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Original poster

I refused the AZ vaccine, now being judged for it

492 replies

cosmoswithcovids · 21/05/2021 07:24

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.

OP posts:
Aalvarino · 22/05/2021 20:25

6 HOURS. FFS.

Dustyboots · 22/05/2021 20:27

OP - I’m refusing too, for now. I have friends judging me, pressurising etc Family too.

You/we do have a right to choose what we put into our own body. Those who think otherwise, please explain (specifically about why we are not allowed autonomy over our own bodies).

We are taught to say no if things are forced on us, aren’t we? We’re taught to not give into peer pressure and that’s what we teach our children. Isn’t it?

PlanDeRaccordement · 22/05/2021 20:29

I don’t judge you OP. Would have done the same in your position.
There is no reason to take extra risk when you can potentially be offered a lower risk option in a matter of a week or two.

Messedupneedchocolatenow · 22/05/2021 20:32

@SlipperyDippery

I honestly do not believe that other posters have not picked up on this angle.I really dont. Maybe coronablindness or something

It’s not the point of the thread though - OP is asking about being judged.

OP it’s completely up to you what you put in your body and you’re not an anti-vaxxer. However I’m furious at the negativity towards Astra Zeneca, which is playing such a crucial role in keeping covid under control here (and will particularly do so in developing nations in the near future I hope), given how fucking minuscule the risks are.

I’m female in my 30s and won’t hesitate to have it if offered to me sooner. I think your risk assessment is ridiculous and you should have asked before you went if you were that concerned.

This.

I won't judge anyone for refusing but I feel saddened how the AZ has been demonised. And was how these vaccines and covid generally have been polarizing and dividing people who much in a time of international crisis

Sweettea1 · 22/05/2021 20:33

@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?

It wasn't her dose tho was it? She never booked it she hasnt been called officially for it so it was never hers. Had she been called for it and booked it she would get the dose the guidelines say she should get!
pinkmagnolias · 22/05/2021 20:34

Of course you were right to follow

advice and make an informed decision and wait for a safer vaccine.
Anyone who would have done differently in your situation is an idiot.

Oblomov21 · 22/05/2021 20:39

"I'm an over thinker and a worrier. "

So you may be an intelligent solicitor, but your anxiety is so bad that you can't work out that the risk to you is so minuscule, that really you need to go and see your GP re your anxiety.

yet you object to your gp friend inferring that you are a vaccination refuser, which is exactly what your are.

rwalker · 22/05/2021 20:45

I just can't get my head round how people will accept the risk from dying from covid or long covid .
which is greater than the smaller number of blood clots and even smaller number of deaths by blood clots .

Volcanoexplorer · 22/05/2021 20:53

Dh and I are both 39. We’ve both turned down the AZ vaccine and had the Pfizer one a few days later. Since then all of my friends under 40 have automatically been given an alternative, none have been offered AZ as a first dose.

iseeu · 22/05/2021 20:59

OP it’s completely up to you what you put in your body and you’re not an anti-vaxxer. However I’m furious at the negativity towards Astra Zeneca, which is playing such a crucial role in keeping covid under control here (and will particularly do so in developing nations in the near future I hope), given how fucking minuscule the risks are

The same scientists who have been leading us out of covid and have been involved in developing vaccines are the same scientists involved in saying that women under a certain age should be getting alternative vaccines to the AZ wherever possible. This advice is coming from science not the media. The AZ is not downgraded or demonised or treated in a negative way, it is being used for different age groups now. Other changes in the way this and other vaccines are used might also be announced in the coming weeks and months.

iseeu · 22/05/2021 21:01

PS I included a long quote from government advice on page 11

icanbewhatiwant · 22/05/2021 21:16

Im in my 40's. I had AZ but I think if I'd had a choice i would have had Pfizer. But I took what was on offer. After all I've been on the pill for many years when I was younger and pregnant 3 times...all have higher risks of clots. It's just from what I have read I would have preferred Pfizer. My husband had Pfizer. He's 15 years older than me. He was quite poorly after the second dose. I've known several to be ill after second Pfizer. AZ seems to be worse after first dose.

