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'm very much not a conspiracy theorist but a realist.
The fact that AstraZeneca vaccine is so much cheaper mainly because they've pledged not to make a profit from the pandemic where as the other manufacturers have not done the same.
The issues with the blood clot is very rare it is definitely in the other pharmaceutical companies interests to belittle AZ to ensure they sell more of their products.

I would say the U.K. is the outlier in terms of Covid deaths.

I repeat- it is a rare combination of blood clots and low blood platelets.

I would say the U.K. is the outlier in terms of Covid deaths.

It's on the high side. But like I say, coming up on 3 million globally. Want to comment on that?

I repeat- it is a rare combination of blood clots and low blood platelets.

And again, so? It's all a matter of cost/benefit analysis.

I had my second dose this week (early 40s but eligible through work) and was given Pfizer. Not sure if you'd be able to 'choose' but they certainly are still offering Pfizer- I was able to choose which vaccination centre and told in advance what vaccine was on offer in each.

I would say the U.K. is the outlier in terms of Covid deaths.

Well, it is at present, due to terrible mismanagement by our government during the earlier stages of the pandemic. I'm sure that nobody in the UK is proud of this, but that in itself doesn't necessarily mean that we've got it wrong with regard to the vaccine strategy. Ultimately, only time will tell.

The reality is that the pandemic isn't over yet. Case numbers are climbing in many parts of the world, and it looks increasingly likely that the gap between the UK and other countries will start to narrow. Whether that trend continues will depend on multiple factors, including the effectiveness of the vaccines against the newer strains of covid. The numbers for AZ don't look too good for the South African strain that appears to be spreading in London, as AZ only appears to be around 10% effective at stopping transmission. If, however, it turns out that it remains highly effective at preventing hospitalisation, serious illness and death, then that's a different story.

None of us know yet how things are going to pan out. History will judge how well each country has handled the pandemic. It's likely that many countries will have made some mistakes along the way. We'll know in a few years which of those mistakes have been catastrophic and which have had a minimal impact. Right now, we are all making what we think are the best possible judgments on the basis of the evidence available.

I suggest you read the guidance of the UK regulator which indicates the conditions that would mean you should not have AZ. If you have any of those conditions you can ask to be put on a list to get an alternative as I understand it. But otherwise you are considered to be at no greater risk than anyone else and have no option to choose because the vaccines are considered (rightly) to be interchangeable.

As an aside - Greatest chance of getting P or M would be going to one of the largest mass vaccination centres. Those are the ones that have had M in the past few days.

Suggest you read this: www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca

My DDs who are both in their early 20s have had the 1st vaccine with AZ (group 6). They will both get their second one without too many worries. They want to be protected and to start having a life again. They also know that if they are vaccinated it helps protect other people.

@PandoraP

I would say the U.K. is the outlier in terms of Covid deaths.

I repeat- it is a rare combination of blood clots and low blood platelets.

Well, you'd be wrong that the UK is an outlier.

I found data here:
www.statista.com/statistics/1104709/coronavirus-deaths-worldwide-per-million-inhabitants/

Then I plotted them to look for outliers & got these results. Fingers crossed that the image gets posted!

Outliers include South Africa, Tunisia, Eswatini, Armenia, Georgia, Lebanon, USA, & Mexico.

Brazil is right at the very top whisker for South America as is Czechia for Europe(as they have a high death rate), whereas Norway is right on the lower whisker for Europe a having a much lower death rate.

But the UK is within statistically expected parameters.

Hope this helps.

@PurplePi, U.K. is pretty high up compared to countries it would be natural to compare us to? Thinking not Armenia and Lebanon. USA has done very bad too but obviously we know who was in charge over there.
The U.K. was always behind locking down, closing borders etc I don’t think anyone can be impressed. The vaccine rollout has been impressive, but I am not impressed they are cracking on with AZ.

but I am not impressed they are cracking on with AZ.

What do you think they should do?

Stay locked down?

@rwalker

COVID

This

Your risk of blood clots is way higher if you actually catch COVID than if you have the jab. COVID makes your blood very sticky. A friend of mine was hospitalised with a blood clot after COVID. It makes absolutely NO sense whatsoever to say 'no jab' and take your chances with COVID imo.....

@PandoraP

Did you look at the image? Alas, it ended up being more blurred when I uploaded it. I'll try again with a different format.

I grouped countries according to their continent - which seemed reasonable to me. So - Armenia has the highest rate in Asia, etc. Happy to try grouping otherwise if you have any better suggestions?

I've also created a similar box plot for deaths in the last 7 days only. You'll be pleased to know that the UK is no longer in the box! Instead, it is at the base of the lower whisker - even better than Norway.

That chart shows that the UK had one of the highest death rates in Europe AND in the world.

Surely if you wait until they move on to the under 30s and then book an appointment then you’d most likely the moderna one as that will be the one centres will be using for the under 30s, or am I missing something?

@Adelais

Surely if you wait until they move on to the under 30s and then book an appointment then you’d most likely the moderna one as that will be the one centres will be using for the under 30s, or am I missing something?

If they don’t have enough Moderna for everyone, nothing to stop them changing the booking algorithm so certain ages are restricted to certain centres?

If they don’t have enough Moderna for everyone, nothing to stop them changing the booking algorithm so certain ages are restricted to certain centres?
What about if someone is newly pregnant and in their thirties? Does it ask when you book online?

I mean because they aren't giving the AZ to pregnant women are they?

Pretty sure I've heard something recently they've said it's not contraindicated if you are pregnant? [[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jcvi-issues-new-advice-on-covid-19-vaccination-for-pregnant-women]]

@Evanna13 No one is arguing that the UK hasn’t had one of the highest death rates.

Pandora was saying that it was unusually large, and a statistical outlier, which turns out not to be the case when you look at the numbers.