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Original poster

Mixing vaccines!!

30 replies

firsttimemamax · 25/05/2021 22:12

Hi all.
I wonder if anyone can help me, I'm so worried and just need a bit of reassurance... I've just had a baby and my emotions are everywhere so please be kind!

My partner had his first covid vaccine 12 weeks ago, they gave him the Pfizer one. Today he had his second jab and they gave him the Astra Zeneca vaccine... he's now really poorly after the jab with a high temp and aches. I know these are common side effects but I'm just worried as they mixed the jabs!!

Has anyone else experienced this? Is it safe?

Thanks so much in advance
X

OP posts:
User72642 · 25/05/2021 22:39

What country are you? In the UK they aren't mixing vaccines outside of trials.

Wellbythebloodyhell · 25/05/2021 22:47

Why on earth was he given AZ if his 1st vaccine was Pfizer??

Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady · 25/05/2021 22:48

Can you confirm what country/ area you are in OP?

Did your husband question it when they said what vaccine it was?

Original poster
firsttimemamax · 25/05/2021 22:51

Hi,

In the UK. He didn't question it as the nurse looked at his card before she gave him the vaccine. This is so worrying to me

OP posts:
LilyPond2 · 25/05/2021 23:04

If you are in the UK and your husband is not participating in a trial, it does sound as if something has gone wrong, as I don't believe they are mixing vaccines yet in the UK other than as part of trials. That being said, my understanding is that quite a lot of people will already have received Pfizer then AZ as part of a trial.

PurpleDaisies · 25/05/2021 23:08

This isn’t routinely happening but they are doing trials. Early reports from those trials have noted worse mild side effects straight after the jab but nothing serious. There’s no reason to think this will be harmful at all but it shouldn’t have happened according to how they’re vaccinating at the moment. If he’s worried, he should talk to a medical professional.

As a minor bonus, you often get better immunity with different vaccines which is part of the reason for the trials.

IndigoC · 25/05/2021 23:09

That’s bizarre. Rest assured it should be safe, according to the preliminary results of the Com-Cov mixing trial, but the immediate side effects might be a bit more than two of the same vaccine.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57075503

choirmumoftwo · 25/05/2021 23:12

I work to n a vaccination centre. You should report this to the site he attended as it's definitely off protocol and is a clinical incident.
It's not about getting anyone into trouble but it's a process failure and needs to be investigated so risk is minimised.
Hope your DH feels better soon.

Torvean · 25/05/2021 23:19

Is there a chance that the person giving the vaccine has written the wrong one down in error.
Normally ppl are booked in for both appts at the same time.

There is a study where ppl have had a mix of vaccines. They can have more moderate effects than those on the same vaccine.

Taking paracetamol if he's able will reduce his temperature. And most ppl are fine after 24 hours.

However like a pp mentioned this would be a serious clinical event and he should contact the place he was vaccinated at.

PurpleDaisies · 25/05/2021 23:21

Normally ppl are booked in for both appts at the same time.

My vaccination centre was doing both AZ and Pfizer in different queues. It would have been (theoretically) possible to get the wrong one there.

Torvean · 25/05/2021 23:25

@PurpleDaisies

Normally ppl are booked in for both appts at the same time.

My vaccination centre was doing both AZ and Pfizer in different queues. It would have been (theoretically) possible to get the wrong one there.

Eek. That's not the best plan. But surely they ask you, as well as checking your card if its a second vaccine,?
Cookerhood · 25/05/2021 23:27

It is possible & you definitely need to contact the site to let them know. The database they enter the information into isn't great - I imagine it was set up in quite a hurry & so when you have your second vaccine the vaccinator has to create a whole new record, it doesn't know what you have already had, which seems crazy to me. So there wouldn't be an alarm bell or anything. I always check with people which vaccine they think they are having. Maybe 70% have their card with them with the first vaccine information on it.
It's not dangerous for him, & may actually be better in the long term, but please contact the site to let them know.

PurpleDaisies · 25/05/2021 23:29

Eek. That's not the best plan. But surely they ask you, as well as checking your card if its a second vaccine,?

