To feel envious toward my friends getting their vaccines

[lifeisbutadreamer]

I’m 37 and had my first vaccine 7 weeks ago, unpaid carer.

Since the news of the blood clots I feel totally put off by having my second jab.

What’s even more frustrating is now seeing my friends all getting texts to have their jabs and they’re booked in for Pfizer.

I was so happy when I got my vaccine, it took a huge weight off of my shoulders and relieved the constant worry of having severe Covid.

Now I feel a huge weight from the decision of having a second vaccine.

All of my friends are so happy to be getting their vaccine and none of them have this added worry of a potential serious side effect.

I know people will compare the risk of being on the pill, driving to the vaccination centre, or flying etc.. but I feel those comparisons just aren’t relevant here.

It would be like saying your friends can go on an aeroplane that has no known risk of crashing but you can go on one that we know does crash and we’ve told your friends not to go on it because it’s too much of a risk to them...

I feel really really envious of people I know right now and I could kick myself for being so willing to take up the offer of my vaccine.

Think of it this way: a 37 year old catching COVID has a far, far higher chance of a serious blood clot than a 37 year old having the vaccine.

Fucks sake OP.

I’m 56, obese (living abroad) and still haven’t had any jab offered yet. At this stage, I’d be happy to have a gob of saliva if it contained Covid antibodies.

I assume you got the vaccine to protect the person/people you care for, more than protecting yourself? I think this still stands, even if they have been double vaccinated, their chances in a Indian variant shitstorm are going to be better if you’ve had two doses, not to mention the protection it gives you.

All I can find is sources that say specifically there are no vaccine-linked clotting events after the second jab, even quoting the MHRA review (I know you said MHRA said there were events after the second jab, OP, but that’s not what I’m seeing?). So the time to worry probably has passed.

There was this, with the latest data available 31 March, that says no clots after the second dose, quoting MHRA review:
www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/what-blood-clotting-disorder-astrazeneca-vaccine-has-been-linked
(It’s the first paragraph under “HOW RISKY?”, is quoting the review of 79 incidents, and says, “All occurred after the first dose.”)

And if anyone is worried that’s not recent enough, which I understand, this is from 19 April and says there have been no vaccine-specific clots after the second jab.
www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-56764182

You’re allowed to be concerned about whatever you want, of course, but people keep starting these threads about their fear before the second jab; it’s starting to get bizarre.

[quote lifeisbutadreamer]@JackieTheFart

How do your friends know what they’re getting

It tells them on the texts they have received.[/quote]
From the NHS?

You know that if you were going to get side effects (slight chance that it is) it would have happened with the first shot? Honestly, the fear-mongering at the moment is doing my head in. We are in a very fortunate position in this country. Just get your second jab and relax in the knowledge that you are fully protected. (And yes, I had the AZ jab too).

@RightYesButNo

All I can find is sources that say specifically there are no vaccine-linked clotting events after the second jab, even quoting the MHRA review (I know you said MHRA said there were events after the second jab, OP, but that’s not what I’m seeing?). So the time to worry probably has passed.

There was this, with the latest data available 31 March, that says no clots after the second dose, quoting MHRA review:
www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/what-blood-clotting-disorder-astrazeneca-vaccine-has-been-linked
(It’s the first paragraph under “HOW RISKY?”, is quoting the review of 79 incidents, and says, “All occurred after the first dose.”)

And if anyone is worried that’s not recent enough, which I understand, this is from 19 April and says there have been no vaccine-specific clots after the second jab.
www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-56764182

You’re allowed to be concerned about whatever you want, of course, but people keep starting these threads about their fear before the second jab; it’s starting to get bizarre.

It does say when you read through the yellow card report 'there have been 8 reports after a second dose'

if you had no adverse reaction to the first jab, the second one is even less likely to cause issues. Totally understand though

@Cookerhood

There are so many threads like this that sometimes wonder if people are deliberately spreading fear. There are dangers with the other vaccines, just not so we'll publicized. You know the risk is minimal, just do it (fwiw my 20 something kids had AZ & have no qualms about having the second one as they gave looked at the scientific information widely available). People have no concept of relative risk, it's much worse to get Covid. The best jab for you is the one going in to your arm.

The risk of severe covid for someone OP's age is vanishingly small, and one jab grants immunity in 93% of cases: www.theguardian.com/society/2021/apr/14/single-pfizer-or-astrazeneca-dose-produces-strong-antibody-response-study-shows

To downplay the risks of the vaccine to specific people who have specific risk factors is the most anti-science and heinously fanatical thing I can think of.

@RightYesButNo the eight cases after a second dose are recorded in this document www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-adverse-reactions/coronavirus-vaccine-summary-of-yellow-card-reporting

It’s mentioned at the end of the first paragraph on this screenshot.

The most recent yellow card analysis is here (up until May 5th).

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-adverse-reactions/coronavirus-vaccine-summary-of-yellow-card-reporting

There have been eight cases of clotting with low platelets after the second AZ dose.

262 cases of major thromboembolic events (blood clots) with concurrent thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts) in the UK following vaccination with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.

These events occurred in 149 women and 112 men aged from 18 to 93 years.

The overall case fatality rate was 20% with 51 deaths.

Eight cases have been reported after a second dose.

By 05 May 23.3 million first doses and 7.5 million second had been administered.

There should be another yellow card update published on Thursday.

@JackieTheFart

You have booked via the national booking system.
3 of my friends received an invitation via text from their GP. The texts say Pfizer!

I think it’s good to bear in mind that these blood clots don’t mean certain death.

