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.

[quote TulipVictory]@whataballbag are you having a different second dose due to your clot concerns ? [/quote]
Yes, I do have very severe health anxiety though which the my GP is obviously aware of

@MiniMaxi thanks for sharing. I had cancelled my second dose which was due this weekend but I’ve provisionally booked it in for this weekend, though want to see this week’s report before making a final decision . I still feel apprehensive and would ideally wait a few more weeks to see what the data looks like then but cases are starting to rise again where I am and with children at nursery and preschool and my husband back in his office I also feel anxious about covid too. Now the data from MHRA has been clarified a little I feel slightly happier to go ahead but still very anxious as it’s still early days re the available data.

@whataballbag that’s great news. I hope you can get booked in soon.

@MiniMaxi does it explicitly say there’s no risk after the second dose? Just had a look and realised I read through it all yesterday but seem to have missed that bit. How are you doing? @Cookiesandscones I hope you’re doing ok too.

@TulipVictory, that's my position too, although 'just' 13 weeks for me. I had really bad headaches for four weeks after my first, along with palpitations and fatigue.
That, combined with the uncertainty and lack of transparency around the second, means I really don't want the second as things stand. However, when I rang to cancel my second appointment I was made to feel like a right conspiracy theorist/anti-vaxxer, by a nurse who assured me there had been no cases after 2nd doses.

Like @Rainbowsandstorms, I'm keeping an eye on the MHRA figures every Thursday to see if the picture becomes clearer.

My main concern is that there seems to be no way of telling who'll develop VITT and I've already had experience of having a persistent headache - the main symptom.

Added to the above, I know that the risk is small, less than driving a car, less than the Pill, less than all the other risks that keep getting trotted out. However, my feeling/argument/point is that it is a definite, undeniable risk that I'm being asked to put in my body when there are safer alternatives.

It seems madness to me, especially as I've had Covid and it was unpleasant but fine. So, personally, the risk of the vaccine to me as it stands is greater than the risk of Covid.

There are quite a few, including myself, with persistent headaches after AZ. I don't think this is a clot problem, but another issue that AZ is creating. I do not see loads of people with persistent headaches after the other vaccines.
I keep deferring my second dose, my headaches seem to be resolving finally after 11 weeks, but I still have other side effect issues.
Has anyone at all actually been given an answer by a medical professional as to why some are getting persistent headaches after AZ?

@penni00

There are quite a few, including myself, with persistent headaches after AZ. I don't think this is a clot problem, but another issue that AZ is creating. I do not see loads of people with persistent headaches after the other vaccines. I keep deferring my second dose, my headaches seem to be resolving finally after 11 weeks, but I still have other side effect issues. Has anyone at all actually been given an answer by a medical professional as to why some are getting persistent headaches after AZ?

Exactly! I am concerned by the attitude that it's 'just' a side effect, when we don't don't them like this with other vaccines, let alone one which we're being pressured to have.

I was worse than useless at home and at work for a full four weeks after my first jab, and I'm not usually a headache-y person at all.

They are taking their time today with the yellow card report...

All fine with vacc centre and I can go next week

@Schulte

They are taking their time today with the yellow card report...

I thought that. Usually out by now

@whataballbag

All fine with vacc centre and I can go next week

Yay, well done! One less thing to worry about. And a study in Germany recently showed that following a first AZ jab with a Pfizer jab gives a better immune response, too.

I did see that @Schulte - naturally I'm now panicking about dropping dead from having 2 different vacs. But I expected that anyway, me being me

You’ll be absolutely fine and better protected, too!

@Rainbowsandstorms this is the bit I’m referring to:

15. Should people have their second dose? Yes, because of the high risk of complications and death from COVID-19, the MHRA, the World Health Organization and the European Medicines Agency have concluded that the balance is very much in favour of vaccination. There are currently no safety concerns following receipt of the second dose of vaccine. There are no known risk factors for this extremely rare condition, which appears to be an idiosyncratic reaction on first exposure to the AZ vaccine. The JCVI advises that those who have received their first dose of AZ vaccine without suffering this rare side effect should continue to be offered the second dose to complete the course.

@MiniMaxi thank you. I remember reading this bit now doh!

They really are taking their time with the yellow card report today, I’m now wondering if it’ll be released today. I keep refreshing!

@whataballbag brilliant news. All the initial data on mixing looks promising. When are you booked in for?

[quote Rainbowsandstorms]@MiniMaxi thank you. I remember reading this bit now doh!

They really are taking their time with the yellow card report today, I’m now wondering if it’ll be released today. I keep refreshing!

@whataballbag brilliant news. All the initial data on mixing looks promising. When are you booked in for?[/quote]
Back end of next week

Great news, so pleased for you.

Thanks @Rainbowsandstorms - a bit week next week as I have a hospital appointment Monday that was booked under the 2 week pathway. What a great time to have health anxiety eh!

@whataballbag oh bless you what a week. Keeping everything crossed that both appointments go well. I have an mri scan of my head next Friday and my second AZ jab at the weekend if they ever get around to publishing the latest figures as need to see those first. Just think in another few weeks hopefully we’ll both be able to breathe a big sigh of relief.

Thanks @Rainbowsandstorms good luck for your scan (& your jab!) report really is late this week

@whataballbag thank you, going to be an anxious few weeks. I don’t think it’s going to be published today, of all the weeks! It’s never been this late.

Will it come out tomorrow if not today?

I’m really hoping so as I’m not going ahead with my second dose without seeing it. I wonder why it’s not been released.

It’s been updated, finally! Can’t decide what to make of it re second doses. Those who have been following the situation re second doses what are your thoughts? Do you think it’ll be like the first doses where the numbers just go up and up. I’m so unsure whether to go ahead with my second dose. I felt more reassured after last week’s report.

Whats the timescale for these events after 2nd doses? I'm 4 weeks and 1 day post second.