Anyone want a BIG UP AZ thread?

[ClingFilmAndGafferTape]

There are threads a plenty at the moment about people not wanting the AZ thread so being a kind person I thought it would be good to have a big up AZ thread for those worrying about having it.

Full disclosure - I had AZ this week and the day after wasn't the best. But I'm not going to go on about that here because we've seen it all on other threads. But I'm so happy that day is behind me and I'm on my way to immunity. Anyone else want to contribute to help those that are worried?

I'm grateful to all those who worked so hard on creating the vaccines, those who stepped up for the trials and continue to give up their time on that, and to all those who are making and distributing the vaccines. I'm grateful regardless of whether it's Oxford Astrazeneca, Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna, Janssen, Novovax, Valneva or Covivax. I'm even grateful to those where it didn't work out but they tried, such as Sanofi and Imperial. Their collective ingenuity is remarkable and will save countless lives.

But I am particularly grateful to Oxford Astrazeneca because that's the jab I've had, because that's the jab the majority in the UK have had that's brought down hospitalisation and death rates, and because that's the jab that has already gone to tens of millions through Covax.

I feel very privileged to have had AZ vaccine, i’m a 51 year old female, I felt a bit achy and shivering for 24hrs but nothing a paracetamol wouldn’t fix. You look at scene’s in India and they are charging a fortune for the vaccine, it makes me very grateful that I have had it free and with ease, the vaccine centre is 5 mins from my house, in and out in 5 mins as well, very well organised.

Great thread. I had my first dose of AZ just over 2 weeks ago. I’m very grateful and looking forward to the second. My DH had AZ and so far most of my friends have had it as well. My sister (who works for Pfizer!) has also had AZ. That they produced it at cost price is incredible and it’s having a massive impact on the pandemic here. I’m fed up of the negativity towards it. There have even been studies in India showing it to be effective against the variant there. twitter.com/sailorrooscout/status/1385263624940408832

@mrsknottschicken

Thanks for posting this! I have been worrying about the double mutant, thats good news.

I had my AZ at beginning of March, was achy for a day but otherwise fine. I will be due my second one soon. DH has also had his, same side effects had to take paracetamol for a day. We also had Covid at Christmas.

I have just been invited to enrol in the REACT study to check for antibodies so hoping I am protected

I had the AZ vaccine 12 days ago and I was really pleased to have it. I had minor side effects, I felt very sick in the night, couldn't sleep and my arm hurt. That was a small price to pay to be vaccinated though and I can't wait for the second (or as much as someone with a needle phobia can't wait!). My big worry is we'll stop using it and I won't get it.

One thing (and I'll ask on here rather than any of the other threads!) - my arm still aches very slightly and feels bruised. It's nothing major but I was wondering if anyone knew if that was normal. I don't want to ask on the other threads as it's nothing major and I'm just being curious!

Yes! Here for this. I think a balanced debate is far enough but there is a lot of negative press that seems unfair.

I think watching the Indian situation on the news and then realising that the at cost, easy to transport AZ vaccine is the one that could save them there helps perspective.

40's and had first AZ, felt fine. Counting down the days to my summer hols.

I had my first shot of the AZ vaccine 5 weeks ago. I'm 48. Had a bit of headache and a sore arm, but that was it. I am looking forward to getting the second dose and am so grateful to be able to have a vaccine.

All of my family in this country have had the AZ - DH, my parents, my DSis and BIL. We have all been fine, and we will all get our second jabs if we haven't already had them.

I'm really proud of the fact that AZ is being supplied at cost, and very sad that AZ is not getting more credit for this. Obviously, the blood clot issue is a concern, and the situation needs to be monitored carefully, but it would be a tragedy to let thousands more people around the world die from covid because of fears about the much smaller risk posed by the vaccine.

I'm getting jab one next week and I guess the likelihood is that it'll be AZ, so just wanted to get in here! It's so shitty how this vaccine is being reported and how much scaremongering there is. I do feel a little apprehensive about side effects, which seem to kick in a bit more strongly with this one, but so grateful to the Oxford team, and so sorry that they've had such a crap time in the media and on here.

Thanks for this thread I am booked in for my jab. I was fine and looking forward to it before I was called up but now I feel worried due to the rare blood clot side effect that has been reported. This thread helps calm my nerves thank you everyone

@PinkSparklyPussyCat my arm still hurts if I sleep on it and I am 16 days post-jab. I’m not bothered. I read a really interesting article about why your arm hurts - I’ve always assumed it was basically an injury from the vaccine but it’s your immune system recognising a “threat” and sending cytokines (I think) to where the vaccine went in, and this can irritate nerves and cause pain. Absolutely fascinating.

A physical injury from the actual needle, I meant.

I think this down to our amazing vaccine rollout, without it I dread to think what state the U.K. would be in now.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56923757

Thanks @mrsknottschicken. It doesn't bother me, hence not wanting to put it on the other threads! It probably didn't help when I found what I thought was a spot on my arm and picked about at it and then worked out it was the injection site!

