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.

Australia seem to be monitoring it pretty closely. Per www.tga.gov.au/periodic/covid-19-vaccine-weekly-safety-report-13-05-2021 there's be 18 blood clot reactions to 1.8 million doses of AZ. Overall 11,859 reactions to AZ reported, from minor to blood clots.

Overall, we've had 910 deaths out of 30,000 cases. Over 17.8M tests done. www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/coronavirus-covid-19-current-situation-and-case-numbers#covid19-summary-statistics

So chance of blood clots based on the Australian numbers looks pretty low at 18/1.8M. The death rate is higher at 910/30,000.

Again could someone who knows please clarify.... I don't think it is contraindicated in

@k1233 - only 1 of those 18 actually died, a lot of people don't seem to realise these clots can be treated. So your comparison is 30,333 deaths per million from confirmed covid versus 1 from vaccine.

@k1233
Also the risk of death from Covid gets progressively higher with age, but the risk of death from a vaccine induced blood clot gets progressively lower with age. So you do reach a point, generally under 50 (depends on country and healthcare system capacity) where your chance of dying from the AZ vaccine is equal to or higher than of dying from Covid (if you catch it).

I'd have walked too. Prior to the blood clot info even coming out I didn't want AZ, as just speaking to people who had been vaccinated there was a clear pattern where those who were vaccinated with Pfizer had less side effects. I'm 35 and I was planning to wait until the under 30's were called up before I went for mine, but luckily they changed the advice to under 40. I've now had Pfizer and only felt tired. No crippling anxiety! Do what's right for you, it wasn't allocated to you and unfortunately was going to waste anyway!

@Lozzie86

I'd have walked too. Prior to the blood clot info even coming out I didn't want AZ, as just speaking to people who had been vaccinated there was a clear pattern where those who were vaccinated with Pfizer had less side effects. I'm 35 and I was planning to wait until the under 30's were called up before I went for mine, but luckily they changed the advice to under 40. I've now had Pfizer and only felt tired. No crippling anxiety! Do what's right for you, it wasn't allocated to you and unfortunately was going to waste anyway!

I have spoken to a lot of people who have been vaccinated and not one have had a side effect of anxiety, let alone “crippling anxiety”!

AnnieSnap How unusual.

My job entails asking people about their vaccine. The majority of people, have AZ side effects of some description . The majority of people who have had Pfizer report few if any side effects.

I'm 22 with underlying heart and lung conditions , I had the AZ vaccine and was fine as were many people I know and colleagues each to their own but you should have taken it the advice was only put in place as per the scaremongering of other countries because doctors negligently let patients have the vaccine that shouldn't have had it.

@pinkmagnolias

AnnieSnap How unusual.

My job entails asking people about their vaccine. The majority of people, have AZ side effects of some description . The majority of people who have had Pfizer report few if any side effects.

After the first dose or both?

@subbysammiexoxo

I'm 22 with underlying heart and lung conditions , I had the AZ vaccine and was fine as were many people I know and colleagues each to their own but you should have taken it the advice was only put in place as per the scaremongering of other countries because doctors negligently let patients have the vaccine that shouldn't have had it.

There's no 'should' of taken it. That's not your choice to make. Luckily OP made up her mind on what she felt was right for her and didn't get bullied into making a decision from others. Seriously bore off with over opinionated crap 🙄

I think you were right op

I wish people would stop banging on about the risks of AZ and clots.... for me, I came down with arthritis very suddenly after my jab and would absolutely have chosen Pfizer if I come have my time back

Yes the rheumatologist says it was triggered by the jab

Why don't you just get your anti-vax flag out happylemon10 and nail it to your flagpole. ? Instead of mealy mouthed 'agreement' with every loony unscientific, unsubstantiated anti vax stance. ?
Can you not work out yet just how many lives the vaccination has saved compared with the ridiculously tiny amount that have had vaccine issues. ?
Surely even you could work out the difference between 113213 and 0 . That being the number of deaths where Covid is the Main cause and the number of deaths following an adverse reaction to Covid vaccine of ANY type.

www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/monthlymortalityanalysisenglandandwales/april2021/monthlymortalityanalysisapril20211.xlsx

Just because he is a doctor makes him no more qualified than anyone else to risk assess a vaccine for which full data hasn’t even been released

I find many doctors arrogant sods about health and not particularly health conscious

Your body; your choice and IMHO there is a reason that full data hasn’t been released

There is a media blackout on this issue; side effects and the full picture

Just because he is a doctor makes him no more qualified than anyone else to risk assess a vaccine
Maybe not "anyone else", but than many people in the general public, yes. It comes with their training.

for which full data hasn’t even been released
what full data are you talking about?

