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Original poster

Saying no to the vacccine

49 replies

aibusux2u · 22/04/2021 22:06

I am really worried about having AZ because I am female, have migraines with aura, and have platelets at the low end of normal.
My GP advised a mass vaccination centre in the hope they might have an alternative vaccine, so I booked for a few days from now but I can't be sure what vaccine it will be until the day.
I don't know what to do. I don't want tha appointment to ho to waste but I don't think i am brave enough for AZ.
I asked an online doctor in the US who said to avoid AZ and wait. Which surprised me as even i know the risk is low.
And it's not even as if anyone can be sure of an alternative jab later on.
I have health anxiety and this is not AIBU so please be kind and understand that I am trying to do the right thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
aibusux2u · 22/04/2021 22:07

Sorry for typos. Fat fingers on phone.

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 22/04/2021 22:09

I read in another thread on here that someone went to get their jab and upon finding it was the AZ one, they turned it down. The nurse was very understanding. I don't think the vaccination centres know what vaccine they are going to be providing until it turns up on the day.

Schulte · 22/04/2021 22:12

All fingers crossed for you OP. Can’t your GP help if they agree you shouldn’t have AZ?

Original poster
aibusux2u · 22/04/2021 22:13

@XenoBitch Thank you. That is reassuring but what a shame appointments are being wasted because nobody knows in advance what they will have.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 22/04/2021 22:13

If your concerns are blood clots then you’re much more likely to suffer a clot if you get COVID.
I’ve had my second AZ this afternoon. If it’s not clots what worries you OP?

Lucidas · 22/04/2021 22:14

I’m not sure a doctor in the US is the best person to ask. They have a surplus of Moderna, Pfizer, J&J- haven’t even approved AZ yet, and have no need for it whatsoever. Of course he’ll tell to wait but without knowing the circumstances of the U.K. vaccine rollout the advice won’t make sense.

TulipSandwiches · 22/04/2021 22:15

I think it’s interesting that you were surprised that the American doctor told you not to have it because in your opinion the risk is low.

Springersrock · 22/04/2021 22:16

I have issues with platelets too.

I’ve had Pfizer this afternoon through my GP. Our local hub is Az only, which I had booked, but my GP contacted me so I had Pfizer at the GP surgery.

Shouldn’t your GP be organising it for you if they advise you shouldn’t have Az?

Original poster
aibusux2u · 22/04/2021 22:18

@Schulte They say I could have it "if push came to shove" which is not reassuring for me! And the best they can do is suggest a mass vaccination centre rather than the local one which has only AZ. They can't tell me what will be offered there, neither can 119 and there is no number for the venue itself.

OP posts:
PurpleWh1teGreen · 22/04/2021 22:29

The risk of CVST is

4 per million with Astra Zeneca
5 per million with Pfizer

And 39 per million if you get Covid.

For context it’s also 120 per million in pregnancy and around 500 per million in women taking the contraceptive pill.

Please talk to a UK health professional.

Tootsey11 · 22/04/2021 23:01

The risk level is now 1 in 126000 or just over or 7.9 in a million. New figures released today.

PurplePumpkinDream · 23/04/2021 00:24

I read that as the rare side effects symptoms have become very well known people are reporting them a lot more. This could partly explain the rise in the new figures.

Frownette · 23/04/2021 01:09

Are you not supposed to have AZ if you have low platelets?

PurpleWh1teGreen · 23/04/2021 07:32

@PurpleWh1teGreen

The risk of CVST is

4 per million with Astra Zeneca
5 per million with Pfizer

And 39 per million if you get Covid.

For context it’s also 120 per million in pregnancy and around 500 per million in women taking the contraceptive pill.

Please talk to a UK health professional.

Apologies, I realise I typed Pfizer & AZ the wrong way round.

It should be 4:1,000,000 Pfizer & 5:1,000,000 for AZ.

The key thing however is that the risk of cerebral clots is 8 x higher with coronavirus than with the vaccine and 100 x higher with the pill. It really would be worth having a conversation with your GP.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 23/04/2021 07:34

I'm reluctant to have AZ too. I've got no health issues but I'm a 30 year old woman, it's difficult being on the cusp as AZ is not recommended for someone just a year younger than me. I feel like my risk from Covid is surely more similar to a 29 year old than a 39 year old.

