If I refuse AZ which vaccine am I likely to get?

[DandelionSprout]

AZ jab is currently available to book but there are the obvious concerns. It sounds like J&J has similar problems. My GP said Pfizer for 1st doses is literally non-existent, Moderna is only available at a few selected sites and in small amounts, and Valneva won’t be rolled out for months. So if people refuse AZ what alternative are they realistically likely to get?

Even when we have a low risk rate of Covid (as we do now) the risk/benefit calculation is already in favour of the vaccine in your age group.
Do you know if the calculation would be in favour of the vaccine for a 37 year old female, bmi 19, no underlying conditions, had Covid a year ago?

@DandelionSprout

Sorry I’m just trying to figure out what my options are if I refuse AZ. Like I said, it’s no good me considering AZ vs another vaccine if the real decision is AZ vs nothing.

You will be offered AZ on repeat until such time as many months have passed and there are more vaccines available because most people have already been fully vaccinated. However, it could be that in the future the U.K. decides to use just one vaccine (possibly AZ from a financial perspective) and there isn’t any alternative. Going on most other vaccinations we can get, there aren’t alternatives.

@DandelionSprout

How can Moderna be reserved for under 30s if they’re currently only vaccinating 40+ ?

Well they are already vaccinating people under 30 who are eligible because they work in health or social care or who have a medical condition that makes them clinically vulnerable.

Plus if they’re currently on the over 40s it won’t be long until they’re on the under 30s and they need to make sure they have enough vaccinations for everyone which is more difficult once you can’t use certain vaccines for a particular group.

Probably none, till everyone else has had, which tbh I think is fair.

Nothing I would guess. As they move down the age groups the clotting issue could worsen, which I hope it doesn't then they might adjust the age group bracket again to over 40s/50s.

@rwalker

COVID

Ha ha

I hope they adjust the age bracket so people in their 30s have a safer option. The news about the under 30s seems to be saying that under 30s in phase one of the rollout will be offered an alternative, if they are in phase one aren't they more at risk from Covid than a person in their 30s in phase two? So how does the risk/benefit thing work then?

I don't think Moderna is reserved for the under 30s as such, it is being given to anyone currently eligible for a vaccination but there were only 500,000 doses in the first shipment so it won't go far... and 17 million doses in total so that's 8.5 million people. There another MN thread about the 45-49 group being eligible now though and people have had Moderna today in those age groups. You won't really get a choice though, it's just luck of the draw.

There may be more Pfizer available at some stage, it's hard to know as the government understandably doesn't want to announce when and how many doses are arriving from abroad.

Novavax is coming but probably not until June/July time.

Aren't the blood clots mostly affecting women under 60? So we could give men the AZ and save Moderna for women?

Whichever vaccine, there is a risk. It has been widely underreported that there have been issues with Pfizer and I think Moderna in the U.S. causing a catastrophic loss of platelets leading to bleeds on the brain.

As someone with very few platelets, I had AZ, and am waiting for my second jab.

You have more risk of a clot on the pill, and that is widely known and accepted.

Nothing. Up to you.

I think eventually that most types of vaccine will have the same risks - particularly those operating in the same way as the AZ vacc. There's a good article in the Guardian today explaining how the scientists think the issue is being caused. So I think eventually it will be found to be the same level of risk for similar operating vaccines.

At the end of the day.. Pfizer, moderna, AZ are all trialled and tested. AZ more than others as its been scrutinised more than others. Its clear to see that having a vaccine outweighs any risks. The AZ technology is tried and tested. The others are brand new .

As someone said upthread I’d be amazed if we didn’t eventually have data showing that all the mRNA vaccines have the potential to cause the same side effects.

OP I suspect you’d be marked as having refused it. I’m sure you could opt back in at any point to the same “blind” option (ie turn up and get what you’re given) but I think you’d have to wait for a long time to get more choice.

The risks are so minuscule.

Nothing for a long while very few sites have moderna so far and Pfizer is currently being used for 2nd jabs or the CV 16/17yo . Its unlikely you'll be marked down as a refuser though its not a now or never offer you'll be able to take a vaccine later down the line should you wish but there's no guarantees to get a specific vaccine unless there's a medical reason like allergies maybe.

I'm 47 in excellent health and am not willing to take AZ or JNJ. It's not a coincidence that the MRNA vaccines are 5-10x the price.

The argument that I am putting others at risk is nonsense as a) I am social distancing, b) almost all vulnerable people are vaccinated and c) vaccination doesn't stop you catching and passing it on anyway.

@bretta73

I'm 47 in excellent health and am not willing to take AZ or JNJ. It's not a coincidence that the MRNA vaccines are 5-10x the price.

The argument that I am putting others at risk is nonsense as a) I am social distancing, b) almost all vulnerable people are vaccinated and c) vaccination doesn't stop you catching and passing it on anyway.

Nonsense re price.

At 47 your risk from Covid is higher than from the vaccine.

Why are people scared of the AZ? This is just getting silly now. People will do several normality things such as flying/pregnancy/the pill which will raise your risk by much more than the vaccine but are refusing the vaccine when the risk is so minute. Makes no sense to me!!

@MadisonMontgomery

Potentially nothing, unless you’re under 30. Under 30’s are being given Moderna, 16-18’s being given Pfizer, everyone else AZ unless a second vaccine.

.

Myself and DH are in the eligible 40s category and both had Moderna today

Afraid it isn't nonsense because AZ and JNJ use old technology hence lower effectiveness not to mention side effects.

A very fit 47 year old with no underlying conditions has the same risk as say an average (ie unfit) 30 year old.

I'm 48 and had Moderna today

@bretta73

Afraid it isn't nonsense because AZ and JNJ use old technology hence lower effectiveness not to mention side effects.

A very fit 47 year old with no underlying conditions has the same risk as say an average (ie unfit) 30 year old.

You are still more at risk from Covid based on age than the vaccine.

Can you link to any information that says not?

A very fit 47 year old with no underlying conditions has the same risk as say an average (ie unfit) 30 year old.

Nope

@bretta73

I'm 47 in excellent health and am not willing to take AZ or JNJ. It's not a coincidence that the MRNA vaccines are 5-10x the price.

The argument that I am putting others at risk is nonsense as a) I am social distancing, b) almost all vulnerable people are vaccinated and c) vaccination doesn't stop you catching and passing it on anyway.

You honestly think that the price of a vaccine tells you how good / safe it is?