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.

In terms of others making the same decision, I think it sounds like they are going to approve mix and match at some point (based on news article about Autumn boosters) so it may suddenly become possible to get mRNA. Or they might continue to say you need the same second dose but can have something else for the booster.

I guess people who are imminently due (or overdue) their second need to balance VITT risk with Delta. All those studies comparing risk were done assuming low Covid rates and I don’t think that’ll be the case for long.

[quote Rainbowsandstorms]@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.[/quote]
GP is trying to sort out an alternative second dose for me!

@MiniMaxi glad you’re feeling ok. I had fairly minimal but longer side effects from the first dose so dreading worse side effects from the second. I can’t decide whether to wait until the mixing trial data is out. I was feeling ok about potentially waiting until 16 weeks to make a decision until Delta came along.

@whataballbag that sounds promising. Is that solely based on your concerns re AZ? How did they respond when you approached them about it? I’ve considered speaking to my GP to see if they’d consider it but still feel unsure about mixing too. How are you feeling about it all? When is your second due?

Has my second AZ jab on Saturday, anxiety is eating me up constantly lurking on this thread to see if there is more info each week, is it a month before out of the danger zone or longer??

[quote Rainbowsandstorms]@MiniMaxi glad you’re feeling ok. I had fairly minimal but longer side effects from the first dose so dreading worse side effects from the second. I can’t decide whether to wait until the mixing trial data is out. I was feeling ok about potentially waiting until 16 weeks to make a decision until Delta came along.

@whataballbag that sounds promising. Is that solely based on your concerns re AZ? How did they respond when you approached them about it? I’ve considered speaking to my GP to see if they’d consider it but still feel unsure about mixing too. How are you feeling about it all? When is your second due?[/quote]
I'm 14 weeks post first dose now. I would let them inject something alternative into my eyeball if I had to. I told him this too. It's got to the point where I'm not eating, sleeping, waking up having panic attacks about it.

Maybe sounds ridiculous to some over such a low risk but I'm past caring about other peoples opinions now.

He didn't even bother explaining how low risk it would be as he's aware it's a waste of breath with such bad anxiety.

Also have beta blockers :)

@Cookiesandscones

Has my second AZ jab on Saturday, anxiety is eating me up constantly lurking on this thread to see if there is more info each week, is it a month before out of the danger zone or longer??

42 days

@whataballbag thank you suppose it’s just a waiting game now

@Kaylasmum49

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

Well done! I know you’ve been suffering from anxiety during all of this, so hopefully there is an end point in sight! Are you able to look forward to your holiday now?

@whataballbag sorry you’re struggling so much. Anxiety is horrible, the worry has taken over so much of my life since I had the first dose. The idea of going through the same anxiety I had after my first dose is awful. I really hope your doctor is able to authorise different second dose. Let me know how you get on as I haven’t ruled out this option yet.

@Cookiesandscones I think the most common time is around 10 to 12 days. They recently extended the at risk period from 28 to 42 days to allow for clots that were formed earlier that then go on to cause a pulmonary embolism however I think the risk starts to fall once you’re past the initial couple of weeks. Have you looked at the Professor Michael Markis tweets they are really informative and cover timelines too. His recent tweets are pretty reassuring re the second dose too though if I go ahead with my second I’m dreading going through that wait again.

@Rainbowsandstorms I have read his tweets from lurking on this thread for about 2 weeks up until I got it, I have had health anxiety and swayed between getting it and not getting it being 35. I had my first dose a week before they came out and said it was linked to the vaccine and to be honest I actually didn’t suffer anxiety as bad with my first jab. I got my second in truth because my family pushed me and said I was being stupid and the risk was tiny. I was trying to explain because I got mine earlier than my age group because of being a carer not enough people in my age group had their 2nd dose to be reporting and there wasn’t enough information to say whether 2nd dose causes clots but again I was met with don’t be stupid the risk is tiny.

It’s just scary sitting each day assessing yourself to see if you feel any different and obviously my mind is telling me I do and feel dreadful when I fact I don’t. Just a never ending cycle really your reply has made me feel much better thank you

@Cookiesandscones it’s so hard isn’t it. I’m also mid 30s and struggle with health anxiety. I got mine 2 days before they announced it was linked and found all the press coverage etc awful it felt impossible to try and forget about it. The constant checking and looking for symptoms is horrible. Hopefully very soon you’ll be able to put all the worry behind you and have the protection of the second jab. I felt like the biggest weight had lifted when I got to four weeks after my first, then I’ve obsessed about what to do about my second. Although I’m still worried about the second for the same reasons as you after the latest MHRA report and Prof Markis’ most recent quotes I am now back to starting to consider getting it, where as the week before I’d decided there was no way. Given the number of under 50s who have now had their second I’m thinking that if the risk were as high with the second there would have been at least a couple of cases in under 50s even allowing for the smaller numbers and the time lag given that everyone is now on the look out for cases. I hope you’re doing ok.

@Cookiesandscones I should also add that I got the impression that any issues after the 28 days are very rare but they’d extended the at risk period to ensure that cases aren’t missed.

Re. Timelines yes I think most common is within first two weeks, some cases for an additional two weeks, there has been one or two cases up to 42 days but Beverly Hunt tweeted that actually she thinks those started earlier but were only spotted later.

@Rainbowsandstorms I am ok and can generally talk myself down, I think in truth what has worried me the most is I generally get headaches, I am lucky if I don’t get a headache 2 days in a row so I am worried that I won’t know the difference because I suffer headaches a lot, trying to keep myself busy to take my mind of it helps. Are you due yours soon or have you put it off for a while?

@Cookiesandscones that’s good. I was the same with my first dose I always felt I was ok but the worry was just horrible it completely took over for the first couple of weeks. Like you I also get a lot of headaches so have the same concern, though with my first dose I felt my headaches were my normal ones. I’m assuming they’d feel different if there was an issue. Mine is due this weekend. I cancelled my appointment a few weeks ago but there are lots of free slots each time I check. I’d like to see the MHRA report this Thursday and possibly next Thursday too but providing nothing changes I’m considering booking in for this weekend or next but think I’ll do it last minute if I decide to go ahead to avoid the build up. I’m just dreading the worry and anxiety of it all.

Just thought I'd add more AZ news

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9668065/AstraZenecas-Covid-vaccine-linked-bleeding-disorder-cause-purple-dotted-rash.html

@TulipVictory I’ve just been reading about this. Wondering if it’s a side effect that can be triggered by the second dose or just the first.

Hope you’re all okay. For those of you still holding out for an alternative, I noticed our local vaccine hub is now advertising Pfizer first doses for anyone 18-50. It seems like they’re trying to attract the over 40s who didn’t come forward the first time. Sorry that’s no help if your local centre isn’t giving the option, but seems like a positive step!

That's good news @Bunbury952 it's going to help someone in your local area I'm sure!

I had my first dose of AZ over 14 weeks ago and now I'm just stuck in a rut 🙄

For all who were wondering my GP is happy for me to have an alternative 2nd dose

Beverly Hunt yesterday tweeted new Gov guidance for doctors which states that no VITT risk is currently deemed to be linked to second doses. It also quotes the 18 cases figure but I wonder how that compares to normal “thrombosis with thrombocytopenia” rates in the population.

Happy for you, @whataballbag!

@MiniMaxi

Happy for you, *@whataballbag*!

Actually getting it booked is a whole other ballgame though 🙄

@whataballbag are you having a different second dose due to your clot concerns ?