Hospitals now know how to diagnose and treat them.

I’m hopeful the death rate will start going down in the next few weeks.

I was reading an article from a Canadian site and a Dr. was saying this

‘In my 30-plus years working in the medical system, I don't think I've ever seen such a short time period between discovering something, figuring out how to manage it, and getting the information out into the field,"

I can relate to this. I think it’s possible to feel both grateful and also wish that we had a choice. The best thing is probably to acknowledge those feelings but not dwell on them. It’s wonderful that we have effective vaccines and that we have access to them. I think about all the other possible outcomes and it feels like winning the lottery.

You were protected way before them and can get a second dose to be fully protected way before them. Think of all the extra weeks of protection you have had while they have been waiting for just a single jab. Be happy for them as they were happy for you?

From the very same document you included, @Rainbowsandstorms, I’ll include this screenshot: a Yellow Card means may have nothing at all to do with the vaccine. It’s a report, put in by anyone. It specifically says that it’s important to not assume these are side effects of the vaccine, which is exactly what people appear to be doing with Yellow Cards. Please don’t use these numbers as some kind of medical proof, @oldtableleg. There’s a reason that the links I included said there had only been 79 incidents, when there would already have been over 100 or 200 Yellow Cards related to clots by that time: because Yellow Cards by themselves aren’t medically-reviewed and aren’t considered side effects.

I am an anxious person so I do empathise. But it's clear the risks overall are low. If you're concerned about clotting side effects you can be vigilant about your own symptoms and seek appropriate care. Care providers now know how to treat the clots successfully.

Risk can never be eliminated in all of human life - it can only be managed. For me the management of risk has been good so far, and the risk of an adverse outcome still lower than risking covid itself.

It's also worth mentioning that the AZ tech vaccine technology is tried and tested and in that sense this type of biotech has a very long and established safety profile, rather than the much newer mRNA.

the 262 cases reported are not just any old clots that may or may not be associated with the vaccine. These are VITT cases. The link you posted is out of date. It is not helpful to post misleading information.

I understand how you feel. I had my first jab a week ago and am a bit embarrassed to admit that I was relieved to get Pfizer - I knew that although the risk was tiny it would be on my mind and every slight headache would freak me out for a few weeks. Whereas with Pfizer I'm much less aware of the risks :D - although I'm sure there are some - so it's just easier not to worry!

That said, let's be completely clear here in case anyone has misunderstood: the AZ clot risk is NOT higher than the Covid risk for younger people. The risk is that the perceived risk / benefit will mean younger people might not get their jabs if only offered AZ - and that is a real risk to society. So it was worth reassuring to younger people that they wouldn't have AZ just to increase vaccine take-up - even if, as is likely, the real risks aren't very different.

So, I would have taken AZ willingly. But I can't pretend it wouldn't have been on my mind. I don't think I would be worried about the clot risk from the second jab though - the reason for the clots seems to be due to a process that would almost certainly happen with the first jab if at all.

I am struggling to get my head round this. You had an early vaccine because you are a carer. So it was amazing that you were able to get it weeks early to protect the person you are caring for. Imagine if 2 weeks ago you had caught Covid? And had given it to the person you are caring for? By having the vaccine early you prevented someone who could have serious covid side effects catching it.

Unless of course you went through the loophole to get the vaccine as a carer when you actually aren’t.

^AstraZeneca still carries a higher risk of a blood
clot and the benefits of this particular vaccine do not outweigh the risks for my age group.^

I wonder if this will remain the case with the spread of the Indian variant. We are not in as good a place as we were a couple if weeks ago and in another couple of weeks the situation may be a lot worse. You are 37 and are not far off being fully vaccinated. I would say you are incredibly lucky.

@OurSiteMap

Unless of course you went through the loophole to get the vaccine as a carer when you actually aren’t.

I’m not even sure why you’d suggest that or what relevance it has to my anxiety around the second dose.

Not that I should have to explain myself, but I am a carer for my 15 year old son who has autism.

I received a letter inviting me to book my vaccine, which I booked.

There are no loopholes here. I haven’t jumped a queue or tricked my way into a vaccine.

If it helps I had my first AZ vaccine on Saturday and apart from feeling a bit sleepy later on , which could just me being my lazy self, I've been fine.

Just booked my second today.

I also agree with PP that so many countries don't even have a chance to access ANY vaccine right now, that it is very much a First World Problem to feel the need to pick and choose and whine.

Frankly I'm embarrassed for you OP. You should feel lucky.

[quote lifeisbutadreamer]@OurSiteMap

Unless of course you went through the loophole to get the vaccine as a carer when you actually aren’t.

I’m not even sure why you’d suggest that or what relevance it has to my anxiety around the second dose.

Not that I should have to explain myself, but I am a carer for my 15 year old son who has autism.

I received a letter inviting me to book my vaccine, which I booked.

There are no loopholes here. I haven’t jumped a queue or tricked my way into a vaccine. [/quote]
@lifeisbutadreamer

I did not know you could register as a carer for your child. My brothers eldest has autism and he wasn’t invited to have have vaccine earlier.

I wonder if he should try?

@OurSiteMap

I am struggling to get my head round this. You had an early vaccine because you are a carer. So it was amazing that you were able to get it weeks early to protect the person you are caring for. Imagine if 2 weeks ago you had caught Covid? And had given it to the person you are caring for? By having the vaccine early you prevented someone who could have serious covid side effects catching it.

Unless of course you went through the loophole to get the vaccine as a carer when you actually aren’t.

Is there a reason you're assuming the worst in op and being so unpleasant?