Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Worried about 2nd AZ vaccine

78 replies

Kaylasmum49 · 21/05/2021 11:00

I'm due my 2nd vaccine next Tuesday and I am in two minds whether to go for it. I keep reading about the blood clots and that they are still occurring after the second dose.

My mum died at the age of 45 after a stroke and because of that I was advised to not take the contraceptive pill. I am 54 and have severe health anxiety which impacts my life on a daily basis. I am currently awaiting treatment for my anxiety.

I want to cancel my appointment and wait to see how many more cases arise after the second dose. Am I being over cautious?

OP posts:
RedcurrantPuff · 23/05/2021 18:36

Covid is more likely to cause blood clots.

Original poster
Kaylasmum49 · 23/05/2021 23:02

A work colleague's nephew had the AZ recently and ended up in hospital with bleeding under the skin all over his back, he leg aswell swelled up and he was given blood thinners. Now I am more worried than before.

OP posts:
Emmelina · 23/05/2021 23:10

Blood thinners when already bleeding under the skin? ...doesn’t sound likely. Is the colleague on the anti-vaccine side of things?

Hotpinkangel19 · 23/05/2021 23:54

I could have written this myself - due second dose on Saturday and I'm leaning towards not having it. Health anxiety is a nightmare, I just don't think it's worth it for me.

Original poster
Kaylasmum49 · 24/05/2021 00:18

My colleague has had her first vaccine so she is not anti vax. The bleeding under the skin could be because of low platelets. She sent me a photo of her nephew, his back has a lot of bleeding under the skin. His leg was swollen and he was given the blood thinners for that reason.

OP posts:
yikesanotherbooboo · 24/05/2021 08:17

OP , you should talk to your GP . If you look at the gov.uk website you will see that the risk factors for AZ vaccine are quite specific clotting conditions.it must be horrible living with health anxiety but I agree with a pp that being vaccinated will give you some control over life.

Original poster
Kaylasmum49 · 24/05/2021 10:50

My appointment is tomorrow and I still can't decide whether to go or to cancel. My health anxiety is driven by the fear of not being around for my children. I'm totally caught in the middle, if I don't get it I could catch covid and die, if I do get it I could die from a blood clot.

OP posts:
sparemonitor · 24/05/2021 10:58

@yikesanotherbooboo

OP , you should talk to your GP . If you look at the gov.uk website you will see that the risk factors for AZ vaccine are quite specific clotting conditions.it must be horrible living with health anxiety but I agree with a pp that being vaccinated will give you some control over life.
No, don't talk to your GP. Just go and have the jab.

(GP who has nothing other to say other than to and have the jab, but has hundreds of sick people wanting to talk to me)

Schoolissues1 · 24/05/2021 11:02

Why are people being rude to the OP? I had a question regarding the jabs, and I searched MN to see if it was already discussed, but it's like a minefield trying to find something specific. In the end I didnt ask the question due to the attitude of some.

Surely you can just ignore if it pisses you off that much?

Original poster
Kaylasmum49 · 24/05/2021 11:04

I get your point but severe anxiety is an illness too. You certainly don't sound like a very sympathetic gp.

OP posts:
Original poster
Kaylasmum49 · 24/05/2021 11:07

I don't know why people have to be so rude, I'm not posting because I want to start an argument, I'm posting because I'm worried sick and hope that someone has some useful information that they can share with me that could allay my fears.

OP posts:
AppleJane · 24/05/2021 11:11

OP please ignore the rudeness. It's impossible for someone to tell you with certainty because they can't know so they shouldn't ignore your anxiety.

I've been following Michael Makris, Professor of Haemostasis and Thrombosis at The University of Sheffield, UK on twitter and it's helped a lot.

https://twitter.com/ProfMakris

He believes more data should be released so we can calculate risk more accurately. However, in terms of the 15 blood clot cases in 2nd doses, he and his colleagues are not convinced yet they are the same as the first case doses. Take a look Smile

AppleJane · 24/05/2021 11:15

These are the tweets in particular:

"However, I have neither seen nor heard of a typical case of VITT after 2nd AZ vaccination. I discuss VITT with haemostasis and thrombosis doctors every day but none of us has seen a typical 2nd AZ dose VITT up to today. 4/6

I am not disputing that the MHRA have had 15 reports but are they true VITT cases? The onus is on the MHRA to publicly explain the clinical features and laboratory results of these 15 cases. People are deciding on whether to have a 2nd dose and deserve the information. 5/6"

nancywhitehead · 24/05/2021 11:18

If you cancel your second vaccine, please be aware that you are unlikely to be able to re-book it if you change your mind. My brother cancelled his because of anxiety about blood clots. He has now changed his mind, but they now won't give it to him because he is beyond the 12-week window since having his first. He is kicking himself.

