Worried about 2nd AZ vaccine

[Kaylasmum49]

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?

@Kaylasmum49

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

That is true.

But you could also be one of the unlucky ones who gets Covid and gets a blood clot from that.

And that is much more likely.

I apologise if I'm causing more anxiety. That wasn't my intention but I can see it, so I'm sorry about that.

It is an anxiety-provoking situation though - I feel anxious too and that's probably coming across. I am anxious that people aren't having the vaccine because of this tiny, tiny risk.

Aren't you more worried about catching Covid? I certainly am.

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

I lost my mum when she was 45 due to cancer @Kaylasmum49

I also have a child with cerebral palsy and long term health conditions of my own.

As a result I know that of course there's a chance that we could be one of the unlucky ones. People who've been lucky so far in life - see things differently.

Maybe there's a higher chance statistically of dying/long Covid etc with actual Covid. But so many vaccine side effects are not being registered/reported or believed. You only have to read on here.

It's not easily comparable. We try to steer clear of Covid. But we're being encouraged to willingly hand ourselves over to be vaccinated. How can you compare something that 'might' happen with something that you're willingly choosing to happen?

@Dustyboots

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

I lost my mum when she was 45 due to cancer @Kaylasmum49

I also have a child with cerebral palsy and long term health conditions of my own.

As a result I know that of course there's a chance that we could be one of the unlucky ones. People who've been lucky so far in life - see things differently.

Maybe there's a higher chance statistically of dying/long Covid etc with actual Covid. But so many vaccine side effects are not being registered/reported or believed. You only have to read on here.

It's not easily comparable. We try to steer clear of Covid. But we're being encouraged to willingly hand ourselves over to be vaccinated. How can you compare something that 'might' happen with something that you're willingly choosing to happen?

Yes that's a good point and I think you've hit the nail on the head. We choose to be vaccinated but we don't choose to get Covid, so it all feels out of our control anyway.

I was anxious about having my first AZ vaccine too, and I'm anxious about the second one (I'm in my early thirties, not vulnerable but vaccinated because of my profession).

But I'll have it because I'm way more worried about the risks of Covid than the 0.0004% chance of getting a clot from the vaccine.

I know that even if I were to completely isolate and try to steer clear of Covid I could still catch it, and if I do then the risks of horrible/ lasting side effects are much higher than the vaccine, even for someone my age.

Both choices are risky but the vaccine is the better of the two risks.

@nancywhitehead

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

Are you sure? I'm beyond 12 weeks and the nhs booking system is working perfectly well for me?

But I'll have it because I'm way more worried about the risks of Covid than the 0.0004% chance of getting a clot from the vaccine.

I wouldn't say that the vaccine is the better of the two risks, nancy. But that doesn't mean I'm right of course. I see that both choices are risky, for sure.

For me - I'm not worried at all about getting a clot from the vaccine, although I probably should be. I do still consider getting the vaccine from time to time. What worries me more is all the other side effects which are unreported.

Funnily the few people I know who've had Covid have had it so mildly - it passed like a cold. I know many that have been vaccinated - family and work members who are now signed off sick or very ill as a result. Reading stories of others on here backs up what I know in real life.

These blood clots and other awful side effects of the vaccine were not known about during the initial trials - were they? What else do they not know? Because weeks of exhaustion, head aches, foggy head, dizziness, breathing difficulties are unlikely to be nothing. What is actually going on inside people's bodies to cause these outward symptoms.

So, it's not the blood clots that worry me. It's all the rest - and the vaccine worries me much more.

@CloudPop

There should be a specific topic titled "Reasons not to have the AZ vaccine"

Yep. Great idea, then stick them all in together

That's exactly what I have been thinking, that I am choosing to have the vaccine with a known risk against the possibility of maybe catching covid. For me it's difficult to weigh up. I feel envious of the people who have had Pfizer, I feel cheated.

Really tempted to cancel, just for a couple of weeks to see how many new cases of blood clots after the 2nd dose appear. Part of me just wants to go and get it done but my anxiety will be off the scale for the next month if I do!

Just a quick reminder that with a lot of OCD/anxiety issues, trying to reassure the person having an anxiety episode can, in many cases, feed the anxiety and make things worse.

