Alternatives to AstraZeneca vaccine for under 40s “could be considered” amid rise in blood clots 2

[Whichjab]

Just starting another thread as so much information still coming out. Interesting that Germany have just allowed AZ for all that want it.

Note, this is not an Anti-Vaccs thread. It is just a discussion about alternatives.

Can I join you here? I read the other thread with interest, right from when it started.
I'm in my 40s and was due to have my vaccination but cancelled as I just find the increasing numbers too concerning. I know that Covid could be far more dangerous, but knowing that other countries set their age cut off higher than my age, even though they had more daily infections, made me feel too uncomfortable.
I really WANT to be vaccinated. I never thought I'd be someone hesitating over it. I just don't want to have AZ. I hope that I can be offered an alternative, along with anyone else in this age group who's still waiting.

Thanks for the new thread. Marking my place. I’n glad there has been this move, but I’m going to be watching the MHRA stats over the coming weeks with dread, as the yellow card data comes in from the 1000s of people in their 40s who had their jabs over the last week or so.
We really need to keep watching on the sex issue too. It’s so hard to be clear on the scant data the MHRA are publishing, but it looks like the risk for women could be around 1.5 times the risk for men (the precise figure will only be available with an age and sex breakdown of who has had the clots, which the MHRA aren’t giving us)

@TruelyWonder
Like I have said women are NOT more likely to get clots than men

The MHRA report today said different:

"There is now some evidence that the reported incidence rate is higher in females compared to men although this is not seen across all age groups and the difference remains small."

@Carefulvulvadriver yes it's sobering to think that some families are going to lose loved ones because of the delay in making this decision. I've gone from relief for under 40s to anger.

I'm 41 and due mine on Monday which I'm sure will be AZ as in Scotland and our health bird didn't get any Moderna yet

Not necessarily. I'm 43 and got Pfizer today (Aberdeenshire). From comparing notes, our centre seems to have been doing Pfizer all week (dh and a couple of friends got yesterday and more friends got on Tuesday).

@AppleJane

We've been discussing the independent article for the last two hours *@TruelyWonder* on the previous thread.

Sorry been busy

Also be aware that if you are in a low take up area your risk from covid will be higher especially if the India variant does take over. Currently it is threatening to take the place of the Kent variant. So don't take to much time getting that jab.

All the vaccines should be good against the India variant though. AZ was found to be good against this variant. The others shouldn't have any problem too. Not for hospitalisation and death anyway.

@Iceniii and @FourOnTheHill, I know how you feel - I'm also a healthy 43 y old and was not keen on AZ (especially as I have already had covid so was frankly more at risk from a blood clot than the virus). Fortunately I managed to book a centre that had moderna last week but appreciate that's not the case for everyone.

It does feel like the 40+ are dispensable! But glad that the under 40s will at least now have a choice of vaccine.

Welcome @ScarlettSunset I'm the same. I gave myself permission to watch the data for a couple of weeks before deciding and I'm very glad I did now. Sometimes you just have to listen to your gut even if it's not popular.

@TruelyWonder the latest government yellow card report released today noted that women are at higher risk though they are still establishing the extent of the increased risk.

[quote Carefulvulvadriver]@TruelyWonder
Like I have said women are NOT more likely to get clots than men

The MHRA report today said different:

"There is now some evidence that the reported incidence rate is higher in females compared to men although this is not seen across all age groups and the difference remains small."[/quote]
Have you seen the small numbers and tilt it refers too. That is why they won't just change the schedule for women. At the moment the evidence from the UK and the EU does not back an claim this is more of a problem too women. Hence why both genders will get treated the same here and in Europe. Stick yo the facts please. It causes people more confusion and worry if you don't.

It causes people more confusion and worry

Tomorrow's announcement will certainly cause confusion and worry.

I think what they may have to do is what Germany were suggesting. Let the under 40s choice to have a slightly later different jab but AZ straight away. We have a decent stockpile of Pfizer now but not enough yet to totally replace AZ. Moderna is only coming slowly and lumpy.

Wondering if this will happen at all actually even if the suggestion has been made and the papers are saying

Could get very interesting

The EMA stats show that it’s actually the 40-49 band at most risk of actually sustaining clots but supply issues mean we’re foisted with AZ and the government won’t admit that. Probably why it still refuses to give actual incidence rates per dose in each age group.

