Alternatives to AstraZeneca vaccine for under 40s “will be considered” amid rise in blood clots Thread 3

[Whichjab]

New thread as the MRHA report is out today.

Note this is not an anti vaccination thread.

You win @penni00 unless a contender has an out of date cake mix?!

So yesterday my DM was having sharp pains in one of her thighs that started the evening before. She had her second dose of AZ just over 3 weeks before and was worried about clots.

She went to the hospital and was treated excellently. She was examined by a few different doctors, had some tests and they ruled out clotting but told her 'you did the right thing in coming'.

Now the worrying thing is that initially she rang her local surgery. She described her symptoms and was told 'you'll have to ring back tomorrow for an appointment'. Then she rang NHS 111 who promised a call back. After two hours she gave up waiting and a family member took her to the hospital. NHS 111 finally rang back 6 hours later.

Glad your DM seems ok, @AppleJane. My vote is always go to A&E if you’re worried, however tedious it is to sit there for hours.

Just to be absolutely clear, I bought my cake from a shop!!

Glad DM is ok

It's not just about fatal blood clots. There's the risk of brain damage too apparently. Rare but very serious side effects are for me the most challenging to risk assess.

@AppleJane glad that you received good care.

Thank you both. Yes I definitely think you should listen to your gut and ignore advice to leave it 24 hours. The older generation don't like to make a fuss so they need encouraging if anything.

@MiniMaxi it wouldn't be a treat if you had to make it yourself! What's today's treat? If you won't stay away then I reckon we need a daily advent calendar of treats update

@AppleJane if I have a treat as large as yesterday’s every day for a month I’m going to have a problem!!

Will update as and when I can’t resist (a) reading this thread and (b) eating cake

Just had my 2nd Az, now the waiting and anxiety starts!

@Kaylasmum49 have a read of Prof Makris’ tweets from yesterday they are quite reassuring

Fingers crossed!

Just got Pfizer first dose (am over 40) at Welling Masonic Centre in S London. After 3 cancelled previous appts where it would have been AZ. Thanks for the tips on here 🥂

@GentlemanJackie

Just got Pfizer first dose (am over 40) at Welling Masonic Centre in S London. After 3 cancelled previous appts where it would have been AZ. Thanks for the tips on here 🥂

Hi Did you have to turn up and walk away? Thanks

@GentlemanJackie

Just got Pfizer first dose (am over 40) at Welling Masonic Centre in S London. After 3 cancelled previous appts where it would have been AZ. Thanks for the tips on here 🥂

That’s great news!

Glad you got it too!

Now that Pfizer has been approved for 12-15 year olds, it seems even less likely they will start offering it to 40-49. Nonetheless, I will wait a bit longer.

@Grellbunt no I was able to phone the other locations I’d booked previously in the morning before the appts and ask them so I cancelled and rebooked. This was actually the first one I turned up for as I didn’t have a phone number but I’d ticked the ‘could be pregnant’ option on the booking thanks to advice on this thread and it was a Pfizer only session. I am extremely unlikely to be pregnant although not impossible but I didn’t get asked again!

@AppleJane

Hmmm re out of date cake mixes, good point!!!

[quote GentlemanJackie]@Grellbunt no I was able to phone the other locations I’d booked previously in the morning before the appts and ask them so I cancelled and rebooked. This was actually the first one I turned up for as I didn’t have a phone number but I’d ticked the ‘could be pregnant’ option on the booking thanks to advice on this thread and it was a Pfizer only session. I am extremely unlikely to be pregnant although not impossible but I didn’t get asked again![/quote]
Hi
That's interesting. Thanks
I wasn't asked about being pregnant even tho of reproductive age. Isn't that a bit remiss for those of us here (in Scotland)? Shouldn't they be taking that into account?
(Not a q for you obviously, I'm just musing)

It seems from what I’ve heard that it’s a bit variable whether they ask or not. I was assuming I wasn’t asked as it was a Pfizer only clinic and so suitable for pregnant women anyway. If they were doing different options then they’d have to ask I suppose. I was asked about allergies.

Professor Makris has tweeted the latest AZ clot risk rates from Australia’s equivalent of the MHRA.

twitter.com/profmakris/status/1400873484222451719?s=21

3.1 per 100,000 in under 50s and 1.8 per 100,000 in over 50s.

Those early Norwegian figures from a few months back look pretty sound now.

They say no distinction by sex for over 50s. I can't see anything about under 50s. Glad I am waiting.

@Kaylasmum49

Reassuring to the under 50s? Not so much for the over 50's? I'm 55 tomorrow and want to cancel my 2nd vaccine tomorrow for the 2nd time.

I am around your age and had my second dose a few days ago. When does the risk period end, is it a month ? I am trying not to think about it but my dd is really anxious about me to the point of not sleeping.

I would be very reassured by Prof Makris re second dose risk - he thinks there may actually be zero cases, @SirVixofVixHall.

twitter.com/profmakris/status/1400555270237982726?s=21

Thank you Elisandra good to read this now !

@MiniMaxi sorry for the late reply I’ve been away for the week and needed to switch off. Well done you, how are you doing?

@whataballbag and anyone else trying to weigh up the second dose how are you feeling about it all? My second is due this weekend, I cancelled my appointment a few weeks ago while I watched the stats but there are lots of appointments free over the next few weeks. How do you feel about the latest MRHA report? I feel more reassured and I’m glad they’ve clarified the numbers but I still feel nervous about the second dose. Ideally I’d like to wait and see what happens over the next few weeks but with the Indian variant, one child at school, another in pre school and my husband back in the office I feel nervous about covid again too. Has anyone seen any data re second doses in other countries? I feel that the data over the next four weeks or so will give us the info we need to get a clear picture but I’m not sure if I dare wait that long or not. It’s so hard to decide.

Also feeling reassured by Professor Markis’ tweets.

@Rainbowsandstorms I’m ok so far thanks! Mild side effects over the weekend (bit tired, very mild sporadic headache etc) but nothing that bothered me. Husband had similar but worse and interestingly he didn’t react much first time round whereas I did.

Keeping fingers crossed for the next few weeks and trying to stay focused on the general reassuring vibe of Prof Makris’ tweets.