I really don't think anyone on here can put your mind at ease OP and there's a chance its just going to make things worse.

I agree with @bordois it’s unlikely anyone will be able to help you decide. I also suffer from health anxiety (although I am having some success treating it) and I’ve found these threads really stressful! Especially where people are debating whether vaccines are a good idea or not. It’s such a polarising thing. I was so panicked about some of the things people posted but then discovered lots of them are true of all sorts of other vaccines that I’ve had before anyway!

My mum is due her second AZ in a week and is very nervous about the blood clots. She’s had a heart attack before that they think was caused by one so she’s understandably nervous. But she’s decided to go ahead. She’s weighed up her worry and decided that overall she’d feel worried for much longer without the second dose. It’s important to get a decent amount of protection and she figures that the risk from covid with clots is higher. She says she isn’t looking forward to that month, but a month is shorter than a year.

I think perhaps it depends on what makes you feel the most worried, because it’s unlikely covid is going anywhere, at least for a while anyway.

Good luck and I hope you manage to make a decision soon. I sometimes find that I feel much better once I’ve made a decision whichever way that falls. You can only decide with the information you have right now. Go with your gut instinct and try not to be persuaded by people either way. Only you can decide. Good luck with whatever you choose. I can really sense your worry in the posts and I know how terrible that feels from my own experience so I do hope you find something to help soon.

Really don't think I can go ahead with it. Seriously anxious, can't get out of bed.

Come on OP. One foot in front of the other. You can do this xxx

I honestly don't know if I can. I feel like it's a certain death sentence.

Perhaps you should cancel for today and have some breathing space

Have thought about that but worried about going over the 12 weeks

Can't see that being a problem. If you came down with Covid symptoms you wouldn't be able to go so there has to be some leeway.

I have had my second AZ at the weekend. I too get anxious but I decided on weighing up risks, it was better to have it. I will just keep busy and not read anything related to clots, etc for 4 weeks.

Do you think I am being ott about this? This a health anxiety sufferers worst nightmare.

Had mine yesterday, sore arm and a bit achy but otherwise ok. Not nearly as tired as for first one.

@Kaylasmum49

Do you think I am being ott about this? This a health anxiety sufferers worst nightmare.

Yes you are being OTT given the minuscule risk, but that’s your anxiety talking. If it helps, those who are double vaccinated seem to have good protection against the new Indian variant (which is very contagious), while a single dose is far less effective. For that reason I’ve just brought forward my second dose (of AZ) to as soon as they can do it.

If you need the breathing space you still have the option of cancelling and rebooking for a few weeks time. 12 weeks was chosen because 12 weeks PLUS gives the best protection. Going a little over this won’t be an issue but you’ll be without the protection of a second dose for longer. The second dose is thought to provide much better protection against the Indian variant. If you do postpone your appointment would this be to get more data re second doses or will it just prolong your anxiety? I hugely sympathise with you as I’m in a similar position but am in my 30s and have three weeks until my next dose. I’m still undecided. In your case you are however at greater risk from Covid due to your age and it’s difficult to know what will happen with the infection rate over the next few weeks. The data regarding clots after second doses is still emerging but there are a number of experts saying that despite the 15 cases reported after second doses they are yet to see any convincing cases of VITT after a second dose but there is still uncertainty. I hope you can find a way forward with it all.

Thank you all for the replies.

I feel that if I cancel today it will give me a while to see any new cases of blood clots that are arising after the 2nd vaccine but also because my anxiety is so bad that it's giving me stomach issues and waves of anxiety. I hate myself for being so pathetic.

But we all know that however many cases there are, it will be far too many for your anxiety. Or if there aren't that many cases at all your anxiety will convince you that you will be the unlucky one. Whatever facts or figures you are given will just give your anxiety something to latch on to.

Thats why seeking (and the giving of) reassurance doesn't help and can make anxiety worse.

If your anxiety is that bad you need to speak to someone who can actually help you with some proper techniques to help manage it.

I hope you’re doing okay OP? I think it’s perfectly reasonable to cancel today and rebook when you feel ready. You might find that putting it into your own court might make you feel differently and less anxious whatever you choose to do in the future x