The Germans concluded in a study this week that age was minimally correlated, that it was being female that was the most significant risk factor (3.5x risk).

@AppleJane

It causes people more confusion and worry

Tomorrow's announcement will certainly cause confusion and worry.

You miss judge the majority of the British public. Most people don't hang out on vaccination threads or look at the yellow card system etc. They listen to the experts and take their advice.

If the government says we have been watching and now the data says we need to change tack. However second doses will go ahead as planned. Then people will continue to get jabbed under the new rules.

The truth is that most people have more risks in their lifes than the one from a jab. They just want to get life back to normal and make sure their vulnerable relatives are safe.

Some newspapers and social media may make a fuss though. What don't they make a fuss about 🤷‍♀️

I came across the original thread the other day and was happy to read I’m not alone in feeling unsure and apprehensive. I’m a healthy 46yo and most of my family/friends have had it and can’t understand why I haven’t. My FIL was really awful to me the other day in front of our son which I was really annoyed about saying it’s people like me who will be spreading it still. Our government have made so many bad judgements/decisions throughout the past year and this age group decision which differs from most other countries purely appears to be based on supply of AZ and meeting vaccination targets which worries me. I’m sticking with my instincts and watching and waiting for further data.

I didn't see any announcements about a change to include us 30 somethings today - any idea if/when it may happen?

Just read in the independent an announcement will be made Friday that they are offering under 40s an alternative to AZ

www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-vaccine-astrazeneca-blood-clots-cases-latest-b1842455.html

I don't believe it's to do with blood clots. There are rare risks with all the vaccines

It's interesting to see news reports that Pfizer appears effective against the new strains.

It’s a fucking disgrace they didn’t release these stats earlier. And it will be a further disgrace if they don’t admit publicly that the biggest age group is risk is actually 40-50.

This will damage faith in vaccines in the U.K. for years when it all comes out.

According to the Times there are 4.5 million people aged 30-39. I know anecdotally among friends lots have already been vaccinated for various reasons so the number of us needing Pfizer/Moderna now really isn't that huge.

The Times also says AZ will still be on offer for this age group if the wait for an alternative is long. Sounds like those who want it can have it and those of us who don't mind a wait for a safer vaccine can get Pfizer/Moderna. 🙂

@Swimbikerunmummy

I’m 44 and not had mine yet. I am positive lupus anticoagulant so wanted to wait for more data and my area has v low covid levels at present. When I spoke to my gp about waiting (back in March when the first clot data came out) she was very cross with me for being hesitant, but I feel like my hesitancy has been justified.

I posted this on the old thread and I've copied it here for you. By the way I think your GP has a fucking cheek being 'very cross' with you 😡

I'm 48 and have the autoimmune disorder antiphospholipid syndrome. My GP has agreed to let me have the Pfizer jab when it is available as I am not comfortable having AZ. I am lucky- many GP's can't or won't offer this.
I believe from looking at the vaccine leaflets online that the only clinical indications for having an alternative vaccine in over 30s are history of thrombocytopaenia or antiphospholipid syndrome- these may well increase your risk of having a serious blood clot from the AZ vaccine.
Also as the infection rates are so low in the uk at the moment, my risk of a blood clot from the vaccine, with APS, may well be higher than my current risk of an ICU admission from catching Covid.

One thing I would like to see is a better breakdown of risk of blood clots FROM COVID. It’s convenient to say ‘the risk of clots from covid is ten times as high as the risk from AZ’ but if the risk of clots from covid is mainly linked to ICU admission or to older people, then my risk of clots from covid is likely to be significantly lower than the stated figure, as a healthy 41 year old who has had covid and has since been exposed to it multiple times. I’m very near the current cut off for being allowed a choice and I believe the fact I’ve had covid puts me well under that threshold in terms of personal risk. I will be discussing it with my GP if I get a chance but frankly I’m in no hurry, will wait and see how this all plays out.

@TruelyWonder

www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-vaccine-astrazeneca-blood-clots-cases-latest-b1842455.html

Looks like we may be changing schedule now because of latest numbers

Like I have said women are NOT more likely to get clots than men

Also on the Germany thing. It is because the risks of covid in all age ranges are more than from the vaccine now. They are having a third wave and all that.

We discussed this at length yesterday - the German study suggests a threefold increase of clots in women versus men.