I find many doctors arrogant sods about health and not particularly health conscious
True.
They are still qualified, and more than most random people in the public without training.

Your body; your choice
True.

IMHO there is a reason that full data hasn’t been released
What full data?

There is a media blackout on this issue; side effects and the full picture
Is that the media blackout that reports every single death and swollen arm after vaccines?
The AZ scare came after huge media reporting. We still see regular stories about side effects. And there are public reports about side effects. There's a system to report these, as well as for any other vaccine or medicine.
And there's a reason why countries have changed their guidelines. Because serious side effects are being analysed and are being taken into account.

Enough with the conspiracy theories.

[quote Aalvarino]Again could someone who knows please clarify.... I don't think it is contraindicated in

Between the AZ now or the Pfizer in 6 months, I'd tell you to take the AZ now.

Of course however in the OP's case it's more like a two week wait between being offered the AZ to having the Pfizer. She is only 2 years below the current age being invited so most likely will be called in the next few days which makes her decision an even more of a no-brainer. In fact when an under 40's person goes to book their vaccine now, the system automatically directs you to where a non-AZ vaccine is being given.

@FrozenVag

I think you were right op

I wish people would stop banging on about the risks of AZ and clots.... for me, I came down with arthritis very suddenly after my jab and would absolutely have chosen Pfizer if I come have my time back

Yes the rheumatologist says it was triggered by the jab

There are possible links to getting an arthritis flare from many types of jab including flu, tetanus and rubella. That's the nature of arthritis unfortunately. Given the number of reports per dose are higher with Pfizer than with Oxford Astrazeneca your "would have chosen Pfizer" seems somewhat random.

@Temp023

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?

Get to fuck.

@ajmouse more chance of being in a car crash within a year

Younger people with no underlying conditions have more of a risk of dying in a car crash than dying from covid too.

@k1233

Australia seem to be monitoring it pretty closely. Per www.tga.gov.au/periodic/covid-19-vaccine-weekly-safety-report-13-05-2021 there's be 18 blood clot reactions to 1.8 million doses of AZ. Overall 11,859 reactions to AZ reported, from minor to blood clots.

Overall, we've had 910 deaths out of 30,000 cases. Over 17.8M tests done. www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/coronavirus-covid-19-current-situation-and-case-numbers#covid19-summary-statistics

So chance of blood clots based on the Australian numbers looks pretty low at 18/1.8M. The death rate is higher at 910/30,000.

You should really break that down by age though.

The actual JCVI have advised people under 40 to have an alternative to the AZ. On what planet does it make the OP selfish for turning it down?!

I’m sick to fucking death of the sneering, condescending posts on here advising people that their contraception and/or a car journey carries more risk of death also...

There is a little something called risk vs reward!! The pill stops pregnancy, a car is a necessity to get places. An AZ jab is NOT a necessity if there is a lower risk alternative available!

And yes, my understanding is that the chance of dying of a blood clot from AZ is slightly higher than the risk of dying of Covid for under 40s - both risks are small but one is definitely higher. Hence the advice changing on which vaccine an under 40 should have!

What full data?

They haven't released how many doses of AZ has been given to people under 50. They have said how many have experienced blood clots but without the first figure you can't calculate risk by age group.

@Shirls22 is spot on with her advice/knowledge. You will be offered Pfizer or Moderna as your first vaccine because you are under 40. These are the current guidelines . You did the right thing.

Ffs your husband and the Dr are idiots. No you should not be forced to have it. So much for a democracy. Why do people always assume they won’t be the 1%?! Ignore the haters. You did the right thing.

[quote Frustratedbeyondbelief]Why don't you just get your anti-vax flag out happylemon10 and nail it to your flagpole. ? Instead of mealy mouthed 'agreement' with every loony unscientific, unsubstantiated anti vax stance. ?
Can you not work out yet just how many lives the vaccination has saved compared with the ridiculously tiny amount that have had vaccine issues. ?
Surely even you could work out the difference between 113213 and 0 . That being the number of deaths where Covid is the Main cause and the number of deaths following an adverse reaction to Covid vaccine of ANY type.

www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/monthlymortalityanalysisenglandandwales/april2021/monthlymortalityanalysisapril20211.xlsx[/quote]
You know nothing about my vaccine status .. I may be fully vaccinated or not, that's my business and absolutely nothing to do with fuckwhits like you.

I rarely post on here but I really couldn't believe the stick the OP was receiving from a GP, her husband and a few preachy people on here...she'd made a choice that was only hers to make and from going by the responses on here 'most' people agree with her choice.

Calling her an anti-Vaxer is absolutely ridiculous considering she said in her original post she is booking an alternative vaccine in 2 weeks time.