Sorry, my post should have said they were really hot in getting people in the right place. Details checked multiple times. At no point did I think anyone actually would get the wrong vaccine. I’m sure most mass vaccination centres are doing the same because they’ll need a range of different second doses. I just wanted to point out vaccination centres can offer more than one option.

choirmumoftwo · 25/05/2021 23:33

Cookerhood you're right about the computer system being far from perfect but when you create the record for the second vaccine, it does actually show you what the first dose was and when it was given. It would be impossible to give the second dose safely otherwise, especially when so many people forget their record card.

Icanflyhigh · 25/05/2021 23:36

My local vaccination centre is offering both and there are different queues, but fail safe as the card is checked at least 4 times by 4 different people BEFORE the jab is administered. By that I mean there are several people checking you are in the right queue before you sit down for the vaccine, when rhw card is checked again and it is verbally confirmed which jab you are having.
Sounds like it does need reporting as a procedural incident, but try not to worry as current studies of mixed vaccines looks positive x

MrsFezziwig · 25/05/2021 23:36

In the UK. He didn't question it as the nurse looked at his card before she gave him the vaccine. This is so worrying to me

I’m not following this - so the nurse looked at his card (which presumably said Pfizer for the first dose) then gave him AZ, then told him about it afterwards?

MrsFezziwig · 25/05/2021 23:40

Though I wouldn’t worry OP - as PPs have said there is a trial doing exactly this, and also in France they are mixing vaccines depending on your age group.

Rainbowsandstorms · 25/05/2021 23:54

It definitely needs reporting as this isn’t U.K. protocol. There are trials going on looking at mixing vaccinations and the early data was released recently. While the usual mild side effects of temp, chills etc were more pronounced when vaccinations were mixed no serious side effects were noted, so safety wise there shouldn’t be any issues. A number of EU countries are also giving an mRNA vaccine as a second dose when people have had AZ as a first so mixing them isn’t completely new. AZ can really wipe people out and make them feel quite ill but so as long as it’s usual side effects noted in the leaflet there shouldn’t be any issues. Any severe headache, breathlessness, easy bruising, visual disturbances or persistent stomach ache especially 4 to 28 days after AZ should be checked out. I hope he feels better soon. The early data regarding the effectiveness of mixing vaccinations is due out next month I believe.

Cookerhood · 25/05/2021 23:56

choirmumoftwo

My mistake, it's a few weeks since I've done second vaccinations. I thought it didn't have the first one it. Is there an alert if you put a different one in (presumably it's rarely happened!)?

JennyWreny · 26/05/2021 00:00

If he has the NHS app, he should be able to see in there which vaccines he has been given. Maybe it was written on the card incorrectly but is right on his online record. The batch numbers are on the record in the app and from memory the AZ and Pfizer batch numbers are quite different so it should be easy to tell.

choirmumoftwo · 26/05/2021 00:02

cookerhood I think you do get a visual alert if you enter a different vaccine second time round. I'll give it a try next time I'm in!

princessTiasmum · 26/05/2021 00:10

I don't like the idea of mixed vaccines.even vets won't mix vaccines.I would report it anyway

Torvean · 26/05/2021 04:22

@princessTiasmum

I don't like the idea of mixed vaccines.even vets won't mix vaccines.I would report it anyway
Mixed vaccines are showing a good antibody level. And it's very likely a booster vaccination will be a different vaccine that the original vaccine.
Original poster
firsttimemamax · 26/05/2021 05:21

Thank you so much everyone for your responses and information given, I do feel a bit more chilled out now!
We will definitely be looking into this further, once he is feeling better we will call the surgery where the vaccine took place to find out more.
Thank you all again- you've made a big difference to a sleep deprived, worried mama.Thanks

X

OP posts:
BusMum79 · 26/05/2021 05:28

Hi OP. This happened to my parents about 6 weeks ago....
They were given the first dose of Pfizer, then went back 12 weeks later, handed in their cards, and when they were given back to them, they noticed it said AZ. They were really worried and an on-site doctor was called as it was flagged as an incident. The vaccine centre said the computer entry had them down as 1st dose AZ and the cards must have been filled out mistakenly in advance as someone suggested upthread.
But my parents pointed out that they’d had to sit for 10 mins after the 1st dose as all Pfizer patients have to and they were told they’d had the Pfizer.
They asked the vaccine centre to follow it up with their GP who was brilliant. He was reassuring and basically said it was clearly a mix up but not to worry and that they wouldn’t need a third jab (which is what my dad thought might happen).
It was very stressful all round but seems to have worked out ok. Definitely speak to your GP.

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