What would happen if you didn’t get a second Vaccine?

[peacheswithcream]

I’m 35 with no underlying health conditions.

I was contacted by my GP in March to say I was eligible for the vaccine.

I contacted the surgery to query this, but the receptionist told me I was categorised under group 6 and I should take the vaccine.

I was thrilled and didn’t query this any further, I honestly just happily skipped along to the vaccination centre to get my first dose. I was given AstraZeneca.

I’m now due my second dose in 2 weeks and given the new guidance for under 40’s I really don’t know what to do.

I wish I had’ve waited, because if I had, I now wouldn’t be given AstraZeneca.

I have several friends in their late 30’s who have recently received their first dose of Pfizer.
I feel so envious and if I’m honest angry.

I know I should be extremely grateful that I have some protection, but I feel angry that I was so willing to just take a vaccine which is now being discontinued in my age group.

To date there have been 8 documented cases of blood clots following a second dose, and whilst I understand this number is small, I don’t think it’s a risk I want to take.

I tried to get an appointment with my GP last week to talk about this but I couldn’t get an appointment.
I asked the receptionist if she could see my medical records and tell me why I was group,
she told me It was relating to gestational diabetes (I was pregnant in 2019) so obviously my records hadn’t been updated.

I feel so angry with myself that I didn’t question this at the time I was offered the vaccine, but I was just so happy to be getting one that I went along with it.

I know no one can make my decision for me, it is anyone feeling the same way?

Be grateful you have been offered an early vaccine, and get your second dose.

Or don’t, I don’t really care. I’m sick of people being so bloody ungrateful about being offered a vaccine that could save their life.

Ps if you have ever been on the pill you have had a higher risk of developing blood clots.

What will happen?

Well, nobody can tell you for sure, but you will obviously be at greater risk of getting seriously ill with covid, especially as rates start to rise again. If your GP put you in Group 6, that would be a bit of a concern for me, but you seem to be implying that that was a mistake? I'd be asking your GP why you were in group 6 as a starting point.

I get your concern about the vaccine to some extent, but the number of clots after the second dose really is very low. I'll be getting my second dose of AZ without question. We're heading into a third wave by the looks of it, and I'm not willing to take the risk of not being fully vaccinated.

I'm in my thirties, have had two doses of AZ. Was very happy to have my second dose, didn't consider at all not having it.
If you turn down your second dose you will have less protection. At some point in the future you might be able to have a second dose of a different vaccine but that isn't currently being offered.

They are talking about lowering the age limit for AZ again if the cases get any worse.

I would take it.

Covid is vile.

@Eminybob

Be grateful you have been offered an early vaccine, and get your second dose.

Or don’t, I don’t really care. I’m sick of people being so bloody ungrateful about being offered a vaccine that could save their life.

Ps if you have ever been on the pill you have had a higher risk of developing blood clots.

@Eminybob

I’m not ungrateful, I am very grateful to have been vaccinated, hence zero hesitation to take up the offer in the first place.

However, given the risks and the fact that my age group would now not be given the AZ vaccine, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to feel the way I do.

Ps. I’ve never taken the contraceptive pill, nor do I regularly fly (before that one comes up) so that comparison for me is irrelevant.

Well, nothing exactly will happen, but your protection will be reduced. Estimates vary a lot but it's estimated one vaccine reduces your chance of getting covid by about 60-70%, and if you have a second vaccine your risk of getting covid reduces by about 90-95%. Personally I'd say the risk from covid is greater than the risk of getting a blood clot (which is really tiny), but obviously it's your choice.

I think the risk of covid is going to be a lot higher soon once we all start mixing indoors. The risk of blood clots with covid is much higher than with the Astra Zeneca vaccine. I have had my first dose, about three weeks ago. I was worried but more relieved I’d begun to protect myself from covid.
What stops me worrying is we know what to look out for and the NHS know how to treat it so just be aware of any new strong headaches/stomach aches/etc (listed on the info leaflet) and carry on with your life knowing you’ve done your bit.

@paralysedbyinertia

If your GP put you in Group 6, that would be a bit of a concern for me, but you seem to be implying that that was a mistake? I'd be asking your GP why you were in group 6 as a starting point.

I explained in my op. I had gestational diabetes during pregnancy (2019) this was on my medical records and was flagged up when the coding was done for the vaccine (this is what the receptionist told me)

Well if you didn't get a blood clot with the first one what makes you worry about the 2nd one?

You are more likely to have a blood clot through catching Covid than from the vaccine. You are also being selfish as by not being protected by the vaccine means you could infect someone else- including the many cancer sufferers that are not protected by the vaccine. www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1005

The clotting has occurred more in people who have had platelets as a transfusion a few days before. There hasn't been much said about this but it is a contributing factor

You'll have a good level of protection from just one dose and given that you're a low risk group for Covid I wouldn't beat yourself up about it if you don't want to have the second one. A friend of mine has been advised not to have the second one due to a medical issue and assured that they are still well protected from the single dose.

