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.

@whataballbag

I just had my second AZ dose an hour ago.

The uncertainty I would have felt about mixing is that the studies are very small (Spanish had 400 volunteers). I don’t know how many the English one are using.

So bearing in mind that the AZ cases didn’t start showing up until hundreds of thousands were vaccinated, mixing them feels like a bit of a gamble too.

@whataballbag indeed, and the fact that MHRA are refusing to disclose details even to the expert haematologists (see Prof Makris’ tweets).

That said I suspect my risk of having a stroke is significantly higher from the amount of stress this is giving me than my chances of getting VITT

Very true @User657849

I'm early 40s and managed to have Pfizer yesterday. I cancelled my original appointment that would have been AZ and phoned around the centres now showing up to book until I found one doing Pfizer.

[quote MiniMaxi]@whataballbag indeed, and the fact that MHRA are refusing to disclose details even to the expert haematologists (see Prof Makris’ tweets).

That said I suspect my risk of having a stroke is significantly higher from the amount of stress this is giving me than my chances of getting VITT [/quote]
That's the thing isn't it, I don't think a lot of people realise how much stuff like this can affect mental health.

I know I'm in a minority having such severe anxiety and I've tried all sorts of therapy and all sorts of medication, but I'm still a nervous wreck! Doesn't help that I obsess over things. I've done nothing but think about this bloody jab for weeks now, to the point I've made myself physically sick with worry. I even bloody dream about it!

@whataballbag tell me about! I don’t even perceive myself to specifically have health anxiety in general but this is doing my head in.

I know I’ve done riskier things, but this is really stressing me out regardless. I think it’s partly knowing that I’m so close to the age cut off that if I’d not had it in Feb I would've hunted down mRNA now for sure. And in large part due to what I perceive as the obfuscation of the data.

Mentioned to DH yesterday that I was feeling worse about it since the new data was out and his response was “I thought we had gone past this” - he’s due to have second AZ same time as me so shows how differently people perceive risk.

Lots of “perceive” there haha

Careful, you do know I was beaten up the other day on this thread for mention the word obfuscating!

@Schulte !! It’s exactly what it is though. Regardless of whether they want to share all details with the public (and I get all the reasons why they wouldn’t), WHY aren’t they disclosing info to the expert haem panel?

If there really is almost no risk from dose 2 for goodness sake tell people, so people like me and others on this thread can go and finish getting vaxxed.

I'm not even anywhere near the age cut off at 29

@TheHumanFund

I'm early 40s and managed to have Pfizer yesterday. I cancelled my original appointment that would have been AZ and phoned around the centres now showing up to book until I found one doing Pfizer.

Fantastic! It's great to hear people are still managing to do this. Well done

@MiniMaxi they'll tell us when the majority have had their second dose

they'll tell us when the majority have had their second dose

The cynic in me says this would be judged to be the "safest" course of action in terms of "risk" management as long as the data for the 2nd dose is at least no worse than that for the first.

[quote AppleJane]@MiniMaxi they'll tell us when the majority have had their second dose [/quote]
Agree with that!!

I got my jab this morning at the GP, the GP reception had a board that said "Today's vaccine - Pfizer".

39 here and just had 1st dose at a vaccination centre - Pfizer! All first doses there (on this day of hte week at least) seem to be Pfizer now. Also overheard them talking to another person being jabbed that we had to get Pfizer again for 2nd dose as they don't do mixing there.
Feeling relieved to not have been faced with turning down the AZ, but still irrationally freaked out about any potential side effects.
This thread has been really useful, thanks.

Well done to everyone getting Pfizer!

Agree @AppleJane and I suspect it’ll coincide nicely with publication of the Com-Cov mixing results in a couple of weeks time!

Think I’m actually more enraged by how the comms are being managed than the actual situation!!

@MiniMaxi yes! And later in the year when we all get 'boosters' and they have to explain why the AZ people will be getting pfizer boosters (even though you can't have AZ more than twice) and as you say, once mixing has been approved. You can see the long game playing out before your very eyes.

[quote AppleJane]@MiniMaxi yes! And later in the year when we all get 'boosters' and they have to explain why the AZ people will be getting pfizer boosters (even though you can't have AZ more than twice) and as you say, once mixing has been approved. You can see the long game playing out before your very eyes. [/quote]
Actually AZ just released a press release about how well their vaccine works as a third booster after two initial doses:

www.ft.com/content/c5297d58-ad6d-490f-89e0-74f9c13377e4

I’m sceptical of just about everything they say these days but it seems they still intend to keep marketing the bloody thing.

@Icenii this is anecdotal but a friend was told by her consultant (she has additional clotting risks/ blood probs and has a haematologist see sees) that it’s brain damage is common in the case of those who survived the clots. She/ he didn’t say how common. I would be delighted to be proved wrong about this if anyone has more info.

Latest tweet from Prof Beverly Hunt (just now): occasional thromboses seen after dose 2 but no incidents with anti PF4 antibodies... we anxious second dosers can hope...

@MiniMaxi

Latest tweet from Prof Beverly Hunt (just now): occasional thromboses seen after dose 2 but no incidents with anti PF4 antibodies... we anxious second dosers can hope...

Hopefully we'll get more clarification.

If it's 'just' dvts I feel like I could process that easier. I know that they too are bad enough but it just doesn't seem as shit scary as anywhere else!

@whataballbag yes agreed especially as surely there could easily be 15 DVTs in 9 million people without the vaccine - just need MHRA to stop arseing around with the comms if that is indeed the case

As a side point I am really gutted that this vaccine has ended up with problems as it’s such an incredible achievement and so important for global protection against Covid. Hope they can identify what’s causing the problem so it can be adjusted.

@MiniMaxi even if it meant giving some sort of prophylaxis alongside the jab, I'd still be happy with that!

As a side point I am really gutted that this vaccine has ended up with problems as it’s such an incredible achievement

I agree. I seem to recall a German scientist believes it is the preservative in AZ causing the problems which could hopefully be rectified.