It is important to try and remember that your anxiety is just that - anxiety. It's in your head, and it's not always rational or based in reality and facts. You probably know this but you need to keep it in the front of your mind and try to think rationally.

These blood clots are a tiny, tiny, miniscule risk. If you don't have the vaccine and you get Covid, you are much more likely to get a blood clot as a result of Covid.

Imagine that you can be injected with the vaccine or you can be injected with Covid. Which one are you going to choose?

Taking no action is basically a choice, saying that you are happy to be injected with Covid. And the impact of you catching Covid is much more likely to be debilitating and life-threatening than the jab.

I know it's scary, but please just try to think about it rationally and go ahead and have the jab. It is the best of your two options.

You;re probably also thinking of a third option where you don't have the jab and also don't get Covid - but that is still a gamble. I would think that would cause the most anxiety because you are left hanging and wondering if you will be infected at some point!

Surely if you have health anxiety, having the vaccine will ease your worries about catching Covid?

I do feel for you and it's a difficult position you are in, but we are all making these decisions based on our own analysis of the risks. You just need to think this through rationally and logically. You really don't want to be in the position in Winter 2021 where there is a resurgence and you haven't been vaccinated xx

nancywhitehead · 24/05/2021 11:22

Please see this article about the risks of blood clots and strokes for people who have Covid. The vaccination is clearly the safer option.

www.hriuk.org/health/your-health/lifestyle/people-with-coronavirus-are-at-risk-of-blood-clots-and-strokes

Dustyboots · 24/05/2021 11:25

Surely if you have health anxiety, having the vaccine will ease your worries about catching Covid? said by somebody who's never had health anxiety and has no idea what it feels like to have it.

Original poster
Kaylasmum49 · 24/05/2021 11:25

Thanks for that. I had a look at the link but not really understanding it properly.

OP posts:
Dustyboots · 24/05/2021 11:26

You just need to think this through rationally and logically. Also not really possible if you have health anxiety @nancywhitehead

nancywhitehead · 24/05/2021 11:29

I just noticed that you also said you are a carer for your autistic son.

I'm sure you are considering the impact on him either way, but if you catch Covid and are unvaccinated you are likely to be out of action for a fair while. You could get long Covid which could be debilitating for months and months. There is also the risk that you could pass Covid onto your son, and even a risk that you could develop a blood clot and die (a much bigger risk than with the vaccine).

These risks far outweigh the miniscule risk of developing a blood clot after being vaccinated. You were fine after the first vaccine and are going to be fine after the second.

Dustyboots · 24/05/2021 11:32

I'm sure you are considering the impact on him either way, but if you catch Covid and are unvaccinated you are likely to be out of action for a fair while.

How likely is that? As a percentage - thinking rationally and sensibly @nancywhitehead

nancywhitehead · 24/05/2021 11:33

@Kaylasmum49

Thanks for that. I had a look at the link but not really understanding it properly.
Basically, the risk of a clot from having the vaccine is about 4 in a million, or 0.0004%. You are more likely to be hit by lightning.

If you catch severe Covid and are admitted to ICU, the risk of a blood clot is one in four, or 25%.

I know which option I'd choose.

Original poster
Kaylasmum49 · 24/05/2021 11:33

It's not true that if I cancel I wont get another appointment. My adult ds cancelled his second vaccine and was able to get it two weeks later, he was outside the 12 weeks and no one suggested he couldn't have it.

OP posts:
Dustyboots · 24/05/2021 11:33

You could get long Covid which could be debilitating for months and months. There is also the risk that you could pass Covid onto your son, and even a risk that you could develop a blood clot and die (a much bigger risk than with the vaccine).

Hmmm I'm sure this is really helping OP with her health anxiety to think rationally and sensibly. Your compassion and empathy is outstanding @nancywhitehead

Original poster
Kaylasmum49 · 24/05/2021 11:34

Even though the risk is tiny it doesn't mean that I won't be one of the unlucky ones.

OP posts:
AppleJane · 24/05/2021 11:34

@nancywhitehead I'm finding your posts anxiety inducing so gawd knows how you're making the OP feel. People with health anxiety are not reassured by being told 'you'll be fine'.

@Kaylasmum49 the Professor simply was saying he hasn't yet heard of a single case of blood clot at second dose that seems 'vaccine induced'. So that's so far, so good.