Has anybody managed to get Pfizer instead of astra zeneca?

[Crovine]

If so, please share strategies.

I have a number of issues including sibling medical history that have led me to not want astra zeneca. None of these are on the list of official reasons to avoid it. But I don't want it. I went to my vaccination appointment today and explained this. They said I could have astra zeneca and that it was safe. They said they would not offer Pfizer (which people six feet away were having) because all the doses were allocated. I was advised to get a letter from my GP. However it was my GP who told me to go to the appointment and discuss at the centre. So I left without being vaccinated.

It seems like an impasse.

Has anybody managed to find a way through this?

You're far, far more likely to get blood clots from covid than from a vaccination where the number of incidents is the same as would be experienced in an average population.

Three relatives were hospitalised with covid, and had blood clots. The blood clots were addressed quickly through medication.

Two of them died from pneumonia/ low oxygen levels, though.

Take the vaccine you are offered, or just wait.

@babychange12

Pretend you are pregnant ?

Get pregnant?

@garlictwist

I haven't been offered my vaccine yet but I also want Pfizer. Not because of the blood clot thing because I think that's rare, but everyone I know who has had AZ has had awful side effects.

I do think it's a bit unfair that those of us at the back of the queue have to get AZ while those at the front got Pfizer. There should be a choice.

I think this is part of the problem. People think they're side effects rather than an immune response.

@gamerchick i had az and had no symptoms at all as did my mum and friend
We all had same week and were all fine.
Due to have second in june and am more concerned about clots than side effects personally as other than a sore arm for couple hrs I was fine, so I am keeping close eye ob the data

@Schulte do you have stats for other vaccinations as well ?

I asked for AstraZeneca as I didn't want a mRNA vaccine until they've been around longer. OAZ uses a traditional technology. That said, I'd have accepted either.

The stats are all in the yellow card report which is updated weekly.

@garlictwist

I haven't been offered my vaccine yet but I also want Pfizer. Not because of the blood clot thing because I think that's rare, but everyone I know who has had AZ has had awful side effects.

I do think it's a bit unfair that those of us at the back of the queue have to get AZ while those at the front got Pfizer. There should be a choice.

I agree. I also know hospitals that have been calling 18-30 year olds to get vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine this week. I have a neighbour who is 18 and getting the Pfizer. But I have to wait and get pot luck 🤷‍♀️

@TruelyWonder thanks for links I had read similar which is why I asked totalbeach whO claimed there were no cases at all
Im due to have second Az so keeping qn eye on any developments and dh having vaccine today ( don't know which ) so I am trying to find info about others and any thing we should loom out for

Also.

Astra Zeneca is not for profit.
Pfizer is for profit - they're expecting to make $13 billion from it.

@Schulte I had a look and can't figure it out easily and on these sort of posts only Az is ever mentioned and quoted by people

@worriedatthemoment the link you want is Annex 1 in this document: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-adverse-reactions/coronavirus-vaccine-summary-of-yellow-card-reporting

Annex 1 takes you through to a table with all reported side effects to date for each vaccine. UK data only.

Hope that helps!

@EmmaOvary

You're more likely to get run over going to all these needless repeat appointments than developing a clot from the AZ vaccine.

This!!

I agree. I also know hospitals that have been calling 18-30 year olds to get vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine this week. I have a neighbour who is 18 and getting the Pfizer. But I have to wait and get pot luck

Where are they? I have CEV person in household who qualifies for immediate cohabitanants to be immunised, and although GP endorsed this 3 weeks ago, we still don't have any sign of an appointment. We have to wait for Pfizer to become available, and there seems to be none to be had for first jabs, even though we are in top priority for need.

An 18 yo will only be getting the jab because of their own health issues or because they have a highly immune-compromised person in their households of. I don't begrudge them their jab and more than I begrudge anyone in group 4 or 6. I just wish we were able to get the jab we need. I'd have been more than happy for the teens to take pot luck. But only Pfizer is licensed for their age group.

@gamerchick - that's a really good point in general.

• Injection site issues or allergic response = side effect.
• Chills, fever, headache etc = immune response and common with all vaccines.

As the very rare effects occur with all the vaccines it is most likely they are an immune response. Something may still need to be tweaked with some of the vaccines though e.g. elderly get only 3 flu strains in there vaccine because there were too many issues with the 4 that the rest of us get; younger people may need to be given a weaker vaccine if immune systems of some respond too strongly.

