Vaccine...I've been told not to by my Drs but rethinking.

[YarnOver]

I am the most pro vaccine person around. My husband has had the covid vaccine because I'm immunosuppressed and he was offered it a while back because of that.
I was first offered the vaccine in January because I was in group 4 and I'm also an SEN teacher so I've been eligible all year.
I've not had it though. I've been advised not to have it by my drs but my husband mentioned last night...maybe you should have it ...the delta varient affects young people. Until that comment he has been 100% of the opinion, along with my drs that I shouldn't have it and now I'm confused about what I should do.
The reasons I have been told I cannot have it are as follows :

• I have a blood clotting disorder which is listed on the reasons not to have the AZ (although as I'm under 40 then I don't think I'd be offered that one anyway and my area now do pfizer)

• I have consistent severe drug allergies and reactions to most things that I have to take. This is a lot of things as I have multiple serious chronic illnesses. The reactions often mean I'm hospitalized and for a good chunk of them I've been told if I ever took them or a linked drug again it would likely be fatal.
• I react to most toiletries and all makeup I've ever tried but one but I have no idea what ingredients ever cause this
• with drug reactions it isn't always the active drug itself that causes the reaction but the carrier solution, therefore it's very feasible that it would be a non active ingredient in a covid vaccination that could cause a massive problem
• I've had covid (but not the delta varient that I know of) and it was milder than a cold.

Reasons to have it :

• delta varient is new / worse / more transmissible
• I'm technically immunosuppressed due to drugs ... However all along my drs have said I'm not actually as my blood tests always show that my immune system is functioning fine. I am about to up one drug that does make it a bit wonky for a while though...

And my main reason ;

• i work in an SEN school with medically vulnerable children and so for them, I would like to be vaccinated to protect them, not so much for me

I don't know what to do. All along I've been told not to by medical professionals ....and honestly I have alwsys thought that I would like to be because of my job (and also I don't want to die of covid but I do think that's highly unlikely - I was on a hospital ward for a month where everyone eventually ended up getting covid (and being moved to a covid ward) and I never did so I think Im pretty unlikely to???)
And now my husband said this because he is worried id get the new varient.

Opinions are so welcome (but I never thought I'd start a "should I vaccinate " thread!!)

You should be able to have the Pfizer/ moderna in a hospital setting. Ask your doctor to refer you to your local allergy clinic to arrange.

@yikesanotherbooboo

You should be able to have the Pfizer/ moderna in a hospital setting. Ask your doctor to refer you to your local allergy clinic to arrange.

As I've said, unfortunately some reactions I get wouldn't be helped by doing this as they're not something that could be monitored and dealt with immediately afterwards.

Anyway. At the risk of everyone going over the same advice again for me I will likely not get it but I will try and speak to the vaccine advisory people.

Thanks so much I know it's an unanswerable question and no one is going to tell me to just go ahead and do it on MN but as I'm sure you all know MN will always give some pretty honest advice even when it's not what the OP wants to hear ...so I thought that if I was just being silly people were likely to tell me so!!

I reckon I'll just go with my gut and what I've been advised all along which is to not do it. Hopefully the more people who have it the less chance of me being able to catch it and pass it onto anyone vulnerable...which is what my main worry is in all this.

@AnnaMagnani

What *@takemetomars* said. It turned out the allergy advice my DM was given by her doctor was incorrect - it didn't matter for her, she still got a jab.

But for you, you need it from an actual vaccine expert.

All your advice seems to relate to Pfizer and AZ and not even consider Moderna, which doesn't have clotting or allergy caveats.

But yes I will try to find out about moderna as well if that was a possibility.

I’m in the same quandary as you OP - I have a complex clotting disorder and lingering myocarditis and heart issues from previous covid infection. I’ve developed allergies to things I’ve been able to use or take all my life And I react very badly to vaccines . My gp and cardiologist have advised me not to currently be vaccinated but it’s left me feeling very vulnerable and worried

@Spacecadetagain

I’m in the same quandary as you OP - I have a complex clotting disorder and lingering myocarditis and heart issues from previous covid infection. I’ve developed allergies to things I’ve been able to use or take all my life And I react very badly to vaccines . My gp and cardiologist have advised me not to currently be vaccinated but it’s left me feeling very vulnerable and worried

Do you think they're advising you not to because they genuinely think something would happen to you.... Or because they want to cover their backs so are playing it safe by saying no? That's what my wondering is. But then... If I think about the list of things I've seriously reacted to well.... I'd id thought it was a good idea I'd have got it in January when I was first offered!

I genuinely don't worry for myself but I do feel a sense of duty to others hence why I want it.

I am a vaccinator - we ask questions about your medical history and will absolutely not give you the vaccine if it's contraindicated whether you want it or not! I think you need to listen to your doctor's advice tbh.

You are absolutely not a "total shit" no matter what you do! The vaccine is clearly risky enough for you that that if you decide not to get it, regardless of effects on others, then that will be entirely fair and consistent with being a person of high moral standards, which your posts suggests that you are. Most people need to get the vaccine to protect the vulnerable, but you sound like a clearly justified exception. I believe you should only get it if you think you will be medically better off for getting it.

