I refused the AZ vaccine, now being judged for it

[cosmoswithcovids]

My husband's friend is a Dr, he called yesterday to tell my DH they had spare vaccine and to come over if we wanted one (DH is 33, I'm 30).

We got there and he told us it was AZ, I said I wanted to wait until I was offered the alternative that under 40s are advised to have. My DH looked at me as though I had two heads.

We joined them for drinks at the pub last night where Dr and a couple of other friends were discussing anti-vaxers and I was referenced as one of them. I did reiterate that I'm very keen to be vaccinated but not with AZ. It was then mansplained to me that discrediting the AZ jab (which they've all had and are fiiiiiiiiiiine) was the behaviour of an anti vaxer. I was just meant to feel a bit like an uneducated idiot (I'm not, I'm a solicitor, I'm quite bright) and although my husband says he understood why I didn't want it, the risk is "theoretical" (is it?!)
For the sake of another couple of weeks, I'd rather just wait and have the one which is safer! I'm just feeling a bit rubbish about it all really, I felt quite bounced into it when we got there and it was quite a stress for me having to justify why I didn't want it once we arrived.

@Lweji

iseeu

Your posts are filled with disinformation, vague statements and fact twisting.
And you seem to consider rude to disagree with you, or to have the discussion you supposedly welcome and find healthy. Odd.

@lweji my posts are correct

Attached is the JCVI advice, and a quote from it (but it is worth reading the attached in full as it refers to what to do if you have had first jab AZ plus highlights what symptoms to look out for):

The committee has reviewed the latest available evidence, including the current COVID-19 infection rate, the scale and pace of the vaccine programme and modelling of the timing and size of any third pandemic wave.

This has been considered alongside the latest advice from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on extremely rare cases of concurrent thrombosis (blood clots) and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) following the first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

The chances of a younger person becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 get smaller as infection rates increasingly come under control in the UK.

Considering this alongside the portfolio of vaccines available in the UK in the coming months and taking a precautionary approach in relation to the extremely small risk of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia following the first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, the JCVI has advised a preference for adults aged 30 to 39 without underlying health conditions to receive an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine – where available and only if this does not cause substantial delays in being vaccinated.

This follows the decision on 7 April to offer a preference for adults aged under 30.

The COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective and have been shown to substantially reduce the risk of death, severe disease and transmission of infection

www.gov.uk/government/news/jcvi-advises-on-covid-19-vaccine-for-people-aged-under-40

“Iseeu

“Considering this alongside the portfolio of vaccines available in the UK in the coming months and taking a precautionary approach in relation to the extremely small risk of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia following the first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, the JCVI has advised a preference for adults aged 30 to 39 without underlying health conditions to receive an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine”

(From the JCVl advice you posted.)

Given this, and what the public has heard reported via news, it is difficult to see why anyone would criticise the OP even if they themselves would choose differently.

Sorry @Iseeu I meant to say thank you for posting that.

That's awful - I feel for you. That wasn't very empathetic of them.

@NeedNewKnees

I’d have thought you were an anti vaxer too as you literally turned down the vaccine.

And yes, I’d think you’re a bit of an idiot, but that’s your choice.

Wow abit judgey aren't you! Totally her choice!

By the way, any vaccine at a doctors surgery or vaccine centre will be AZ usually because of storage, which i thought most people knew.

Not true, plenty of Pfizer and Moderna at the big hubs in Scotland which are leisure centres, offices etc. Dr yes.

It’s changed now with the storage so can be rolled out almost anywhere www.gov.uk/government/news/pfizerbiontech-covid-19-vaccine-shelf-life-extended-from-5-to-31-days-says-mhra

I've been shocked by the strong feelings on both sides. It's nearly scary. I think it's a lack of maturity. Surely most people can accept that they can get on with doing what they think is right. It is a bit depressing imo.

Well, I would have had it personally, as I think the risk is v small. I also understand their frustration as they are on the front line (well not exactly, as GPS, but ish). I also think you cannot describe what they did as mansplaining - they are doctors, explaining this shit is their job. The fact they know you are well educated will also be part of their frustration.