Great thread, OP, thank you.

I had my first AZ dose 2 weeks ago. I'm 46. Very slightly fuzzy head the next day, but nothing really. Same for DH.

Our DPs and my DSIS have all had AZ too, no problems at all.

Looking forward to getting my 2nd dose at the beginning of July.

And let's not forget that AZ are not taking any profit from their vaccine - certain other pharma companies are making a tidy sum out of theirs...

Had AZ about 24 hours ago, feel absolutely fine so far. Feel proud and grateful to have had it. Easy to transport and store, low cost vaccines will be what gets the whole world out of this sorry mess and I, for one, will be getting AstraZeneca tattooed on both buttocks as a thank you.

59 here had both jabs. Felt a bit rubbish after the second one, but it was only a 24 hour thing..fine now.

My sister-in-law is Coeliac and all sorts of other allergies and they wouldn't let her have the Pfizer..she had to wait for the AZ.

it's a little miracle that's what it is. Sometimes it just hits me how incredible it is that there are vaccines and how amazing the NHS roll-out has been. I'm hearing horror stories from Canada about problems with distribution.

It really feels like we may be coming out of the other side of this now. Can you imagine how awful it would have been if we'd been in lockdoen for a year and there was no vaccine and no end in sight.

@Tereseta

I have history of pulmonary embolism and blood clots. Is there a way to find out if I am at any risk? Just about to book my jab and don't want to waste their time.

Hi!

I’ve had pulmonary embolism twice and three DVTs. I had AZ and was perfectly fine. My blood clots were down to taking the birth control pill.

If you are curious about your clot risk you could ask your doctor to run a Factor V Leiden test. Mine was normal. Or just ask them for advice on what vaccine to take. They may refer you for Pfizer or Moderna.

I hope it all goes well for you.

I have had a PE and have APS. I had AZ in February and was fine. My hospital clinic have advised me to have the second jab as I had no adverse effects from the first jab (sore arm and a massive hot flush!).

Great thread - I had my first AZ a week ago and took a lemsip the next morning as felt a bit achey and fluey. Arm ached for a few days and have been a little bit tired in the afternoons - so have been having a little snooze each day as I figure my body needs the rest as it's producing lots of lovely antibodies. I don't think I'd realised what a low lying feeling of anxiety I'd had as I felt quite emotional and full of relief for a couple of days after. Also the set up was fantastic at the vacc centre - can't have been there for more than 5 mins in total and was pretty joyous seeing a load of people who were happy to have it done and be nearing the end of this terrible year.

Feeling crap today (hot and cold fever) and tired post AZ on Thursday pm. It is worth it though and I am so grateful to have had it. Sore arm too but such is life. Better to be vaccinated!

Most of my family have had AZ and I'm so pleased we're on our way to being fully vaccinated.

Our side effects were:

Me: sore arm, (possibly cellulitis at jab site)
Dh: felt a bit flu-ey
Ds1: felt a bit flu-ey
Db1: no side effects
Sil: apparently felt ill
Db2: headache
Nana: bit of a headache
Mil: felt ill and phoned for an ambulance but she is 91 and I think she was just worried. She was fine after a couple of days and had no side effects from second jab.

We've done a great job with the rollout and the uptake of vaccines so let's just hope it's as effective against other strains so we can get back to normality and help less fortunate countries.

I'm having my second dose tomorrow

My family and I are all CEV due to ethnicity and various underlying conditions - if we get Covid, we're toast. The AZ vaccine has quite literally saved my entire family from dying horribly and alone. Being able to resume our lives soon, and feeling that burden of fear lift and knowing that the people I love are safe, is a priceless blessing.

Yes, a couple of us felt bad flu-like symptoms for a few days the first time, (the toxicity profile of the paracetamol chaser was probably worse than the vaccination!), but second jabs have been fine, but frankly it could have made my arm fall off, and I would still kneel at Sarah Gilbert's feet in thanks.

And this miracle is being offered free to us, and at cost price to the world. It can be stored in an ordinary fridge and distributed to the poorest parts of the globe. It is quite literally going to save the world. Think of the sorrow of billions of people over history dying of transmissible illness who would have begged for a drug half so safe and a third so effective. Think of the thousands in India right now mourning today and wishing their relatives had had it yesterday. I cannot believe the foolishness and ingratitude of some threads on here. Yes, a few may need to chat to their GP first, but so many are simply shortsighted entitlement and lack of understanding of risk

Great thread. I had my first dose in February and experienced shivering/sweating overnight. Saw off a thumping headache (due to dehydration probably) in the morning with lots of water and was absolutely fine after that. Second dose in 10 days - can't wait.

I saw AZ described as the "workhorse vaccine for the world" in a report in the week - it's effective, inexpensive, and easily transported and stored. I am hugely grateful to every single person involved in any way whatsoever with it's development, trialling, manufacturing, distribution and jabbing!