Having the same thoughts as you OP, I was given AZ early as the clinic where my Aunty works had spare doses that needed to be used. This was about a week before the blood clot news came out and I am so annoyed that had I not have taken up the offer I would have had an alternative to AZ. I am early 30s no underlying conditions, very fit and healthy so covid poses no realistic risk to me but the vaccine does. I felt awful for weeks after having the first dose, headaches, muscle aches and found it difficult to run or do any strenuous exercise for a good 3 weeks afterwards. I am very reluctant to have the second dose but feel there is no alternative to be “fully vaccinated” which I am only concerned about to be able to go to events/ on holiday.

People saying it’s wrong to have doubts or that it’s selfish please take your opinion elsewhere unless you are also in the same position as the OP.

It’s very interesting how so many people keep using the ‘if you take the pill’ argument, as if no woman has ever read the risks associated with the contraceptive pill. I’ve never taken the pill because of the risks (I have a history of blood clots). Lots of people look carefully at risk /benefit balances in life, it isn’t ungrateful- it’s sensible.

@mn81987

Well if you didn't get a blood clot with the first one what makes you worry about the 2nd one?

@mn81987

There is still a risk of a clot with the second jab.

8 documented cases so far.

Yes, this is a small number, but it doesn’t rule
out the fact that the clots won’t occur just because they didn’t after a first dose.

Just to add to what HairyFloppins wrote, they are now offering AZ to everyone in Germany whatever their age to increase the numberbof vaccinated people.

My view is that if you are young, have no underlying health conditions, and live in a country with very low rates of infection, the risk of getting Covid-19 versus the risk of getting a blood clot is more nuanced. However, the higher the rates of Covid-19, the bigger the risks of getting the disease and becoming seriously ill are higher.

If I were 35 (or younger) and living in Bolton, I would join any queue to get an AZ vaccine. In your position, I'd be glad that in 5 weeks time, I would have the additional protection of having had 2 vaccinations.

@anniegun

You are also being selfish as by not being protected by the vaccine means you could infect someone else- including the many cancer sufferers that are not protected by the vaccine.

Oh please....

Taking a vaccine with a risk is done based on personal risk factors, not based on protecting other people.

I am in an age group that is very unlikely to suffer severely with Covid, so much so, that my age group will no longer be offered AZ because the benefits are pretty much on parr with the risks.

It’s not selfish to consider my own safety over that of others then, especially in these circumstances.

Before too long, chances are that AZ will be back for your age group, as cases rise. At the time you had it, it was safer than getting Covid, and people getting it then were partly what allowed the case numbers to get so low that it was OK for some people to wait until alternative vaccines might be available. If people don't continue getting vaccinated, then cases will likely rise, and it'll be back to any and all vaccines for anyone who can get one, as that will be better than getting Covid. I can understand your concerns though, but I think that if you didn't react to the first dose in that particular way, it is still better to get the second one done now, rather than wait until cases are worse, as you'll likely end up having AZ anyway.

@Eminybob

Be grateful you have been offered an early vaccine, and get your second dose.

Or don’t, I don’t really care. I’m sick of people being so bloody ungrateful about being offered a vaccine that could save their life.

Ps if you have ever been on the pill you have had a higher risk of developing blood clots.

Every word of this.

I’m early 30s also group 6. I was given the Pfizer from the start but would still have had my second dose even if it has been Astra Zenaca

I’ve seen a few close colleagues of similar age to me end up very very ill with covid. One of which ended up in hospital fighting for their life.

Have you compared those risks to risks of other common activities?

The type of blood clots caused by the pill and by Covid are not predominantly the type linked to AZ . They are not the cerebral clots.
I'm sorry I can't find an actual link but I've read this more than once. That's why I can't understand how talk about the pill and Covid caused clots are relevant when assessing AZ risks.
As for what will happen if you don't get the second - who knows?
I had the second AZ a month ago but I'll be honest and say I wasn't merrily skipping to the vaccination centre like I was for my first.

I was listening to a scientist talking about this on the radio the other day. It probably applies more on a group level than an individual one so it may not be of interest to you, but the consensus seemed to be that the second dose is required to reduce transmission of Covid. The first dose is largely effective in reducing the severity of the illness, and therefore cutting hospitalisation and death rates, but both doses are needed to cut transmission of the virus. So of you are interested in reducing Covid in the general population, you should get both doses. It would have the added benefited of continuing to reduce your personal risk too of course.

If the Indian variant really takes off, tge JCVI have already said they'll consider reversing the non-AZ to the under 40s recommendation. You need to understand that no vaccine is 'safe' and that covid is far, far worse for most people especially when cases are high. Take your jab, honestly, just take and be grateful you'll be more protected, and earlier, given the fears over the Indian variant.

If you've got an answer for everything then don't have it! No one on here cares whether you have it or not! I'm 35 and I'll be having my 2nd AZ tomorrow.