I'm hoping that by the time it's my turn we will have more info.

Bordois · 23/04/2021 07:36

And once more people get moderna no doubt there will be clots reported for that too...

Millie2008 · 23/04/2021 07:44

@PurpleWh1teGreen

The risk of CVST is

4 per million with Astra Zeneca
5 per million with Pfizer

And 39 per million if you get Covid.

For context it’s also 120 per million in pregnancy and around 500 per million in women taking the contraceptive pill.

Please talk to a UK health professional.

Genuine question- People who have migraines with aura are advised NOT to take the contraceptive pill (combined) for this reason though- as these people have an increased risk of cerebral blood clots. So should they also avoid the AZ vaccination?
Schulte · 23/04/2021 07:46

Bordois, lots of people in the US have been vaccinated with Moderna so you can look at those figures. This particular clotting issue does seem to be connected to the adenovirus vector vaccines, AZ and Janssen.

According to the FT the JVCI is currently reviewing the latest AZ data to decide whether the age limit should be raised to 40 in the UK.

Schrutesbeets · 23/04/2021 07:51

You're under no obligation to be vaccinated OP. Are you in an at risk category for Covid? Elderly, frail, underlying health issues or obese? If you wouldn't have considered getting the flu vaccine there is no reason to get jabbed now.
All of this doing it to protect others is nonsense anyway as you can still transmit covid after having the jab.

OnTheBrink1 · 23/04/2021 08:01

@PurpleWh1teGreen

The risk of CVST is

4 per million with Astra Zeneca
5 per million with Pfizer

And 39 per million if you get Covid.

For context it’s also 120 per million in pregnancy and around 500 per million in women taking the contraceptive pill.

Please talk to a UK health professional.

As a PP said, people with migraines are told NOT to take the pill! The GP won’t prescribe it for this very reason!? I’ve been through most of my adult life not being able to take it which is a huge pain because the progesterone only pill which I am allowed to take doesn’t agree with me either. Been told that because of migraines I am at an increased risk of these blood clots and stroke. Risk is still very small and yes smaller than with covid (but maybe not smaller than the risk of currently actually catching covid and then developing a clot from it.) I am 40 so not in an at risk bracket. I think most people in my position would be thinking twice at least
rainbowthoughts · 23/04/2021 08:03

It's a different kind of clot to the one that the pill risk is

Alondra · 23/04/2021 08:04

All of this doing it to protect others is nonsense anyway as you can still transmit covid after having the jab.

But if the person you give it to has been vaccinated she/he will only suffer mild symptoms, irrespective of age or health condition.

THIS is how herd immunity work. I just don't get how people still don't understand the importance of vaccines and how they work.

Btw OP, I've been very critical of the AZ vaccine but for whatever is worth, you have more chances of getting thrombosis in a long flight than the vaccine. My auntie and her husband in their 70s had it two weeks ago in Spain. So did her daughter who is a teacher in her 40s. My auntie swore she will never get the the AZ vaccine, she was finally convinced by her doctor and neither her or her husband (or daughter) had a side effect. None at all.

May I ask how old are you?

Tootsey11 · 23/04/2021 08:15

Op, you do you, don't let a pile of random people try to convince you to take it or not.

I'm not taking it, but most of my family have. It's entirely up to each individual.

Schrutesbeets · 23/04/2021 08:17

But if the person you give it to has been vaccinated she/he will only suffer mild symptoms, irrespective of age or health condition.

Yeah and that's why those that are vulnerable should get it, and no reason for young healthy people to if you're not worried about covid for yourself. Allowing young healthy people to become infected, whilst protecting the vulnerable with vaccines or shielding will have a much better herd immunity outcome.

I just don't get how people still don't understand herd immunity and how it works.

Vickles20 · 23/04/2021 08:26

My dh had his yesterday. He was in a queue and the lady in charge said it’s a-z today. One lady in the queue just left. The rest stayed. Her decision.
Then a man in the queue had his wife with him even though she hadn’t been called for the vaccine. He asked if there were any left over and could she have it too. They said yes.
This was in our local chemist.
Do what you think is right.
We’ve both had a-z and feel a huge relief to have been vaccinated. Obviously, I was worried for the first 4 weeks after mine. Didn’t feel well for a fortnight. But I’m the other side now and the relief I feel is much better than the nerves I felt for clotting

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