Ok I know it’s boring but second vaccine in your 30s

[Chillychangchoo]

I’ll keep this short and sweet as this isn’t my first post on the matter.

I’m 32, I had my first AZ vaccine rather uneventfully in March due to my job (have no risk factors). I’m not interested in taking one for the team, I’d quite like to stay alive for my kids (thanks). So now I’ve cleared that one up....

I know you can get a clot from covid and also get a clot from this vaccine (particularly the younger you are) which is a bit shit really.

So what’s the least shit thing, specifically for a woman in her 30s? Has anyone got any real data/stats? as I’m done with totally batshit crazy people who presume you’re an “anti vaxxer” for questioning this vaccine. This decision is hard for me as my friend had a lung blood clot after her second AZ (age 41, but has survived) I was feeling very level headed before that.

Thank you all 💐

I don't want this to come across wrong, but said with kindness and trying to be helpful...

Your last bit stands out for me. The data and stats are the same as they were when you were "level headed" before the incident with your friend. So if it felt ok before, it's still ok now, it's just the way you're seeing it has understandably changed. There's so many threads with the data, which is the same data HCPs use to advise you. That tells me the vaccine is safer. Personal experiences don't change that.

I'm 30 and had my first AZ end of Feb (unpaid carer). I have cancelled my second one. I can not justify doing something that is more risky for young females to prevent something that young females are in the lower risk category of. I do not smoke, take the pill, I'm not overweight and I hate flying ( before anyone throws that at me). I don't really care what the odds are anymore, I am not an anti vaxxer and have no wishes to become a "statistic" I've also had an antibody test recently which shows long and short term immunity from covid.

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@AlexandraEiffel

Thanks. It did feel okay, there’s a lot of threads and a lot of links and it does get a bit overwhelming. I know I’ve been emotionally influenced by my friends experience. I think the vaccine programme has clearly been a success, I was just also hoping to hear off any others in their 30s to see what they are doing about their second.

@Bettycrocker7 thanks for responding. Good to hear of your immunity.

I am delaying my second dose of AZ. I am 32 no health conditions, slim and fit and had the vaccine early due to spare doses around 2 weeks before the blood clot news started coming through.

The first jab made me feel horrific for around 3 weeks and damaged my fitness levels it’s only now 2 months later that I am able to run to the level I was before the jab. I am very concerned about the clot risk and think we are at the tip of the iceberg regarding the number of these happening. I am not an anti vaxer, I am however in charge of my own body and health. I have also shown to have covid antibodies so must have had covid and not realised. For me feeling horrific for 3 weeks again while trying to take care of a small baby and the added worry of blood clots means I will be waiting until further data is available on second doses and I have a suspicion that in the coming months they will recommend an alternative vaccine for under 40s who have had one dose of AZ like they have in Europe. People will slam me for my choice but at the end of the day my body and health are my priority not putting myself at risk with something I don’t feel comfortable with for “the greater good”

@Bettycrocker7 how were you able to check your immunity? Particularly long term immunity?

@Chillychangchoo I’m in the same situation as you, also in my 30s with young children and no real risk factors. My second dose is due in mid June, I’ve currently cancelled the appointment so I can keep an eye on what’s available, while I watch the evidence emerge re second doses. It all feels very unclear at present. If it’s not clearer by mid June when I’ll be at 12 weeks I plan to wait another 2 to 4 weeks and hope that there will be more data available so I can make an informed decision. I’m also hoping there will be more data regarding using Pfizer as a second dose too, this isn’t an option I’m that keen on either but I really would like the protection of being vaccinated. It’s such a difficult situation if you’re naturally risk adverse, as there is no risk free option but I feel uncomfortable about the number of previously healthy younger people being effected and also the lack of transparency from the MRHA, I wish they’d publish the number of doses given per age group alongside the number of clots and fatalities too. I’m seeing more and more people questioning the second dose so I do wonder if there may be a change in policy but there’s no ideal solution.

@Katie517

I’m not sure mixing vaccines is safe either. I’m glad you’ve come to a firm decision though.

I felt fine after the AZ vaccine, I forgot I even had it. I’ve been surrounded by little people in close proximity at work throughout the peak in the winter, plus my own children. To be honest I’ve probably already had covid. My second isn’t booked until the 13th June so I have a few days to make up my mind.

@Rainbowsandstorms

I feel exactly the same.
I guess we just have to wait for a few more weeks and keep an eye on any developments.

I've just had my second AZ (first one in march), early 30s. 0 risk factors for covid and I don't take the pill.

Didn't even cross my mind to postpone it or turn it down.

