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 sound like a spoilt little brat OP

@QueenOfPain how do you know which hub is linked to the hospital? We have a big district one here but the hubs are nowhere near it.

I was given Pfizer due to a significant history and my GP said it was important enough to err on the side of caution against AZ. If your GP didn't think it was necessary, just get AZ, they've got decades more experience of this stuff than you do.

I don't agree that members of the public should be able to choose.

But it's also wrong to say that all Pfizer at the moment is second doses. I had my first jab on Tuesday in Glasgow and it was Pfizer. According to the stats there were 6832 first doses given in Scotland yesterday - 5256 were Pfizer which is 77%.

My husband and I are the same age (53)

I had Oxford he had Pfizer

He has a history of heart attacks (at age 46) along with rampant heart issues in the rest of his family. He’s also a lifetime smoker.

I have no heart issues and never smoked.

Seems to me the people with certain health issues are being offered Pfizer, and the ones without, Oxford.

I can't help you with your search for Pfizer, but honestly, some of the responses on here. Good luck finding something, usually we're encouraged to make our own informed decisions about our healthcare, and I know what it's like to lose trust after having been let down.

Other countries offer a choice. You’re not being unreasonable.

And others don't. Where I live there is only one vaccine, you take it or leave it.

Good luck getting the vax you want.
The replies on here are ridiculous.
Something I learnt on mumsnet:
You are allowed to say you want to go in holiday abroad in the middle of a pandemic, because it’s your human right but you aren’t to wonder where you can find a vaccine brand of your choice.

If your GP didn't think it was necessary, just get AZ, they've got decades more experience of this stuff than you do.

The scientists who developed the vaccine didn't know the blood clots would occur, don't know why they are occuring and don't know what puts you more at risk. So a GP isn't going to have that much of interest to add tbh.

@Canyouexplainhowthatis

Other countries offer a choice. You’re not being unreasonable.

That doesn’t help the op get a vaccine does it?

As much as they might think they’re reasonable the booking system thinks she’s had it already.

@Crovine

I'm not getting married in July. 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.

However you have to weight up the fact that having Covid puts you at a greater risk of blood clots than having AZ vaccine....

I actually took a spare vaccine at a hub last week. They had 12 left due to people refusing AstraZeneca and still threw 8 away after trying their best to get people in - because of people not showing up or refusing it when they got there. Terrible. Honestly, booking appointments then walking away on the day DOES cause harm through wastage.

When the great day arrived and they said you're going to get AZ my heart momentarily fell and a mild dose of vaccine envy briefly passed my mind. That said they're all good and no one could reliably say which one they would tolerate the best on the day.

I can't help you with your search for Pfizer, but honestly, some of the responses on here. Good luck finding something, usually we're encouraged to make our own informed decisions about our healthcare, and I know what it's like to lose trust after having been let down.

Absolutely echoing @TabbyStar People have lost their fucking minds in this pandemic.

Good luck, OP. There is nothing wrong with wanting to choose what gets injected into your body, and there's also nothing wrong with having doubts about a vaccine where unsettling data is still emerging and entire countries (most of them) have banned the vaccine in your age group, or altogether.

OP might be worth calling 119 and updating them that you haven't had your vaccine so you can try again. When I booked mine it told me the venue used AstraZeneca right at the point of booking. At that point I was happy to take it as I trusted that the scientists knew everything they needed to know. Hmmm. But I was given that info, so maybe other venues do this too.

People have lost their fucking minds in this pandemic.

Agree but for reverse reason.

Posts like this make a mockery of people who have blood clot disorders like myself. It’s just so stupid and bigoted and uniformed. OP if you don’t want the vaccine because you have anxiety fine, don’t have it. But not wanting the vaccine because you have a risk of blood clots is a joke. Loads of us with clotting disorders have had the AZ vaccine without side effects, stop whipping up hysteria and get educated.

@Bolshybun
'I actually took a spare vaccine at a hub last week. They had 12 left due to people refusing AstraZeneca and still threw 8 away after trying their best to get people in - because of people not showing up or refusing it when they got there. Terrible. Honestly, booking appointments then walking away on the day DOES cause harm through wastage.'

This is horrendous. All those advising the OP to make multiple appointments until they get their own way, take note. The vaccine you refuse could quite literally be binned because you refused it.

People like you make me wish the NHS charged time wasters. Honestly this behaviour is so selfish.

You are wasting NHS resources including the time of all the staff manning the vaccination centre.

@Crovine

preferably don't

And what the fuck does that mean?

Shit, apologies I meant preferably DO I don’t agree with you but I still don’t wish Covid on you

@Shrivelled

Posts like this make a mockery of people who have blood clot disorders like myself. It’s just so stupid and bigoted and uniformed. OP if you don’t want the vaccine because you have anxiety fine, don’t have it. But not wanting the vaccine because you have a risk of blood clots is a joke. Loads of us with clotting disorders have had the AZ vaccine without side effects, stop whipping up hysteria and get educated.

I'm happy for you that you felt comfortable taking the vaccine and had no issues, but that doesn't invalidate others' concerns. I don't quite understand how OP having a preference as to her own health care based on a condition we don't yet fully understand makes a mockery of you? I also don't get how OP can be "uninformed" on an issue that we still don't have much information on, i.e what the risk factors are for the blood clotting condition.

not wanting the vaccine because you have a risk of blood clots is a joke.

Not wanting a specific vaccine associated with a blood clotting disorder, because you have a risk of blood clots, and there are other vaccines available, is a joke? Really?

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable either. I imagine it’ll be hard to find another option but with a bit of perseverance and being willing to wait it’s not impossible. I hate all this you shouldn’t have an opinion on which vaccination you feel most comfortable having and should just behave and take what you’re offered. I know we are in the middle of a pandemic and are fortunate to have the opportunity to have a vaccination but they aren’t without health implications. In reality though supples are limited and AZ has been allocated in large numbers this combined with under 30s (and I’m guessing possibly soon under 40s too?) being offered an alternative, this will make it harder to access anything different.

I think if someone refuses AZ like this they should be put to the back of the queue for rebooking - you are wasting people's time and potentially wasting valuable vaccine if it goes unused and has to be thrown away.

I have a medical history that puts me at higher risk for blood clots and for having a bad reaction to the vaccine but my GP has said the risk of bad reaction to covid is much higher and that I should go ahead and have the AZ. I am therefore booked in for next week. I have to admit I am very nervous and would rather have Pfizer but I trusting my GP and going with it....

If your GP doesn't agree that there is a reason to consider a particular vaccine increased risk but you want mRNA then wait until the 20yo are being jabbed and book in, much more likely to get something not AZ at that time. It might be Novovax though. Or other information might have come to light about risks of other vaccines that changes your perspective. Don't waste everyone's time setting up appointments if you have no intention of being jabbed though, that's not fair to those waiting patiently for their chance to get an appointment.

@mangodreams absolutely this. I've had a blood clot - in pregnancy - and would jump at a jab. Any jab. Can't wait to have had mine.

OP you're wasting people's time.