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.

@DixonD

What I mean is there is so little confidence in the AZ vaccine as it is. I’m 38 and booked in for next week on the basis it won’t be AZ.

I agree. I'm just 40 and expected to have AZ (which is not considered safe for my 39 yr old dh) 🙄. I do not plan on having it, so hope I will get the Pfizer along with dh.

Morsehole My DH is 41 and really doesn’t want the AZ either. It’s so upsetting for those especially in their very early 40s when they are so close to the cut off.

Well it looks like things will stay as they are for now, but I guess if cases increase substantially the advice will likely change due to the risk balance. Hopefully not in the next 7 days before I get mine!

I went ahead and had my jag today - turned out to be Astra Zeneca. I just feel fatalistic about it now - what will be will be, and hopefully it'll be fine.

@DixonD

If they do decide this route, people just won’t have any vaccine at all.

Plenty of people will, especially if it means that they become exempt from some restrictions as in Germany.

@Fishandhips

"At the moment we don't think that's neccessary, but it could well become a recommendation in the future."

Seems sensible.

Yes, if the benefits outweigh the risks for people under 40 in the future, then it's sensible for the recommendations to change.

Unkeel that is how I felt in the end when I went to the vaccine centre. I think we are between a rock and a hard place really. The news that vaccines may in the future be mixed triggered my anxiety about it again today, but I don’t know if I have the courage or mental energy to say no, or even if that is the right thing to do if transmission increases, or we are ever going to get out of this situation. I was lucky not to be in that position on Friday but nobody really knows what will happen. All the best

I read the J&J vaccine will be approved imminently, as soon as this coming week possibly. I wonder if they will put an age restriction on that... either way as a one-dose vaccine it should help speed things up and help in some areas where take up has been low.

They are opening bookings for 35+ ages this week, I can't see them changing the recommendation about AZ at this stage, it would just confuse the messaging. Wouldn't make much sense to offer it to 40s and 30-35s for example but not 35-39s and 20-29s.

After what happened in the US with the J&J roll out I would be very surprised if they authorise it without caveats. If there are caveats I don't see it making a difference to progress because they are already more than half way through 2nd dose of higher risk groups and ramping up to 1m shots a day with current stocks.

Even with all the talk of variants and enhanced testing in higher incidence areas cases are back down over the weekend. This is in line with reporting to the Zoe App as tweeted out by Tim Spector on Friday.

Again worth keeping in mind so no-one feels they are making a decision based on panic and worrying having opted for the 1st dose AZ they will spend weeks fretting when they would be more comfortable with a bit of persistence in seeking out an alternative.

@nordica

I read the J&J vaccine will be approved imminently, as soon as this coming week possibly. I wonder if they will put an age restriction on that... either way as a one-dose vaccine it should help speed things up and help in some areas where take up has been low.

They are opening bookings for 35+ ages this week, I can't see them changing the recommendation about AZ at this stage, it would just confuse the messaging. Wouldn't make much sense to offer it to 40s and 30-35s for example but not 35-39s and 20-29s.

Aren’t the odds of clotting significantly less with J&J? Around 1 in 300,000 from CDC data. I wouldn’t hesitate at those odds, personally. And it had better efficacy against the SA variant than AZ in trials.

Thanks, KatySun you too.

@IndigoC I think the risk of clots for J&J are higher than 1/300,000. The highest risk group appears to be women in their 30's with around 1/85,000. This is from the CDC report from 23rd April not sure if it's the most recent

www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2021-04-23/03-COVID-Shimabukuro-508.pdf
look at slide 22

I love how the CDC give incidence rates based on age and gender and how dosages have been given in each age group. If only our authorities were so forthcoming with AZ

Wondering how people are doing?

I'm looking to book my vaccine this week for next week now slots are freeing up for that week, but feel very blue about it all. First time during this whole pandemic I've taken a hit of thinking ive had enough. So fed up of trying to find a way to get non AZ, and the pressure to get vaccinated is awful. I think the thing I don't like is that I believe the information on the vaccine and the new variants is reported in a certain way which makes me double guess the spin on it. I wish the facts were set out straight, for comparison. From all countries.

I've bitten the bullet and booked a slot for tomorrow. I'm very, very nervous. If I'm offered AZ (I'm only just turned 40) I think I'll have to refuse. But I've heard for increasing numbers of 40 yr olds getting Pfizer or Moderna this week so I'm hoping perhaps these are being given more often as first doses now...

I feel bad about potentially wasting a vaccine slot but I also know that my MH is not in a good place right now and I just don't think I'll be able to accept AZ as my anxiety is too high. Feel generally horrible and guilty about the whole situation.

Unfortunately I had to turn down the AZ last week and waste a vaccine slot. Going forward I'm not sure what my plan is. I will either accept my fate with covid or carry on persuing a different vaccine and accept the moral conundrum of wasting vaccine slots. Many people my age I know are putting it off as the non deadly side effects from AZ are too much to cope with alongside school runs etc.

It was interesting at the vaccination centre that they didn't differentiate between the mRNA vaccines and Az "less serious" side effects.

I'm 40 and was vaccinated with Pfizer yesterday. They asked our ages and sent us to the Pfizer queue. It's worth trying walk-in hubs as some seem to be mostly Pfizer.

@QuietLurker

I've bitten the bullet and booked a slot for tomorrow. I'm very, very nervous. If I'm offered AZ (I'm only just turned 40) I think I'll have to refuse. But I've heard for increasing numbers of 40 yr olds getting Pfizer or Moderna this week so I'm hoping perhaps these are being given more often as first doses now...

I feel bad about potentially wasting a vaccine slot but I also know that my MH is not in a good place right now and I just don't think I'll be able to accept AZ as my anxiety is too high. Feel generally horrible and guilty about the whole situation.

My friend refused AZ last week and got Pfizer this week at the same place.

"My friend refused AZ last week and got Pfizer this week at the same place."

I did the exact same thing - had my first Pfizer shot this morning (age 40)

Thanks PhoebeMarsh that's reassuring to hear.

[quote pingalinga]@IndigoC I think the risk of clots for J&J are higher than 1/300,000. The highest risk group appears to be women in their 30's with around 1/85,000. This is from the CDC report from 23rd April not sure if it's the most recent

www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2021-04-23/03-COVID-Shimabukuro-508.pdf
look at slide 22

I love how the CDC give incidence rates based on age and gender and how dosages have been given in each age group. If only our authorities were so forthcoming with AZ[/quote]
Thank you for that. 11.8 per million for 30-39 yo women is still a bit better than AZ (though we can only guess thanks to the lack of proper incidence rate reporting). Interesting that the female skewing correlates with German reporting of AZ clots. Struggling to understand why we’re not saying the same signal here.

Perhaps J&J should be reserved for men of all ages.

^ seeing not saying 🤦‍♀️

I've emailed a few places and they have said AZ only for 40s and over. I'm in a queue along with another 1000 people at a centre giving out Pfizer to over 40s. Think I'll have to discount that.

Virtual waiting list that is