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.

@AppleJane I had an allergic reaction to my first injection on top of the usual side effects. I also have concerns surrounding the risk of blood clots as I’m early 30’s.
She has been really understanding with the whole thing.

I've been summoned for my second jab this afternoon after my GP said I could have Pfizer. Now, despite all my fears over AZ and the two months of headaches, I'm bricking it at the thought of mixing

Hi @SheilaTakeABow, if it helps at all I mixed jabs one week ago and am feeling great :)

It's such a relief to be double vaccinated and not have to think about it anymore. My side effects were mild (sore arm/fatigue) and short-lived.

(I was nervous in the build-up so completely understand, but one week on I'm so glad I went through with it.)

I really wouldn’t worry about mixing. They are doing it very happily in other countries. Having Pfizer after AZ will also give you better protection than AZ alone. Go for it!

Thanks @Schulte and @Proustianmoments - it feels very self-indulgent to be worried when this is exactly the result I wanted and I'm so lucky to have a sympathetic GP.

Do you mind me asking why you mixed Proustian? You may well have said elsewhere, but the thread's taken on a life of its own!

Hi, how do you get a different second dose from a 119 vac centre. My GP told me to organise it with 119, and said no need for him to do a letter. 119 say their system doesn't allow it and to go back to the GP. I have been trying to work out the system for 2 weeks, my GP practice manager doesn't know but both of us have contacted the CCG. We still have not got the answers. CCG are meant to be coming back to us, but nothing so far.

@penni00, it must vary wildly, as it's been really simple for me. I spoke to the GP, told her my side effects, she said she'd speak to practice manager. Practice manager rang, checked when I could go, told me where to go and said she'd contact them to authorise it.

Obviously, I've not been yet, so it may be that there's trouble when I get there, but so far it's been really straightforward. Largely, I suspect, down the the fact that, in GP's words, 'I'm not the first'.

@SheilaTakeABow I mixed due to a bad reaction to first AZ (heart issues), which didn't happen with Pfizer, thankfully

@penni00 - 119 suggested I get a letter - I told the GP that and they wrote one. I did feel like I was being pushed back and forth but a letter seemed to be the key thing at the vacc centre. Hope you get some good news soon!

Thank you 😊

Good luck @SheilaTakeABow, the trials seem really positive for mixing and Norway who were really on the ball re the clotting issues have now given Pfizer as a second dose to lots of people and haven’t noted any issues. Even better is that you should have better protection than two doses of AZ. I think it’s normal to be nervous after spending so long worrying about adverse side effects but it’s all looking really positive for mixing and very soon you’ll be fully protected. Try and drink lots of water before and after.

Thanks all, I'm just being a bit daft! Good tip about the water @Rainbowsandstorms. What have you decided to do about your second dose?

Sorry, @Rainbowsandstorms, I remember you'd decided to do for AZ only for it to be cancelled. What a farce! You should have just said, well, now I've prepared myself, if you've got a spare mRNA, I'll save you the bother of rearranging and just take that

I've just seen that our area are now doing walk-ins for anyone eligible for a vaccination. One of the centres is Pfizer only, the other one is AZ and Pfizer and they're very clear that no choice of vaccine is allowed, that her they will be administered according to JCVI guidance. The Pfizer walk-ins are good for anyone in the area who has been putting off vaccination because they don't want AZ though. Still not fair though as effectively some people get a choice when others don't.

@SheilaTakeABow ha ha I wish I’d thought of that! I’m planning to have my second dose but yesterday’s was cancelled and I’d sorted it out for today but now we are isolating awaiting a pcr test for my daughter! Our area is also running drop ins all weekend for first and second doses but each centre has both vaccinations so I’m hoping to get it sorted this weekend. I’d still rather mix but I’m feeling more comfortable after yesterday’s second dose data and Prof Markis’ recent tweets. Trying to just focus on having the protection of being fully vaccinated. I hope it all goes well for you.

@Rainbowsandstorms, all done - literally doing my 15 minutes wait as we speak! I did have a last-minute wobble, but the jabber was very reassuring and said he was doing a couple of mixes a week.

He also said something along the lines of guidelines were changing, so perhaps so many people are now reticent about AZ something is going to officially change.

Fingers crossed for your PCR results - you're not having a great week with it

So glad we've got this thread for support, it's been so important to me to know other people feel the same.

@SheilaTakeABow

Well done, are you at a medical centre/dr surgery or one of the nhs vac hubs?

@penni00, at a pharmacy. Sorry, I'm not sure who runs what; because I've had such a helpful response, I haven't had to find out. I hope you get some answers soon

@SheilaTakeABow

I didn't realise pharmacies were doing it, I have private messaged you

www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-walk-in-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-site/profile/K0W2I

You can find your nearest walk in centre here, with details of which vaccines they have available.
Unfortunately, it doesn't look as if you will be given a choice when you get there, but at least you know what they have on offer.

For anyone that hasn’t seen: lots of new walk ins opening up
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57620771

@Imfedupwithallofthis that’s a great link for anyone looking to get mRNA first dose!

[quote SheilaTakeABow]@Rainbowsandstorms, all done - literally doing my 15 minutes wait as we speak! I did have a last-minute wobble, but the jabber was very reassuring and said he was doing a couple of mixes a week.

He also said something along the lines of guidelines were changing, so perhaps so many people are now reticent about AZ something is going to officially change.

Fingers crossed for your PCR results - you're not having a great week with it

So glad we've got this thread for support, it's been so important to me to know other people feel the same.[/quote]
How're you feeling today? Just think, in 2 weeks time you'll have those lovely antibodies

[quote MiniMaxi]For anyone that hasn’t seen: lots of new walk ins opening up
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57620771[/quote]
www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-walk-in-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-site/

If you put in your postcode here it gives you a list of local walk in centres. When you click on any of them it tells you which vaccines they're giving.

@QueenStromba

As I said at 02:39