Blood tests after vaccine

[Anamaz]

I have my second AZ coming up.

As I’m under 40 and given the blood clot links, I’m considering not taking my second dose.

The Data from last nights news conference suggests that one vaccine is 72% effective at reducing hospitalisations, which is very reassuring.

However I’m aware that two doses are better than one.

I have been thinking of ways I can keep myself calm after my second vaccine, and wondering if I could ask my GP for blood tests for the 4 weeks following my second dose?

Would that pick it up if anything serious was going to happen? Would this be reasonable to ask of my GP?

What would they be testing for, though? I’d recommend talking this through with a medical professional to get an idea of what you think they’d be looking for.

@DisgruntledPelican

What would they be testing for, though? I’d recommend talking this through with a medical professional to get an idea of what you think they’d be looking for.

@DisgruntledPelican

Blood clots? Low platelets? Or a change in bloods that would maybe suggest something isn’t right.

Blood clots? Low platelets? Or a change in bloods that would maybe suggest something isn’t right.

OK. Might be worth having a chat with your GP on the phone first to see if there is a need for that - IME it’s unlikely you’d get a speculative blood test based on worry/anxiety rather than any specific symptoms.

If you are worried about the AZ vaccine then the best thing to do would be to keep an eye on symptoms/side effects. I know it’s tough if you’re anxious but I don’t think unnecessary blood tests are the way to go.

I can't see the GP agreeing to give you unnecessary blood tests. What a waste of NHS funds.

I had my second AZ dose last week, also under 40. I had a very helpful vaccinator that was able to tell me the chance of a bloody clot with second is around ten times smaller than with the first - which is already small. Maybe go along and have a chat with the vaccinator on the day and decide.

@Rillington

I can't see the GP agreeing to give you unnecessary blood tests. What a waste of NHS funds.

@Rillington

So do you have any other suggestions to help with my anxiety around this?

It is extremely unlikely that you will develop clots. I am CEV and have had my two AZ with no side effects at all.

But it’s not impossible, I’m not particularly happy having AZ again, but I don’t have much choice.

I’m just trying to think of ways to help ease my worries.

@Anamaz

I have my second AZ coming up.

As I’m under 40 and given the blood clot links, I’m considering not taking my second dose.

The Data from last nights news conference suggests that one vaccine is 72% effective at reducing hospitalisations, which is very reassuring.

However I’m aware that two doses are better than one.

I have been thinking of ways I can keep myself calm after my second vaccine, and wondering if I could ask my GP for blood tests for the 4 weeks following my second dose?

Would that pick it up if anything serious was going to happen? Would this be reasonable to ask of my GP?

The Data from last nights news conference suggests that one vaccine is 72% effective at reducing hospitalisations

It's important to note that they didn't show this. They showed a range of possible effectivness between 50 and 99%. The margin of error is large due to lack of quality data. The 72% is taken as the midground, but this is faulty science - it's just as likely to be 50% protection as 72% based on what we currently know.

This makes the second jab even more essential as given the Delta strain is associated with a more than doubling risk of hospitalisation, people vaccinated just once could face the same likelihood of hospitalisation, as an unvaccinated person with the Kent strain!

Hopefully when more data comes in, the margin of error will shrink and the range will be at the higher end of the currently stated one, but this can't be guaranteed.

You should definitely speak to your GP but it’s also worth looking into private blood tests and researching a reputable company (I’ve seen various panel packages offered from £70 going up to about £200).

I believe (though you would have to double check this) that thrombocytopenia, the one associated with AZ clots, can be indicated in a general blood count including platelets. I don’t know if other types of clots e.g DVT’s can be indicated through a general panel though.

I’m not convinced that blood tests are necessarily the best way to allay your anxieties since you would likely only be reassured for a short time before your anxieties rose again but a private blood test is an option.

OP I was feeling very tired a couple of weeks after my second dose and requested bloods to have my iron checked. I had low ferritin but I could also see on my bloods all the platelets showing as normal (we can see all our results on patient access) It did help reassure me tbh.

I did private tests after my first Az-

D dimer and Fibrinogen (Factor 1 Assay) as these were mentioned as indicators of VITT clots. Cost a fortune but sorted my anxiety. You could also do a platelet count as low platelets are also an indicator.
Please note i am not in any way a medic!