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.

@Divebar2021 not that it's any of your business but no I don't have the contraceptive pill, I have a coil fitted.

@cosmoswithcovids you are clearly not an anti vaxxer. It's just at the moment anyone who refuses any vaccine for any reason is fair game for bullying, ostracising and verbal abuse. Your body, your risk, your choice. We don't live in a communist state.

I think it was rude of them. You're not an anti-vaxxer, you're actively making a decision about what you think is the best option for you. It's your choice what you put in your body. They may disagree, but it's not up to them.

I'm in my thirties, chose to have AZ and was happy with that because I have a few concerns about mRNA vaccines. Got a bit of criticism from the MN 'get whatever they give you and be grateful' brigade at the time. It's partly a cultural thing, I think. Friends in the US have told me that there you book a slot for a specific vaccine, and the idea of not knowing what you'll get until you turn up is bizarre to them.

I’m 28 and pregnant and have had AZ. This was before the guidance but I’d have it again (and won’t hesitate to have my second dose).

I do understand people’s concerns with the AZ vaccine but the risk is so very tiny. We all need to do our bit to make sure infections stay low so we don’t get locked down again.

I think you were wrong. And it's not just about you, it's about the whole of the country. The more people that behave like you, the lower the chance of getting the country back to normal.
And, when you were criticised about it (by pretty well-qualified people) grow some balls and stand up for yourself. Have some faith in your decision.

@justlonelystars the risk is very low but still higher than you ending up in ICU with Covid.

@CeibaTree

You know Pfizer also has a blood clot risk right?

It hasn't been put into the public eye as much as the AZ as these quickly made billionaires want people to be scared and to believe theirs is the better product.

It's quite sad really. Especially when a dose went to waste after being accepted.

@Tryingtryingandtrying the fact I was offered a vaccine whilst 28 and pregnant should tell you that I might just be at a higher risk from COVID

I did suffer a blood clot from a reaction to an insect bite five years ago

Really OP, after you've experienced this don't pay any mind to what anyone else says. You definitely did the right thing.

[quote cosmoswithcovids]@Divebar2021 not that it's any of your business but no I don't have the contraceptive pill, I have a coil fitted. [/quote]
How long have you used the coil for, and have you ever read about the long-term risks? Here's a hint, the death risk is much higher than the vaccine you deride.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12311950/

I would’ve done exactly the same, OP.

They are dicks, and the people judging you on here are dicks too.

It’s perfectly reasonable of you to assume, as a person aged under 40, that you would be offered, by a doctor who knows you are under 40, a vaccine recommended for the under 40s. You are perfectly reasonable to choose to refuse it and wait.

And anyone suggesting you caused the wasting of a vaccine someone else could have had needs reading lessons imo.

@mamala321 Whatever happened to following the science?

Tbhi think it’s crazy that a GP is offering the AZ to anyone under 40yo.

The government advice is to offer another jab to people under 40. For me doing what he did was actual negligence tbh...
I would have assumed the same @cosmoswithcovids.

Well unless you are also assuming that you need to double check any prescription from your GP because actually it might be inaccurate...

Ignore them. The ‘well I had it and was fine’ is survivor bias

Don’t feel bullied into it. Being cautious doesn’t make you an anti vaxxer!
My dc are fully (plus extras like c pox!) vaccinated I believe vaccine are important but this one I need to see more evidence it’s safe before going ahead and don’t let anyone shame you for waiting

@justlonelystars so your personal risk warranted it then
Don't pretend you did it for altruistic reasons

It's not the GPs fault that there is no system in place to use up left over vaccines in a fairer way. He did the right thing to offer it to the OP and her husband.

And yes, I think the OP is completely right to refuse it if she does not want it.

I think she's a bit daft though. But that may be because I've witnessed a few of my very fit friends in their 40s struggle with long Covid. But that's just my experience and so it colours my view.

And I don't think they 'shamed' you OP. The medical professionals have a different view of a medical issue. You don't agree with it, but you need to own your decision and put up with it.

It seems like you've just come on here for validation, telling other posters to F* off is really out of order, when they are voicing a reason why people would judge you - ie you should feel privileged to have the opportunity to choose to vaccinate or not. Many people would be unutterably grateful to have a teeny, tiny risk of a probably non-fatal blood clot, in exchange for protecting themselves and by extension friends, family and community, from spreading this devastating disease.

And it was not mansplaining, he just happened to be a man explaining something to you.
You aren't more knowledgable.

However you DO have a right to choose. It was exaggerating if he said you are anti vaxx.

On the other hand, everyone who chooses to be cautious about vaccinating, creates another (perhaps only short term) hole in our effort to achieve herd immunity. So everyone around you literally does have an interest in whether you vaccinate or not as soon as you can.

It is natural obviously to try to weigh up your risks as an individual - your young age, the local level of covid (my town is down to 10 in 100,000 now so given I am still cautious I have very very little risk of actually catching covid), and the likelihood you can get a marginally safer vaccine in the near future. Personally I took the view that driving 15 miles to get the AZ was more risky than the vaccine itself.

The ‘well I had it and was fine’ is survivor bias

Totally agree @BabyhereBabythere

I think you were wrong. And it's not just about you, it's about the whole of the country

But the OP basically followed the government advice by saying NO to AZ.
Is that not doing your best ‘for the whole of the country’ to follow ALL government advice?
I mean if you are social distancing, keeping to groups of 6 etc... why shouldn’t you also follow the rule about vaccines? Why I h get vaccinated but if you are under 40yo then don’t get the AZ?
The OP will only wait a few more weeks and be vaccinated as per schedule. Where is the issue there???

@Tryingtryingandtrying yes, I did it for my health and my baby too. However, I do feel that it’s responsible to get the vaccine to help protect others too. That’s my opinion and others might not share it 🤷🏼‍♀️

Tryingtryingandtrying
Look, the OP was coming on basically asking for validation for her choice. That's how AIBU usually works.
I think she was wrong, a lot of posters disagree. That's fine.

But it's pretty pathetic for her to come on and complain about being bullied. How old is the OP? 16? If you make a controversial choice, make it. But be prepared to stand up for yourself.

What happened to following government guidance?

Or is it a question of yes follow the guidance but then decide what you think is appropriate because I know better than anyone else?
I mean at that game, you can go very far, both ways (from refusing to get out of the house to deciding a change in taste doesn't matter because you have a cold).

She followed government guidance. Hardly controversial

@MaMaLa321

I think you were wrong. And it's not just about you, it's about the whole of the country. The more people that behave like you, the lower the chance of getting the country back to normal. And, when you were criticised about it (by pretty well-qualified people) grow some balls and stand up for yourself. Have some faith in your decision.

But she will have a different one? She’s no an anti vaxer