[quote worriedatthemoment]@TruelyWonder thanks for links I had read similar which is why I asked totalbeach whO claimed there were no cases at all
Im due to have second Az so keeping qn eye on any developments and dh having vaccine today ( don't know which ) so I am trying to find info about others and any thing we should loom out for

[/quote]
You can also read EMA statements e.g. www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/european-medicines-agency-more-than-300-cases-rare-blood-clot-events-worldwide-2021-04-20/.

"The European Union’s drug regulator said on Tuesday there had been more than 300 cases worldwide of rare blood clotting incidents combined with low platelet counts after use of COVID-19 vaccines.

There were 287 occurrences with the AstraZeneca vaccine, eight with Johnson & Johnson’s shot, 25 for Pfizer and five for Moderna, said Peter Arlett, Head of Data Analytics at the European Medicines Agency (EMA)." 20th April

With very rare events, they won't all be picked up until the issue is identified, and there will be cases included that aren't linked but happened at a similar time.

Same!!! Family history of blood clots and TIAs and vascular disease, and I have a condition with elevated platelets meaning I have a risk of clots.

Had a similar discussion and was told it’s not an issue, all vaccines have a risk of clots and so does the pill (Which I’ve never been one for these exact reasons). I was told I should have done my research and made up my mind before I came to the appointment. The nurse was rather impatient and rude - I do understand that my hesitation caused an inconvenience, just explaining what it was like.

I ended up having the AZ vaccine,

Please nobody use France as an example of what to do. Marcon is repeatedly accused of not listening to his own experts. That he has appointed himself a covid expert. That poster needs to read something other than British media.

@lucidas we are in the middle of a pandemic. Nothing is at it usually is. Decisions have to be made to vaccinate the population as quickly as possible to prevent increasingly large death tolls. While the lockdown is working, vaccination is important to help prevent variants appearing. In normal circumstances, yes, you would have perhaps more of a choice but we are in a national emergency and you get what the GP decides.

@Crovine

I was literally told by staff at the vaccine hub to book another appointment and see what's available that day rather than walking six feet across the tent to get a jab this evening so I fail to see that I'm doing anything wrong by doing so. The reason I'm asking on here for an alternative plan is to avoid wasting mine and their time in this way. I didn't set this insane fucking system up.

This thread is making you sound very uneducated, very selfish, and also quite aggressive.

You make it sound like people aren't giving you Pfizer because they're all out to get you.

How would you feel if you turned up for your second dose and there wasn't one there, because someone had demanded they have your dose for their first jab, for no reason whatsoever?

If your 'issues' with clotting are as bad as you say, your GP will happily recommend that you don't have AZ. If they say you're fine to have it, you're fine to have it.

Can you imagine what would happen if everyone went in DEMANDING which jab they got? Do you really not understand that there's more than YOU to be considered here?

The risk of clotting is so low it's barely worth concerning yourself over, and the risk of death from clotting is lower again.

Either get what you're given or don't, but for goodness sake don't come on here effing and blinding about it. You're not more important than anyone else.

@Schulte thank you

As I read on Twitter, if your drowning and you get thrown a rubber ring you don’t refuse it and say you’ll wait for the life vest.

Such a bullshit analogy. The OP isn’t drowning. In the true analogy she’s walking down the street and may never even be in the water, and if she’s young and does end up in the water she’s extremely likely to swim to the edge without much trouble. She may not even notice she’s fallen in. But you think she should gratefully cling to the rubber ring which may actually harm her rather than wait for the life vest which keeps her safe and doesn’t hurt her.

@MRex thanks

If anyone knows of a Moderna hub please please DM me. I’m pregnant, going to breastfeed, 36 and don’t want AZ. Thanks.

Side effects data basically reads only 1 in 4 report side effects. Most that do have either or both a sore arm and a headache for a few hours. Most babies get with their first jab: Temperature, sore arm, etc. That is why they tell you to give them calpol 45 minutes before the appointment. It would seem some people expect something for nothing. We put babies through vaccination for their future health. At the time we actually have no idea if the baby will have a much more serious reaction. They have no medical history. Middle aged and older people have more risk from covid. That is the fact.