perhapstomorrow · 22/05/2021 21:25

Tbh I'm judging your Dr friend more than you. Surely its unethical to be offering vaccines to your mates and then to discuss it over drinks.....what about patient confidentiality?🙄🙄

AIMummy · 22/05/2021 21:30

@rwalker

I just can't get my head round how people will accept the risk from dying from covid or long covid . which is greater than the smaller number of blood clots and even smaller number of deaths by blood clots .
Some of us have had both covid and long covid yet would have still turned down AZ to have Pfizer at a later date as we have been offered a CHOICE by the government plus it has been recommended. I think some posters on here really need to get over the fact that under 40s have been offered a choice of not having AZ. Just get over it & accept it.
mommyisbest · 22/05/2021 21:37

For what it’s worth, I don’t think you did anything wrong OP. You made an assessment based on your evaluation of risk.
I am 46 years old. I had AZ two weeks ago. But if I was in Germany, Holland, France, Canada, Sweden among others I’d have been offered another vaccine. There is a risk with AZ and frankly we are not sure exactly what that risk is. A report produced jointly by Norway and Holland put the risk much higher than 10 in 1 million. My aunt developed clots with low platelets four weeks after receiving AZ. This impacted on my assessment of the risk to me and I waited before deciding to go ahead. It’s obtuse to say the risk is well known and understood. The position is changing all the time hence the recommendation to offer alternatives to under 30s and now also under 40s. It’s also true that AZ has saved lives and continues to do so. If the number of people dying of clots with low platelets post AZ continues to rise I hope we have leaders who will ask why those lives were considered an unfortunate side effect by the UK govt when there were alternative vaccines available.

happylemon10 · 22/05/2021 22:16

A risk is a risk no matter how tiny... OP felt she didn't want to take the gamble on her health. Her body, her decision. Anyone saying that they are angry about her choice or calling her an anti-vaxer... where do you get off?? Judgey Sanctimonious idiots!

murbblurb · 22/05/2021 22:20

Everything in life is a risk. We all have 100% risk of death.

Not judgey. Common bloody sense. Yeah, I know, Mumsnet...

ajmouse · 22/05/2021 22:23

The risk is extremely small (more chance of being in a car crash within a year) but I don't judge someone for following government advice and waiting for Pfizer or Moderna. I do judge those who don't want any vaccine because "we don't know what's in it" or whatever, especially when they're happy to trust their GP with prescriptions... or smoke or vape or eat a hotdog...

TheJade · 22/05/2021 22:23

You’ve done the right thing. I’m 36 and just had Pfizer. I wouldn’t have had the AZ if offered.

X

anon666 · 22/05/2021 22:27

I can absolutely see both sides of the debate here. You are taking a very risk averse approach, but one that's advocated by policy makers.

I agree with them about the mathematical risk, and I personally would have had it.

However, either way they have been really rude and disrespectful of your legitimate stance, and thars, really horrible. 😞

happylemon10 · 22/05/2021 22:27

@murbblurb

Everything in life is a risk. We all have 100% risk of death.

Not judgey. Common bloody sense. Yeah, I know, Mumsnet...

She's under 40 and following advice ... that's common sense!
MaxNormal · 22/05/2021 22:27

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

You're angry because a random stranger won't take something specifically contra-indicated for her age group?

pinkmagnolias · 22/05/2021 22:29

Also remember OP, if you refused AZ in a country other than the UK, there would have been NO questions asked.

Hertsgirl10 · 22/05/2021 22:39

Even if you was an anti Vax person, doesn’t give them the right to be rude or judge you.

You have you make your own mind up and who cares what anyone else thinks?

AppleJane · 22/05/2021 22:53

If the number of people dying of clots with low platelets post AZ continues to rise I hope we have leaders who will ask why those lives were considered an unfortunate side effect by the UK govt when there were alternative vaccines available.

@mommyisbest totally agree. It is not AZ or nothing. Young, healthy people dying.

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