Has anybody else decided not to have their 2nd astrazeneca vaccine

[Tittyfilarious]

I had my first astrazeneca vaccine back in March and was really not that happy to have it but I was group 6 and millions of people had already had theirs by then so I was a little more confident to have it. I was very ill for 8 weeks afterwards headache nausea and dizzy spells and during this time the blood clots started to happen and at first it was only a worry after your 1st vaccine then it's now coming to light that's its a risk after your 2nd also. I'm aware you can get blood clots with lots of things but being under 40 and having previously had blood clots I just don't think I can take the risk. Is there anybody else who's had the 1st and now doesn't think they will have their 2nd?

I've been ignoring my invitations for a 2nd clot while I look at the emerging data and look what other countries decide to do. This is purely based on my own reaction to the first jab. I can't recall ever feeling so bad since I had awful flu as a child. My heart rate was 130 for a couple of hours, high temp, and all the other stuff that's on the leaflet. High heart rate wasn't on it. I had a proper headache for a few days after and no energy (all normal reactions apparently so I'm not hugely bothered about that). However, for a number of weeks afterwards I had pain and pressure in my head in my temples, and I could see bulging veins. The circulation in my legs was odd, too, as if it had slowed down and was "sticking". This was all before there was any sniff of a mention of these vaccine-induced clots, so it wasn't a psychosomatic thing.

I've had clots in the past which was I was put in priority group 6 so had my first jab in Feb. As they don't know at this stage what makes some people susceptible to either a normal clot after the jab or one with thrombocytopenia, I just am not comfortable taking that decision to go ahead, based on the way I felt after my first one.

I explained this to the GP surgery when they rang me last week and asked if they could offer advice, they just told me to phone 119 and speak to them which I haven't done yet as I'm assuming they just will go with the usual "it's perfectly safe to have it" that they're currently coming out with. They rang again today and I didn't even have to go into detail. I just apologised, said I knew it was important, but the clot issue and my first jab reaction did not sit comfortably with me for having the 2nd dose at this time. She didn't even try to persuade me. Just sympathetically said "I understand. We'll put you down as declining for now and reassess later?" Which was fine with me.

I think I had COVID in Feb 2020 at the start of the pandemic (I work in a school and there was lots of the same illness going round in March 2020, but no testing routinely done at that time). For me, the jab was worse than the illness. I honestly do get the importance of being fully vaccinated but I want to have it done feeling totally confident, not as if I'm going for a walk in a thunderstorm.

@Etulosba

exactly what it says ?

So, 50% effective at preventing death? Infection? Hospitalisation?

What exactly?

Effectiveness against symptomatic Covid infection www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccine-surveillance-report

I’ve just cancelled mine. Still unwell from my first vaccination six weeks ago and have decided to be selfish for once in my life and put myself first.

[quote Endofether]@TortoiseShed I didn’t know they weren’t offering first dose to under 40s? Of anything or just AZ?

Yeah totally agree - individual decision x[/quote]
Just AZ afaik. It makes it tricky for people under 40 who've had their first and aren't sure though, as then you can only have the second dose of AZ or ask to mix vaccines, which I don't think they are doing here as a general policy and which nobody knows for sure will work safely and effectively, OR remain only partially vaccinated.

The thing is, medicine is never 100%. My mum died under GA when she was in her fifties! Totally unexpected. But then she'd have died of something else before then I guess if we didn't have modern medicine. My point being that we tend to put our faith in medics and scientists and sometimes it goes wrong, sadly. But if we didn't have anyone to out our faith in, in some circumstances, we'd be fucked anyway! So, I usually do as I'm told when it comes to medical stuff, within reason. Since I'd had the 1st dose, I took the second as it seemed to be the safest course of action for me personally. But, as you say, personal decision.

Clot is the appropriate word here. Those who have had ferocious reactions lasting some time - fair enough. Those who can't do basic fucking maths - no sympathy.

@TortoiseShed so sorry about your mum

Thanks @Endofether

I’ve had Covid so getting the vaccination was something I felt I was doing not just for myself, but felt it was my civic duty to do it.

Now I’m not so sure. I don’t see why I should put myself at risk of a clot when others aren’t doing their bit, plus we don’t seem to be getting back our freedoms anytime soon. I still ha e to stay 2 metres away and wear a sweaty mask all day at work.

I’m undecided. If I do it, it certainly won’t be done with the enthusiasm and pride I went in with the first time.

I thought that vaccination provided longer term protection than having had Covid, but maybe I'm wrong there.

Just thought I'd add more AZ news here

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9668065/AstraZenecas-Covid-vaccine-linked-bleeding-disorder-cause-purple-dotted-rash.html