Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Anyone requested an alternative to the AZ at the appointment?

38 replies

pinkbabybeck · 03/05/2021 10:06

Hello, I’m feeling nervous about get the AZ jab. Mainly due to severe health anxiety, increased hereditary risks and I suffer from migraines with Aura.
I’ve got my vaccination booked and I was hoping when I got there I might be able to speak to someone about my concerns and be offered an alternative. Has anyone got any experience of this?
I believe the large site I am booked into has both the AZ and Pfizer.
If they don’t offer me Pfizer, am I able to walk away without having it?
Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
RedMarauder · 03/05/2021 10:13

If you want.

You do realise both types of vaccines are associated with risks of rare blood clots? mRNA ones e.g. Pfizer are associated with portal vein thrombosis. This is at a higher incident than the CVT that the adenovirus vectors vaccines e.g. AZ are associated with.

Regardless the risks with both are extremely much lower than the risk of any type of blood clot if you catch Covid.

nonaomi · 03/05/2021 10:15

@RedMarauder can you share more about the Pfizer risk you mentioned ? Why isn't there more in the news about that ?

User89044 · 03/05/2021 10:16

I suspect the Pfizer will be being used for second doses only. It might be worth contacting the centre to find out about this before turning up so you don't waste an appointment. There may be other centres you could travel to that are known to be doing Moderna, where are you based?

nonaomi · 03/05/2021 10:16

@RedMarauder why have countries not stoped Pfizer's, the same way they've stoped AZ and JJ?

Excilente · 03/05/2021 10:17

@nonaomi because its not british made.

Wellbythebloodyhell · 03/05/2021 10:17

Doses will be allocated on site dependant on the amount of appointments that day, they don't have double the amount so every one can have a choice Hmm you basically get what your given. If there's a medical reason to have a certain vaccine speak to your GP they can put you on the pathway for that specific vaccine

nonaomi · 03/05/2021 10:18

@Excilente it does feel like they've had it in for AZ since the beginning...

RedcurrantPuff · 03/05/2021 10:18

Not another one of these threads

Countrylane · 03/05/2021 10:21

Of course you can walk away, but bear in mind that you would be quite deliberately wasting a vaccine that I - for one, along with literally billions of people around the world - have been waiting for desperately for months. If you were at genuine risk from the AZ jab, your doctor would ensure you didn't get it. I don't think it's appropriate to do that based on "health anxiety". It's pure selfishness.

Frazzled2207 · 03/05/2021 10:21

It’s fine to ask if they have Pfizer in stock but if they don’t or won’t give it to you bear in mind the “system” will think you’ve had it and I really am not sure how you’d go getting about another appointment.

Frazzled2207 · 03/05/2021 10:24

Ps centres generally do a certain vaccine on a certain day. The ones I’ve volunteered in have Az as “spares” on Pfizer/Moderna days but not vv because Pfizer has to be defrosted very carefully and ensured that it is all used up that day.
Az OTOH sits quite nicely in a fridge for days hence is used for backups. So I do think that unless your centre is routinely using Pfizer that day for first doses (unlikely but not impossible) the chances they’ll get out Pfizer for you are low.

RedMarauder · 03/05/2021 10:25

@nonaomi it's bank holiday here and I have to look after a toddler. If someone else has not posted journal links by tonight I will post some.

And yes the indications are it is political as the J&J vaccine, another adenovirus vector vaccine, hasn't been pulled in the USA.

HolmeH · 03/05/2021 10:26

I work in a vaccine centre OP- Pfizer is being used 100% for second doses here or GP referrals for those under 30 needing it eg. pregnant. Pfizer is only given as a first dose in the rare occasion we have some spare but second dose uptake is very high.

Moderna is being used for first doses but not with us. It’s specific sites.

You can walk away, people have at my centre. We all just shrug & feel disappointed the media have put the fear of god into people. But it’s your choice.