On the Pfizer vs. Moderna thing, there have been so many fewer Moderna doses given that even if Moderna were to have the same (very very low) rate of allergic reactions as Pfizer, they might just not get the press.

Your conditions sound complex enough that it may be well worth seeing another specialist, perhaps one specialised in immune disorders? But otherwise, one question that I have occasionally used to try to get an opinion out of doctor who is otherwise reluctant is "if you, yourself, or your closest friend, had my body, my life, and my medical conditions, and you had to decide whether the vaccine would be administered or not, what would you decide?". I've actually had a situation myself where a doctor "had to advise me" to get a certain invasive diagnostic procedure done, but when I asked "if it was you, would you have it done", he said "no I would not." That was ten years ago; the situation is fine and the test was clearly not needed.

@WeeEnglishRose

I am a vaccinator - we ask questions about your medical history and will absolutely not give you the vaccine if it's contraindicated whether you want it or not! I think you need to listen to your doctor's advice tbh.

Ok. I'm guessing they wouldn't give me it ! (I'm not asking you to say either way as obviously a MN post isn't my entire medical history). I'm not very well at the moment so I don't think I would take any extra risks at present but there's one doctor who I haven't asked and have an appointment with in a couple months so I'll ask her her opinion.

Thanks all!

@YankeeDad

You are absolutely not a "total shit" no matter what you do! The vaccine is clearly risky enough for you that that if you decide not to get it, regardless of effects on others, then that will be entirely fair and consistent with being a person of high moral standards, which your posts suggests that you are. Most people need to get the vaccine to protect the vulnerable, but you sound like a clearly justified exception. I believe you should only get it if you think you will be medically better off for getting it.

On the Pfizer vs. Moderna thing, there have been so many fewer Moderna doses given that even if Moderna were to have the same (very very low) rate of allergic reactions as Pfizer, they might just not get the press.

Your conditions sound complex enough that it may be well worth seeing another specialist, perhaps one specialised in immune disorders? But otherwise, one question that I have occasionally used to try to get an opinion out of doctor who is otherwise reluctant is "if you, yourself, or your closest friend, had my body, my life, and my medical conditions, and you had to decide whether the vaccine would be administered or not, what would you decide?". I've actually had a situation myself where a doctor "had to advise me" to get a certain invasive diagnostic procedure done, but when I asked "if it was you, would you have it done", he said "no I would not." That was ten years ago; the situation is fine and the test was clearly not needed.

Thank you. Medically I would be very surprised if I would be better off for having the vaccine. I have enough very frequentt blood tests to know that despite taking immunosuppressants, my immune system is fine, so my doctors also agreed that despite being initially put on the shielding list, it isn't warranted.

I suppose there's always a risk for everything with something unknown but despite multiple autoimmune issues I have no other risk factors.

I truly don't think I need to see another allergy specialist if I'm honest. I was refered to one in one of the top clinics in London, I'm very confident in what he said and I agreed with the outcome, so I don't think I need to waste any one else's nhs appointments seeing another one, or indeed him again.
His advise was to not get any vaccines or take any meds that were not absolutely necessary so.... I think likely applied to covid and what I know about myself, I don't need the vaccine so shouldn't.

I have a blood clotting disorder which is listed on the reasons not to have the AZ (although as I'm under 40 then I don't think I'd be offered that one anyway and my area now do pfizer)

1. Thrombocytopenia has been a contraindication to AZ only for the last 2 weeks. No other blood clotting disorders are contraindications. For any of the vaccines.

2. Under forties are currently being offered Pfizer or Moderna.

3. Only anaphylactic allergies to the specific vaccine ingredients are specific exclusions.

You appear to have had some very unusual health advice.

@PurpleWh1teGreen

I have a blood clotting disorder which is listed on the reasons not to have the AZ (although as I'm under 40 then I don't think I'd be offered that one anyway and my area now do pfizer)

1. Thrombocytopenia has been a contraindication to AZ only for the last 2 weeks. No other blood clotting disorders are contraindications. For any of the vaccines.

2. Under forties are currently being offered Pfizer or Moderna.

3. Only anaphylactic allergies to the specific vaccine ingredients are specific exclusions.

You appear to have had some very unusual health advice.

1) but I never said it was thrombocytopenia. I didn't name what clotting disorder it was you just assumed. It's antiphospholipid syndrome so please feel free to scroll down and read the advice given. Im under 40 therefore AZ is contraindicated.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-blood-clotting-information-for-healthcare-professionals/information-for-healthcare-professionals-on-blood-clotting-following-covid-19-vaccination#can-patients-with-antiphospholipid-syndrome-have-the-vaccine
I

1. I'm under 40 and so as I stated in my OP the fact I have APS is irrelevant anyway because I wouldn't be offered AZ due to age.

1. I am aware of this however due to complex allergies and reactions, many of which have had to be added to the yellow card scheme because they haven't been seen before with the drugs that caused it for me, my own doctors have advised against me having it.

Please could you try really hard, when someone has asked genuine questions and taken the time to explain their situation, which I really thought I had done, and answered questions to clarify, NOT to assume they you know better than them...because you don't . You've never met me.

