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.

I am a nurse and a vaccinator and currently it is recommended to give Pfizer or moderna vaccines as first vaccines to anyone under 40 yrs. If anyone under the age of 40 has already had the AZ vaccine they would complete their course with the AZ vaccine. You did the correct thing by refusing to have the AZ vaccine if it was your first vaccine. Although the risks from AZ vaccine are small it is absolutely against current medical guidance to be offering you this vaccine. Don’t feel guilty at all you did the right thing but do make sure you get vaccinated with one of the others xx

my daughters and son in law had this vaccine and , although they didnt feel well the day after they would not hesitate to have it again

@TheReluctantPhoenix

At your age, your judgment is valid and to be respected.

I believe the overall death risk from the vaccine is higher than from the disease, although both less than 10 in one million (so two minuscule risks, same order of magnitude as being killed by a lightning strike).

OTOH, if you are one of the 999,993 out of a million who is not affected by thrombosis, the AZ will protect you from an unpleasant couple of weeks and potentially long COVID.

In your position I would have taken it, but waiting a couple of weeks is a reasonable choice and does not make you Antivax.

The death rate from AZ is nowhere near the death rate of Covid.

Many other poster have put up the actual figures.

Wait your turn if you'd rather Miderna/Pfizer you've done nothing wrong.

Okay so I have been called a liar for mentioning this on MN before. But I’m not lying. My colleague is 43 and had AZ 4 weeks ago, she ended up in hospital within a week with a blood clot. Still can’t drive, has daily tests and off work. She also has to take Waldfren for 6 months. She says she was not the only woman on the ward with this.

Because of this I have decided to only have the vaccine if I’m offered an alternative to AZ. I am happy to have it just don’t trust AZ.

The risks may be small but it’s a risk I am not willing to take

What a ridiculous thing to say. 1 whilst the "vaccine" reduces the chance of you getting Covid, reduces the chance of you passing it on to others it does not stop it. Don't try to guilt trip OP she is entitled to do what is best SHE feels is best for her. She is entitled to wait for an alternative. You have the right to go ahead with AZ she has the choice to wait for an alternative.

While this is not the nice behaviour of friends in a night out, I would give them a bit of credibility, since they are doctors, of having a better understanding about risks than any clever/well read up member of the public. My understanding is that the risk of the contraceptive pill giving us thrombosis is higher than the AZ vaccine. Their approach was not supportive, nor kind, but their knowledge should be listened to. The media have a lot to answer to for people’s understanding of what is good/bad in the this current situation.

For the sake of a couple of weeks? You definitely won’t get the virus in that time then? If you did get it you definitely won’t be made ill by it? If you were made ill by it, you definitely wouldn’t die from it?
You must be 100% sure of all those things to be in the position of deciding to turn down a vaccine that millions of people around the world want / need but haven’t had the luxury of being offered yet.
Talk about height of privilege.
And - some might say - somewhat foolhardy behaviour.

Seriously - you've come onto SM and expect not to be judged?
I will however, keep my opinion to myself.😉

I think you did the right thing and they are being asses. I hope your DH backed you up?

Well they recently set up a vaccine centre in my town specifically for under 40s to have the Pfizer vaccine (which I have), so what are we supposed to think? 🤷‍♀️

I don’t think you should be criticised for this and I’m surprised at some of the inappropriately shirty posts.

The risk from the AZ vaccine is much, much lower than from taking the Contraceptive Pill. However, you made a reasonable, personal decision, given Government advice and some other posters are overlooking that your husband took the call with the information, not you. I suppose you could have rung back to check which one it was, but FFS, we’re all fallible!

You did nothing wrong and you’re clearly a but of a worrier, not an antivaxer. I say this as someone (older) who has had two doses of AZ.

My nephew and his girlfriend are in their 30s and went to have AZ; they were turned away by medical staff, told not to have AZ, and to rebook for a Pfizer.
They thought AZ was a ‘risk’ worth taking, but the on duty dr refused to vaccinate them.
No wonder there’s a lot of confusion!

the funny thing is, most of the posters on this thread who are getting shirty have most likely atleast had their first dose so the faux outrage is laughable.

people have the right (and hopefully will continue to) to decide what they do and dont want to put into their body.

for what its worth OP, I think you made the right choice.

I think you did the right thing and I absolutely would have done the same. It is not anti vax to be prepared to have a vaccine just not the AZ esp given current medical advice for under 40s.

As a side note I have heard of two young females ( one early 20s and one mid 30s) in my region of the UK who have had AZ and then very tragically passed away in the weeks after from a blood clot. I know the risk is small but there is a risk and I think you did right waiting for an alternative if this is what you are comfortable doing.

Yep, another person here is judging you!
Pity they can’t send your dose of vaccine to some poor sod in Brazil isn’t it?

Some poor sod in England will get OPs dose though. Will that do?

FFS a doctor discussing medical things is not “mansplaining”. He has knowledge, you have limited knowledge. If he started telling you how the law works, that’s mansplaining.

I believe it is illegal for a GP to offer it 'on the side'. Forget the rest of the argument. It could also be illegal for you to take it. The vaccine should be ordered through all the proper channels.

Here's info about how to complain about a GP:
www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-complain-if-you-re-unhappy-with-your-gp-or-doctor-s-surgery-a2fyc8v0Q7Nj

@Dustyboots

*Yep, another person here is judging you! Pity they can’t send your dose of vaccine to some poor sod in Brazil isn’t it?*

Some poor sod in England will get OPs dose though. Will that do?

No, they won't unfortunately. An open vial has to have all the doses used within 6 hours of opening. That's why the doctor called OP's DH, so he could try to ensure the remaining doses weren't wasted. Unfortunately OP said she'd have it, then went along and said she wouldn't have it after all, so it would have had to be chucked out.

I think you're being ridiculous and selfish and should have had it. This kind of behaviour makes me really angry

@Berline

Report your friend if this continues. It's a clear breach of confidentiality. Ringing his friends up for a spare dose. Lol.

He'll be in deep shit. Don't feel guilty - he's a f*ing bully who deserves taking down a peg or two.

Absolutely this!!! Not only did he give the doses to his mates, he also breached doctor/patient confidentiality by discussing your choice amongst his friends

I’ve had 2x AZ but I’m not as young as you. The government has advised that younger people shouldn’t have AZ so it’s perfectly reasonable of you to want to follow that advice. The doctor is probably frustrated at anti vaxxers but shouldn’t have included you as one - that was just sheer rudeness. Just stick to your guns and take the vaccine when it’s officially offered, you’ve done nothing wrong and don’t let the people on here upset you

I booked mine through the site but had no idea what 1 I was getting I asked the receptionist before even giving my name to join the que thankfully it was Pzfier but if she said AZ I wouldn't of got it. The receptionist said alot of people have asked and said the same thing. Do what's best for you and as a doctor he will know full well you should be having pzfier.

Can't be arsed to read the 12 pages but why on earth do they have AZ doses that are about to go off?? What is the shelf life of these Vax?? It's not like Pfizer.

@Rfjkf

I think you're being ridiculous and selfish and should have had it. This kind of behaviour makes me really angry

Why should she have had it? The advice and guidelines are clear as to what one she should have.

Ah ok. Open vial. 6 doses. Got it.