Worth noting, the clot risk with migraine is a completely different type of clot. I’m a ocular migraine sufferer. I get the disturbed vision to the point I can’t see but not the headache. I wanted some more info so I had a good chat to my GP. The clot risk when AZ is a very specific type of clot in the brain caused by low platelets. With migraine is a venous thrombosis (clot in the veins). Obviously, no clot is good but my GP (who I have full trust in, he’s been my champion over the years during complicated & very poorly pregnancies & postpartum) was adamant there was no increased risk of the vaccine specific clot as it’s a different action in the body.

MRex · 03/05/2021 10:26

If you have health anxiety and believe your migraine fines you a specific risk factor (unclear where you've read that as I haven't seen anything), then you should speak with your GP to make sure you are comfortable with the vaccination process before deciding whether or not to proceed. It isn't appropriate to take up a lot of time at the vaccination centre, nor to take a slot if you won't be vaccinated. Please leave the slots for those who want to use them.

nonaomi · 03/05/2021 10:30

[quote RedMarauder]@nonaomi it's bank holiday here and I have to look after a toddler. If someone else has not posted journal links by tonight I will post some.

And yes the indications are it is political as the J&J vaccine, another adenovirus vector vaccine, hasn't been pulled in the USA.[/quote]
Thank you. I'll do some more research too. I thought that JJ had been halted too somewhere.

Anonmousse · 03/05/2021 10:31

I had my vaccine yday. I sat down and the nurse just said "its AZ."
I suppose at that point I could have refused, or asked if they had an alternative but it didnt found like a choice. A friend had the Moderna one a couple of days ago at a different centre but I think it wont be as common because it's more expensive, I believe.

Anonmousse · 03/05/2021 10:31

Found = sound!!

Trumplosttheelection · 03/05/2021 10:34

No you can't request one and please don't waste the appointment. Either you want a vaccine or you don't.

Original poster
pinkbabybeck · 03/05/2021 10:42

Thank you, I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Your comments are really useful to me.

OP posts:
starfish4 · 03/05/2021 11:26

You're free to walk away, but as said it's a vaccine dose that someone desperately wants - my 19 year DD would have it now if she could.

If you're worried, it's really best to discuss with your doctor. I'm comparing us to many third world countries, but we're incrediably lucky to live in the UK where we have access to vaccines so soon. I've had both doses of AZ, the second one after the news of blood clots - I can't go on living like this, so having the vaccine was the easy decision.

Frazzled2207 · 03/05/2021 11:38

@Anonmousse

I had my vaccine yday. I sat down and the nurse just said "its AZ." I suppose at that point I could have refused, or asked if they had an alternative but it didnt found like a choice. A friend had the Moderna one a couple of days ago at a different centre but I think it wont be as common because it's more expensive, I believe.
there's less of it which is the main reason .UK government ordered 100m doses of AZ and 17m doses of moderna.
Throughabushbackwards · 03/05/2021 11:44

I felt like you OP. I had extreme AZ anxiety and asked the nurses lots of questions at my appointment. They were kind and understanding and spent time talking to me about the risks and also detailed the symptoms of the clotting and what it feels like. I had the 1st AZ dose on Friday and have spent the following days at home resting. I had some of the normal side effects (sore arm, fever) but feel fine otherwise. It's felt like it has been a big deal for me but I'm determined to see the bigger picture and know rationally that we all need to have it to get back to some kind of normal.

unchienandalusia · 03/05/2021 12:34

Op take a look at the images coming from India. And ask yourself if you are really happy to waste a vaccination. The risk of AZ is beyond minuscule. But if you're not prepared to take it please do t waste the appointment and potentially the dose.

PurplePumpkinDream · 03/05/2021 13:24

I agree with others on here why are we so anxious about the AZ and ask for the Pfizer when it can cause clots too plus anaphylactic shock? Confused

Jujean · 03/05/2021 14:17

OP: yes, you can refuse AZ and walk away. The vaccine does not get wasted - it just means someone else will get the jab. My partner got the AZ a week ago through a walk-in at the science museum - he was eligible age wise but had not booked and chanced it. They agreed to jab him even though he did not have an appointment.

And if you change your mind down the line you can still get vaccinated even if you have missed or turned down an appointment.

Re Pfizer/Moderna vs AZ, AZ has had the highest blood clot incidents to date (hence the partial bans in various countries) but overall the risk is small either way.