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?

I don’t know why people are saying you are going to have to wait ages for an alternative. Are these people high up government workers?

I highly doubt you’d have to wait. Infact, I am almost certain if you ask your GP and around local ly, you’ll be able to get an alternative as soon as you’re eligible.

@Looneytune253

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!!

Young fit people are being pressurised into swapping a known low risk (ie catching and badky suffering from Covid [whilst in many cases generally taking active steps to avoid catching it in the first place]) with an unknown risk (from the vaccine) that depending on one's lifestyle might confer virtually no benefits. When I choose to board a plane that has a very low risk of crashing at least there's a holiday on the other side.

@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.

Where’s the research that compares fit people in their late 40s with unfit 30 year olds?

@Doireallyneedaname

I don’t know why people are saying you are going to have to wait ages for an alternative. Are these people high up government workers?

I highly doubt you’d have to wait. Infact, I am almost certain if you ask your GP and around local ly, you’ll be able to get an alternative as soon as you’re eligible.

What makes you think this? What makes you so sure.

The op says she’s already asked her GP

There isn't any, just common sense

Young fit people are being pressurised into swapping a known low risk (ie catching and badky suffering from Covid [whilst in many cases generally taking active steps to avoid catching it in the first place]) with an unknown risk (from the vaccine) that depending on one's lifestyle might confer virtually no benefits. When I choose to board a plane that has a very low risk of crashing at least there's a holiday on the other side.

At 47 you won’t be young

I’m 45. I’m booked for vaccine tomorrow. I’m assuming it will certainly be AZ. Based on what we seem to know I’d prefer Pfizer or Moderna but mainly I don’t want to catch covid. A bird in the hand and all that.

There’s no way I’d refuse AZ as I’d think I’d have to wait months for an alternative. The alternative is the risk of dying or being very seriously ill from Covid.
I’d take the vaccine and it’s minuscule risks

@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.

Part of the reason they are more expensive is because they're using licensed technology. The mRNA approach is relatively novel and subject to patent.

Unless you have some meassive drip feed back story about a history of clotting then it is AZ or nothing and frankly you need to just get a grip and have it.

SO many older ladies yesterday (all of one non-UK nationality) came in for their second AZ jab and refused it and thought they could wait to be offered Pfizer instead - yeah right.

@Doireallyneedaname

I don’t know why people are saying you are going to have to wait ages for an alternative. Are these people high up government workers?

I highly doubt you’d have to wait. Infact, I am almost certain if you ask your GP and around local ly, you’ll be able to get an alternative as soon as you’re eligible.

Because it's not like a vaccine supermarket where you could just pick your favourite one.

Only two other vaccines are currently approved in the UK. We know the Moderna order was small and only a part of it has arrived so there really isn't much to go around. There have also been supply issues with Pfizer and it's reserved for 2nd doses.

Plus GP surgeries aren't all doing vaccinations at all. Mine has a big notice on their website specifically asking people not to contact them about vaccination related queries.

@PeterPomegranate

I’m 45. I’m booked for vaccine tomorrow. I’m assuming it will certainly be AZ. Based on what we seem to know I’d prefer Pfizer or Moderna but mainly I don’t want to catch covid. A bird in the hand and all that.

It's funny, but I'd very much prefer the Pfizer/Moderna vaccines too, but the risk of clots isn't even on my radar! Particularly as I have a sneaking suspicion that the risks may be the same for ALL vaccines.

Personally I'd choose the mRNA vaccines because the SA variant will be dominant here by the end of summer and although I know the AZ vaccine is likely to remove any risk of serious illness, I'd still like not to be ill with it!

I'm not worried about dying either - late 40's but very healthy - my concern with covid is the high risk of long covid - I'd probably prefer a quick death to a year of extreme fatigue lol So if AZ is the only jab on offer, I'll snatch it up anyway.

@Londonmummy66

Unless you have some meassive drip feed back story about a history of clotting then it is AZ or nothing and frankly you need to just get a grip and have it.

SO many older ladies yesterday (all of one non-UK nationality) came in for their second AZ jab and refused it and thought they could wait to be offered Pfizer instead - yeah right.

Did they have nothing in the end? A shame if so

Look please understand it isn't anything that is wrong with the vaccine its a really rare autoimmune reaction to it - a similar rare reaction to heparin.
For a few unfortunate people virtually any vaccine or inflammation or infection could cause this - but covid has a much higher risk not only of death but blood clots across various parts of the body causing many issues some life threatening some affecting quality of health & life.
The thing is this -by understanding that for some people there might be a risk & the symptoms hospitals doctors & clinicians will be able to look out for them & treat them. By all means talk to doctors & your chemists etc to understand the risk to you & what are the symptoms

Does anyone know how often and when the yellow card reports are published? The current report still only shows cases up to 31 March and I’d really like to know if any more clotting cases have been reported since, now more younger people have been vaccinated.

You are more likly to die in a car accident on the way to get the vaccine than to die from receiving it!

There have been extremely rare adverse side effects with all the jabs - including Pfizer. Realistically, if you want to take absolutely no chances at all with the vaccines, your only option is to not have any of them. Of course, the chances of you having a very adverse reaction to the Covid virus is still higher than that, even if young and having no health conditions. You chances of becoming extremely ill or dying from dozens of things you do or come across every day are also higher. So make a choice. There is no certainty whatever your choice, but the vaccine represents a miniscule risk compared to most everything else in life.

@nordica None of what you’ve said demonstrates why there wouldn’t be an alternative for this individual.

@MarshaBradyo yes they just walked out - given they have already "survived" the first AZ jab it is lunacy to me that they won't get the second. A lot of guff about how in their own (red listed) country everyone is getting Pfizer. For their age group probably some time in 2023 given current vaccination rates. I guess there is no arguing with stupid.

The OP hasn't said anything that indicates she has a clinical reason to not have any vaccine that is offered. Your GP won't just arrange a different one because you don't fancy the first one offered to you.

@nordica

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.

Im from Scotland and someone I know in her 50's recently had the moderna. She lives in Glasgow. So it is not reserved for the under 30's

@DandelionSprout

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

Because they maybe in priority group. I’m 37 and had my first dose at the weekend.

It's funny, but I'd very much prefer the Pfizer/Moderna vaccines too, but the risk of clots isn't even on my radar!

Tbh I suppose if some have slightly greater efficacy (even if the others are fine) anyone would probably choose them, if we had completely free choice. But we don’t.

I’m interested to know how people think things will pan out in the future if we need boosters. I know AZ is not likely to be not-for-profit forever, but there is still likely to be a significant difference in cost. It made sense in an emergency situation for countries to source whatever vaccines they could and the cost to some extent has been secondary. That won’t be the case in the long run.

Isn't the reason AZ is cheaper is because they aren't making any profit from it at all, unlike moderna/pfizer, who are making huge profits?

@PollyIndia

Isn't the reason AZ is cheaper is because they aren't making any profit from it at all, unlike moderna/pfizer, who are making huge profits?

Yes. Exactly.