@Chillychangchoo mine is due the same day. I’m really hoping things will be clearer by then.

I was contacted by the REACT study in late March to take part in antibody testing. I wont pretend to understand the science but it was very similar to a pregnancy style test but with fingerprick sample. Will try and add a photo of the leaflet explaining it.

@Bettycrocker7 thank you 😊

Away from mumsnet, everyone I know in their 20s & 30s who had AZ has gone ahead with their second dose. That’s quite a few people as I seem to have a load of NHS friends! It must feel closer to home with what happened to your friend. But the previous poster is right that nothing has changed since you previously felt ok about it. If you’re able to rationalise it like that, those are the facts.

I wonder how much cases have to increase in the UK before the pendulum swings back the other way and on a risk/benefit analysis they’d start using AZ for first jabs for under 40s again? It’s probably not that much as it seemed quite finely balanced before.

www.research.ox.ac.uk/article/2021-04-15-risk-of-rare-blood-clotting-higher-for-covid-19-than-for-vaccines

OP, this was posted on another thread and looks like the kind of thing you are looking for.

Maybe this isn't the thread for me but I'm pregnant- 12 weeks. I have an unknown as yet jab (first) next weekend when I'll be 13 weeks and having both a panic and a wobble

I think I heard Fergus Walsh saying it was something like one blood clot per million vaccinations.

@NatMoz

Maybe this isn't the thread for me but I'm pregnant- 12 weeks. I have an unknown as yet jab (first) next weekend when I'll be 13 weeks and having both a panic and a wobble

It will be Pfizer or Moderna. They’re not giving AZ to the under 40s or to pregnant women.

My DD (32 also) has her second dose booked June 8. She's a scientist (used to work in the lab next door to the one which developed A-Z) and she was due her first just as they announced they weren't going to use it for under 30s any more (I know it's changed since then). It seemed a bit borderline, but she looked at those risks and decided to go ahead. And she'll go ahead with her second.

I don't say 'she's a scientist' as any kind of point-scoring - just to say that she is good/trained at evaluating stats and believes they are massively in favour of it being safe to go ahead.

blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/05/28/the-uks-response-to-new-variants-a-story-of-obfuscation-and-chaos/

This makes for sobering reading, but I think it is clear from this that the very rapid increase in Indian variant cases in the UK tilts the balance further in favour of a second dose. A single dose of the vaccine is less than 50% effective against the Indian variant.

I wonder how much cases have to increase in the UK before the pendulum swings back the other way and on a risk/benefit analysis they’d start using AZ for first jabs for under 40s again? It’s probably not that much as it seemed quite finely balanced before.

We’re likely there now with the R rate back to 1(+) and the prevalence of the Indian variant which one dose alone doesn’t offer great protection against. While there are supplies of alternatives to AZ though I doubt the advice will change again, not worth the confusion.

@NatMoz they’ll give you Pfizer or moderna but obviously you don’t know which one until you get there on the day. I rang my vaccine centre earlier in the day and asked which they were administering that day as I was pregnant and they said Pfizer. They will also ask if you’re pregnant before the jab to make sure you’re getting the right one and in my case, they asked if I was happy to receive the vaccine before getting it.

@ApplesinmyPocket

Thanks.

I’m 36 and due my second AZ vaccine this week, I also had covid and was very poorly in December (didn’t go into hospital although poorly enough that, had it been non pandemic times, I probably would have). I will be having my second jab without a doubt. The risk of blood clot is absolutely tiny, and the risk of catching covid much much higher. I have never felt so ill in my life then i did in December, and I’ve had flu twice.

Also to add, the risk of developing a blood clot post az vaccine seems to be 0.0002%, compared with a 2% chance of dying after catching covid. Obviously these are just quick stats and not separated by age or gender. Also consider that there has never been such a mass vaccination programme where so many people are being vaccinated in such a short period of time, so the numbers developing a clot look so much worse then normal. Looking on the bmj website, there’s a study that suggested there is a 0.004% chance of developing a blood clot post MMR vaccine, which is much greater then AZ, yet we still continue to give that to our children right?
All vaccines come with risk. You just have to weigh up the correct risk for you

My daughter is 32 and just had her 2nd vaccine, we weighed up pros and cons, and decided the protection of the vaccine was more important, particularly since the IV is said to be worse than other variants for younger people.
Her brother is a scientist and checked all the relevant data. She had worse side effects with the first jab.

@feelinggeriatric

I think I heard Fergus Walsh saying it was something like one blood clot per million vaccinations.

No it's 13 in a million (and rising), higher for younger groups so 18 in a million for my age group. About the same as the risk of going to ICU IF I ever caught Covid.