However... they shouldn’t have jumped on you in the pub - it’s an unfair blurring of professional and personal and it’s mild bullying. But - if I am being honest - if I were them and had had a long week and a few drinks I might have told you a little briskly what I thought of your choice - because while yes it’s just a couple of weeks delay to you, endless micro decisions like this slow the whole system down, eats resources, and makes our economic recovery slower and more painful, which in turn increases unemployment/social inequality etc. (I am not a doc am a small business owner so this is where my frustration goes).

@Gucci1961

I've been shocked by the strong feelings on both sides. It's nearly scary. I think it's a lack of maturity. Surely most people can accept that they can get on with doing what they think is right. It is a bit depressing imo.

We've all lived this ruddy nightmare. We're all on our own journey in it but it's the same path. There is going to be strong feelings on the matter of a vaccine. Rare you'll find someone in the middle because it's gone on so long imo. People who fanny on are seen as obstructive to getting some normality back. Refusing affects us all. Especially when they're making noises about local lockdowns. Maybe people should just quietly get on with it without all the constant need to be validated for their choices.

Bugger all to do with maturity.

OP 32yr olds are now being offered the vaccine so I reckon your age group will be invited in a few days. There's another thread asking under 40s who have had their jab recently, which one they were given and every single response bar one says Pfizer or Moderna so just book it when you get your invite.

@Branleuse I work at a vaccine centre. We have AZ and Moderna. In fact I drew up 32 vials of Moderna vaccine yesterday.

Wow I know he is your husband's friend and was doing you a favour but he may need to work on his bedside manner. I wouldn't want him as my doctor. Have concerns does not make you stupid and it doesn't make you an anti- vaxer. I've said it before and I will say it again, I do not eat duck nor do I eat pork but I'm not a vegetarian. In fact I'm having chicken tonight so I think people need to stop throwing the anti-vaxer thing around to anyone that has questions or is choosing an alternative to AZ.
How rude of your husband's friend.

You are far from stupid. Stand your ground, you have a valid point and opinion and you are entitled to it.

I admire your strength in saying no. There’s no harm in waiting, although I am clearly uneducated as I didn’t know that under 40s were supposed to have to have an alternative. I’m getting mine next week, how do I find out which one it will be? Sorry for ignorance.

NB the risk of blood clots is lower than the risk from the contraceptive pill which presumably you don’t take ?

1 in 250,000 people get a blood clot from the AZ vaccine.
1 in 1,000 people get a blood clot through taking the contraceptive pill.

However, the 'doc' and his friends are dicks for discussing you loudly & publicly. Very unprofessional.

I'm the same as you, I'm 33 and my jab is on Thursday but if it's AZ I'm gonna refuse! I don't feel brave enough to say this to anyone in "real" life.
My reasoning behind it is no more than being scared by the media which I know is daft! I'm starting my second round of ivf in a few months and it just doesn't feel right.

I've been shielding and therefore offered the vaccine first, I had my first dose of AZ in January when nobody knew about the potential effects. It did really worry me when it came to getting my second dose 9/10 weeks later and that's a legitimate concern. Our local 'hub' had a word of mouth vaccination free for all day last week, dh went on the off chance and luckily it was Moderna - I wouldn't have expected him to have accepted AZ as the guidance says not to. I don't think yabu.

I think you’re right to wait. I’ve just had my second AstraZeneca and I’m very aware of the symptoms of clotting. I wouldn’t want my youngsters having the AstraZeneca because the risk for them outweighs the benefits. This has been officially admitted. I’m happier for them to wait for the alternative which shouldn’t be long now. You are simply following the current medical advice

Do you use birth control OP?

I could understand this all a bit more if there were no alternatives but there are so with alternative vaccines avialable there is a choice and you have a right to choose. It really is as simple as that.

I'm with the doctors. Easy for you to say 'I'll just wait a few weeks' as you went out to the pub potentially continuing to spread it around.

100% this. Appalling level of self righteous and uncompassionate comments on here. Ignore them, OP. Its no surprise though, judging by the extortionate lengths the media are trying to vilify anyone not desperate to take the experimental jab. We’ll have a two tier society before the years up.

You are an anti Vaxer as you knocked back a vaccine 🤷🏻‍♂️