OP, I think the people going for the second one are those that had no unusual after effects of the first. Surely no-one would read the risk statistics and be scared off just by those? As others have said we do risk assessments all the time for things like getting on a plane etc
I’m due for my second AZ and dithering. I’m a woman in my 40s. I virtually ran in for my first one in Feb as I was so thrilled snd didn’t even know which version of the vaccine i’d had till I looked at the card when I got home, but I wasn’t good after it, felt worse than I’d felt in years for anything, and my heart rate was 130 for a few hours despite me just lying there not moving and trying to sleep it off, which was extremely unpleasant and scary. I had a headache for a few days after which went to a weird throbbing and pain in my temples for a couple of weeks afterwards, and the circulation in my legs went a bit odd for a couple of weeks, exactly the same when (in hindsight) I think I might have unknowingly had COVID in Feb 20, only then I didn’t feel too bad and just went about my daily business as normal. At the time I booked in for my first jab these cerebral clots hadn’t really happened yet or maybe only one or two had and they hadn’t yet established the link between them and the vaccine.
I’m a woman in my 40s and have had a blood clot before. My dad has had numerous clots in his life and at least one pulmonary embolism. His brother had clots and had an ITP episode. Their sister also had at least one clot. (All well before COVID). It seems there is a pattern of clots in that side of the family, even though I tested negative on a clotting genetic test thingy. My platelets were low on a blood test at around the time I had my clot but not low enough to be investigated. Etc etc etc.
Now, all those things could be totally unrelated, and pure coincidence, but for my own personal situation, given the research is still ongoing, and this is all so new, I am not fully happy at the moment to get the second dose until there is more information.
My GP surgery has been no help. I asked could I discuss it with a GP but they are busy dealing with a backlog of patients so I was advised to phone 119 to discuss with them. Presumably they will tell me to get the second jab as that’s just the standard advice given to all unless you’ve had a confirmed clot episode after the first jab, I think. So I haven’t bothered ringing them yet.
My other option is to try and see if I can pay for a private antibody test to see what kind of level mine are at. I do have a social conscience and realise that if I’m not yet fully vaccinated there is potential for me to be part of the reason for developments of mutations. Although I am still being very careful with regards social mixing, mask wearing and hygiene etc.
So I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place at the moment. It’s hard when you read so many people not understanding those of us with severe reservations about a second jab. it appears to be people with no medical history like mine, who had only mild or short lived side effects after the first one, and who seem to think people like me are in the same bracket as anti-vaxers, and who are too stupid to assess risk or understand statistics. I find it really patronising and honestly wondered whether to submit this post or not.
If the Indian variant gets out of control where I live I will have to bite the bullet and just book the appointment I suppose, and hope for the best. I have never felt like that about any other medical procedure. A “hope for the best” approach at the moment is not what I want from something that is supposed to be protecting me.
So there you are. I’ve explained the reasons I’m dithering over the second dose. I’m sure there must be others like me with a similar experience AS AN INDIVIDUAL, not knowing what to do for the best either.