The medical advice I have been given isn't strange. And if you still think it is , @PurpleWh1teGreen the reason I was diagnosed with APS is because it was listed on my stillborn sons post mortem, so obviously, as it caused a death, they are erring on the side of very cautious when it comes to things that could cause blood clots. But ... You know better than me so I guess that this information is irrelevant to you.

Good grief op
Listen to your doctor
My Dd told me today of a 42 year old woman who has passed away after the vax..she had lots of clots.. and a male relative of hers is still thinking of having it

☹️

I would go with your specialist doctor's advice.

DH had Covid and was hospitalised and post Covid related clotting issues, couldn't have Pfizer due to multiple allergies some to drugs, had AZ first jab and had an allergic reaction, so advised not to have 2nd. His doctors have said to not have another at the moment.

Maybe Novavax might be a possibility in the future depending on excipients, depending on what your doctor's say.

@PurpleWh1teGreen

1. Thrombocytopenia has been a contraindication to AZ only for the last 2 weeks. No other blood clotting disorders are contraindications. For any of the vaccines

Sorry, this is incorrect. Thrombocytopenia on its own is not a contraindication, it's specifically heparin induced thrombocytopenia with thromboses.

Surely if you are higher risk of blood clots then you need to have some jab because of the risk of catching Covid because it causes clots in the lungs? Are you on asprin or any of the anti clotting drugs which would reduce the risk so you could have the AZ vaccine?

I have thrombophilia & was able to have AZ as long as I was taking my aspirin every day. I couldn't have Pfizer as I am housebound.

I don't really get the point of this thread. You say in you OP you are considering having the jab and you want opinions, however, every time somebody says you should perhaps consider it you tell them why you definitely can't You'll apparently take advice from MN, as long as it's the advice you want to hear.

You're clearly not going to get jabbed... why do you need random people on a forum to validate this?

@CellophaneFlower

I don't really get the point of this thread. You say in you OP you are considering having the jab and you want opinions, however, every time somebody says you should perhaps consider it you tell them why you definitely can't You'll apparently take advice from MN, as long as it's the advice you want to hear.

You're clearly not going to get jabbed... why do you need random people on a forum to validate this?

Not entirely sure you've read or understand any of the thread love. Have another go

Listen to the doctors they haven't told u that for no reason. I don't think they've tested the vaccines enough so don't take the risk with ur medical history.

I'm very pro vaccines and I've had both of mine but I'm wondering whether I even should have had them. A friends dh was taken to hospital with heart problems and they said it was caused by the vaccine but they've now found he actually had a heart attack caused by it. He's only 40.

@YarnOver well no, I don't understand the point of you posting, as I said. Your allergy Dr told you not to have the covid vaccination "before covid" though so I'd definitely listen to him/her.

Don't have the vaccine, it's far too risky for you. Don't keep putting others before yourself, you're likely to transmit it even if vaccinated. Stop being a martyr. Hope that helps

Are you mad? You've had covid and symptoms were mild yet you'd risk your life having an allergic reaction? You're being bonkers. If this is real, give your head a wobble.

My DS has life threatening reactions (to food) and there's no way I'd consider giving him some of that food even if it had considerable health benefits.

You're either massively exaggerated your medical history or you've completely lost the plot.

Sorry OP. I missed the bit where you said you had already had covid. Not a difficult decision at all. In your shoes I wouldn't give the vaccine another thought. You've had medical advice not to have it and you already have some natural immunity against covid.

@dopeyduck

Are you mad? You've had covid and symptoms were mild yet you'd risk your life having an allergic reaction? You're being bonkers. If this is real, give your head a wobble.

My DS has life threatening reactions (to food) and there's no way I'd consider giving him some of that food even if it had considerable health benefits.

You're either massively exaggerated your medical history or you've completely lost the plot.

This is completely real. If someone lied about a stillbirth they'd be seriously sick. I've exaggerated nothing. And no I've not completely lost the plot - I work with medically vulnerable kids - surely you can understand why I would want to do the best for them? And also it's not cut and dry is it that I would get covid again and I'd be absolutely fine because the varients are different. I don't think I need to be called mad for wanting to protect others ?

If when you say doctor you mean your GP than I would get a second opionon too. If by doctor you mean specialist than I would be inclined to go with their view - maybe check back with them if they still feel the same way.
I was put in group 6 because I have a blood clotting gene and had AZ before the clots issue became big news. I don't think its so much about being clotty - its about if the vaccine triggers a blood platelet problem that leads to clots.
I would be worried about your having Pfzier with all those allergies.

@ittakes2

If when you say doctor you mean your GP than I would get a second opionon too. If by doctor you mean specialist than I would be inclined to go with their view - maybe check back with them if they still feel the same way. I was put in group 6 because I have a blood clotting gene and had AZ before the clots issue became big news. I don't think its so much about being clotty - its about if the vaccine triggers a blood platelet problem that leads to clots. I would be worried about your having Pfzier with all those allergies.

As I've said a few times, it's my hospital consultants - rheumatologist, gastroenterologist, allergy specialist (but prior to covid) and pain management consultant anaesthetist.