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Original poster

Has anybody managed to get Pfizer instead of astra zeneca?

429 replies

Crovine · 29/04/2021 19:15

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?

OP posts:
Lockheart · 29/04/2021 19:32

@Crovine

What you want doesn't matter.

It does to me.

Not to the NHS though.
LemonTT · 29/04/2021 19:32

Pretty strong direction that only those u30, pregnant or who meet national clinical definition will be offered Pfizer. There are local pathways that exist for this purpose. You need to get referred on to them. There are AZ only pathways too for those with allergies. A GP or consultant can get you referred.

For the rest of us it’s the vaccine available at the time. Right now that’s AZ for 1st dose pretty much everywhere. Hard to avoid it.

A few insiders could leverage your odds for you. But there are very few sites that only do Pfizer. And they don’t keep it in stock like AZ. Nothing would be fool proof.

Tbh I would imagine more than a few people have a fairly good idea on the best solution but find the Pfizer hunters far too sharp elbowed to want to help.

HolmeH · 29/04/2021 19:34

You sound just like the poster whinging about wanting Pfizer or Moderna because of her wedding in July 🙄 you don’t get a choice, it’s a global emergency. You are privileged to get one. These threads are making me beyond angry today as I watch family in India suffer appealing horrors. If your GP thought you had clinical reason to get Pfizer, they’d write you a letter. You clearly just don’t want AZ for whatever reason. So don’t get it. But stop pretending it’s anything other than you think other vaccines are superior (they aren’t).

HolmeH · 29/04/2021 19:35

And also, I work at a vaccine centre. We get Pfizer & AZ. Pfizer is almost 100% allocated to second or scheduled doses.

Didiusfalco · 29/04/2021 19:38

Just leave it a couple of months and then rebook? - there may be more options.

Florelei · 29/04/2021 19:38

Is this a serious post? If you can’t work out a way to get a different jab please do not book any more appointments and potentially waste a dose that could have gone to someone else.

Original poster
Crovine · 29/04/2021 19:38

I'm not getting married in July. Confused I have seven factors in my clinical/medicine/sibling medical history that put me at increased risk of blood clots. Marginal each one, but all present. I don't want astra zeneca for that reason.

OP posts:
QueenofLouisiana · 29/04/2021 19:39

I had Pfizer, no idea why- it’s what I was given in the day. DH had AZ.
I had far more significant side -effects than he did. He is a real dressing gown of doom character do this was definitely a surprise.

QueenofLouisiana · 29/04/2021 19:39

do = so

Scottishgirl85 · 29/04/2021 19:39

Just trust the experts and medics, like I assume you do for any other medication you take.

YonWeeLassie · 29/04/2021 19:39

There isn't enough pfizer for first doses. So even if you go somewhere with pfizer they will all be reserved for 2nd doses.
This may change in the future if you wait long enough.

Justajot · 29/04/2021 19:40

I went to one of the mass vaccination hubs because i wanted to maximize my chance of getting Moderna rather than AZ (Pfizer isn't really available for first doses). It worked, but I would have taken AZ if that's what they had on the day.

I think a mass vaccination hub is more likely to have one of the vaccines that require colder storage.

MWMWMW · 29/04/2021 19:41

@Crovine

What you want doesn't matter.

It does to me.

If everyone thought like you OP, we’d be nowhere near the levels of vaccination that we are currently.

So, thankfully what you want doesn’t matter to the NHS, nor - unless there’s a clinical reason - should it.

EileenGC · 29/04/2021 19:41

You’re not a citizen/resident of any other country, particularly EU? I am currently a legal resident in 3 countries and plan on getting my vaccine in whichever offers me Pfizer first (2 of them allow you to choose).

MWMWMW · 29/04/2021 19:42

@Crovine

I'm not getting married in July. Confused I have seven factors in my clinical/medicine/sibling medical history that put me at increased risk of blood clots. Marginal each one, but all present. I don't want astra zeneca for that reason.
If a GP thought these were clinically significant, presumably they’d ensure you got Pfizer.
OverTheRubicon · 29/04/2021 19:42

@Crovine

I really don’t think you get to choose.

Why the actual fuck not though?

Have you missed that there's a pandemic going on? And a lack of Pfizer jabs? But hey, let's wait on vaccines until we can all get our preferred combo, regardless of actual medical risk factors... Hmm
Original poster
Crovine · 29/04/2021 19:43

Just trust the experts and medics, like I assume you do for any other medication you take.

Well that's the other thing mate. I don't trust them. Due to previous devastating experience.

OP posts:
Doidontimmm · 29/04/2021 19:46

I got Pfizer on Monday as a first jab - Scotland.

Moondust001 · 29/04/2021 19:46

You do know that the "risk" attached to all the vaccines is around the same across the board and very remotely a risk? And significantly lower than most risks you take every day but don't even think about - including contracting the virus.

LemonTT · 29/04/2021 19:48

@Justajot

I went to one of the mass vaccination hubs because i wanted to maximize my chance of getting Moderna rather than AZ (Pfizer isn't really available for first doses). It worked, but I would have taken AZ if that's what they had on the day.

I think a mass vaccination hub is more likely to have one of the vaccines that require colder storage.

No they don’t. They use fridge storage for the most part and a lot aren’t Pfizer assured.

It’s just random pot luck because 1st dose stock is mainly AZ. That could change but no one on social media is going to announce that.

AppleJane · 29/04/2021 19:52

@Doidontimmm

I got Pfizer on Monday as a first jab - Scotland.

That's great, I'm genuinely happy for you.

Original poster
Crovine · 29/04/2021 19:53

Sadly not a resident of another country.

Which hubs are giving out moderna? I heard Sheffield but that was weeks ago.

OP posts:
Delatron · 29/04/2021 19:53

Stop wasting appointments! Don’t keep booking them until you get the vaccine that you have decided is best for you. Plenty of people would love those appointments. I’ve seen some ridiculous things on this board lately.

MarshaBradyo · 29/04/2021 19:55

You may want the Pfizer but it’s hard to get as first dose.

MintyMabel · 29/04/2021 19:56

Pfizer's at present mostly for second jabs.

This is why we got the Pfizer one, they were doing all the second doses.

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