal side effects for a few hours, some people had nothing at all. For all the people posting that everyone they know has had blood clots, bleeding etc, there are presumably at least 100 people like me who don't know anyone who has had any real adverse effects. Well, loads more, as most people aren't even on Mumsnet.

Yep. Most of my family have had the vaccine and no side effects. V few of them are on social media so they haven't posted about how well they feel:) I myself had minimal side effects so I didn't either!

People are brushing over the fact that a lot of countries around the world is taking a much more cautious approach than the U.K. government on this
Where would you honestly rather be living at the moment? UK or a more ‘cautious’ country?

A more cautious country.

U.K. has had one of the highest death rates so hardly a success in a Covid terms lol

[quote Circumlocutious]@ResilienceWanker

I'm not especially worried about the "serious" side effects, but the mild effects do seem very common - more so than any other vaccine I'm aware of.

If you think the AZ (mild) side effects are bad, you haven't seen Moderna in action. A lot rougher than Pfizer based on the experiences of my US colleagues.

Expect a flurry of threads in the coming weeks about this too.[/quote]
Very true! The same would apply then - in that it's helpful to know about them in advance to prepare around the possibility you may feel rough for a bit. Though it seems Pfizer isn't as "side effecty" as AZ, at least on the first dose, so it may be that the US colleagues are just having their AZ-style effects, but via moderna instead?! As you say, we'll find out here soon enough with our cocktail menu of different jabs on offer.

I think it's tricky to judge. My grandfather is dying from a known side effect of the covid vaccine (likely about a week left). It could be coincidence that it came on within a couple of weeks of vaccination or it might not. I'm not publicising to friends what my grandfather is poorly with as I think it is such a small risk. We've also not been told by doctors that it's a direct result of the vaccine. Can't really speculate.

I wouldn't get annoyed by it OP, it's not reflected in the uptake in the real world.

@Terracotta9

The covid vaccines are new, so of course there is going to be more scrutiny of the symptoms they might produce.

It’s not scaremongering to discuss it.

But all us average people, don't have insight into the actual full facts and full numbers. We may hear of one person who has had a bad reaction, but out of how many? Did they have other conditions that could have acerbated it? This is not information we have.

People should be informed, but it appears to be a lack of critical thinking in understanding the veracity and applicability of sources.

Three of my siblings have had the AZ vaccine, who had bad side effects, the others none. What does that tell me? Absolutely nothing. It is no indication of any potential side effects I might have.

I posted earlier in the thread you do have access to the official statistics and numbers. It’s on the government site.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-adverse-reactions/coronavirus-vaccine-summary-of-yellow-card-reporting#annex-1-vaccine-analysis-print

AZ from Jan to Mar has had of 440871 reactions and 472 fatalities.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/977006/COVID-19_vaccine_AstraZeneca_analysis_print.pdf

Pfizer from Jan to Mar has had 124371 reactions and 302 fatalities.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/977005/COVID-19_mRNA_Pfizer-_BioNTech_Vaccine_Analysis_Print.pdf

Some of those reactions! As if a vaccine ever caused an eyelid cyst ! That is a style, is it not?

They have to note everything even if someone reports they turned into a parrot after the jab.

It takes away from the serious/worrying side effects.

If we didn’t collect the data, then we wouldn’t know either way.

That’s the whole point.

Stye, not style.

I just scanned down the reactions, my favourite 2 were crying and moaning!

Ah, yes. So funny.

Maybe it would be less amusing to you if it was your elderly parent with dementia moaning and crying and not understanding what the vaccine is and why they’ve been jabbed.

It is very frustrating.

No-one wants to stifle debate, it is important that genuine concerns about vaccines can be discussed. But I am in no doubt that there are posters here who are revelling in flooding MN with scaremongering posts. They often start threads expressing some sort of faux concern about something or pretend to innocently ask a question about a conspiracy theory or some fake news - there was a doozy last night which thankfully got zapped.

You should see what the govt in Oz have said about theAZ vaccine..not recommended for under50's. I never had planned to get it anyway- along with most of the people I know. Im grateful im allowed my opinion and can have a choice about what goes into my body.Ill watch and wait to see what the longer term side effects are. I had covid whilst in Europe last March and have felt worse with a chest infection so couldnt care less tbh.

By starting this thread, havent you done exactly what you say you dont want? Produced more negativity?

@CornishPastyDownUnder

You should see what the govt in Oz have said about theAZ vaccine..not recommended for under50's. I never had planned to get it anyway- along with most of the people I know. Im grateful im allowed my opinion and can have a choice about what goes into my body.Ill watch and wait to see what the longer term side effects are. I had covid whilst in Europe last March and have felt worse with a chest infection so couldnt care less tbh.

You should see what the govt in Oz have said about theAZ vaccine..not recommended for under50's

This is exactly the sort of thing that is annoying, the implication here is that the Australian government has said something dramatic and damning about AZ. The reality:

"Official advice in Australia has been changed, now saying that for Australians under 50, the Pfizer vaccine is the preferred option.

Chief medical officer Paul Kelly described the move as a "very cautious approach".

Brendan Murphy — former chief medical officer and now health department boss — said the "highly precautionary" approach was possible here "because we're in a fortunate position with COVID"."

@Terracotta9

Ah, yes. So funny.

Maybe it would be less amusing to you if it was your elderly parent with dementia moaning and crying and not understanding what the vaccine is and why they’ve been jabbed.

I’m sorry, didn’t think through properly before I posted.

My DM had a heart attack 12 hours after her AZ jab. Might be purely coincidental, might not. You can bet I’m going to question it.

@pinkearedcow

It is very frustrating.

No-one wants to stifle debate, it is important that genuine concerns about vaccines can be discussed. But I am in no doubt that there are posters here who are revelling in flooding MN with scaremongering posts. They often start threads expressing some sort of faux concern about something or pretend to innocently ask a question about a conspiracy theory or some fake news - there was a doozy last night which thankfully got zapped.

This No problem with genuine discussion, though mumsnet is hardly the place to ask But the general anti mask, anti lock down, anti vaccine, I just do what I like narrative is getting very boring We are coming out of lockdown and restrictions just slowly. And talk to medical professionals about the vaccine, not strangers on the internet