Another vaccine one...

[tumbledryerfault]

So sorry to start another vaccine thread.. believe me I have read so many over the past few days I can hardly believe that I'm writing one myself. My hometown is offering mobile Pfizer vaccination this weekend and I have been psyching myself up to get it done. I had very mild Covid at the beginning of the year and since my age group has been called I've been having anxiety about getting my vaccine. This surprises me as I am absolutely not anti vaccine in genera I have had all of my vaccinations and my two children have had all of theirs - I have also had vaccines for tetanus and any vaccine I've been offered while pregnant - I will admit I didn't research any side effects for these vaccines and trusted medical professionals when they recommended them.. in fact I didn't even really think about them having any adverse effects and just took it as a given that they were beneficial so I should have them. Anyway I don't know what's different about this vaccine or if I'm being sucked in by social media or scaremongering but I am so so anxious at the thought of it.. I've spent hours googling it and the side effects and how they might be worse than Covid and in some cases life changing/ threatening. I know that logically the chances of anything like this happening are low but I can't seem to get past it. I also know that some people have an "agenda" to put people off the vaccine but I can't work out why and I suppose that's my question really - people are being accused of being anti vaccine and trying to put people off having the vaccine, accused of sensationalising or making up side effects to decrease uptake but I can't work out why- why would anyone do this what is the benefit of it at all? I'm reading through some threads and seeing people being accused of being anti vax or spreading misinformation and I'm finding it hard to disregard what they are saying without having some kind of explanation as to why people would actively discourage someone to have a vaccine? I think if I could understand the logic in that it might help me to rationalise it a little more and try to unpick the information I am reading in a more logical and unbiased way...
To cut a long story short - I want to want to get the vaccine but I've scared myself silly reading about adverse effects, I'm worried that I've had Covid and now I'm going to be signing up for something that might potentially end up being much worse for me than my mild Covid infection - I've read so many people talk about unfinished trials, unknown effects of MRNA, conspiracies to hide side effects or silence people who've had them etc etc and want to know why if people didn't truly believe what they were writing they would want to scare people about the vaccine?

Apparently in the US there are people with a significant financial interest in promoting an anti-vax message. Sometimes its people trying to flog their "alternative treatments". Channel 4 did a programme on it (-Dispatches?) fairly recently. You might be able to find it on catch up.

The thing about unknown long term effects of mRNA - I think you could compare this idea to the idea that there is no data on the long term effects of me using my iPad while I’m in the bath. I feel confident it won’t cause some terrible disease down the line because there’s just no plausible mechanism for that. People who know the details feel confident in the same way.

Tell the people at the vaccination centre why you're worried and unsure. They're not going to pin you down and forcibly inject you.

Why are anti-vax people anti-vax? Fear; lack of clarity from seeing little bits but missing the bigger picture; to cause trouble; because they can.

Many people in the world have bad intentions; many know that mainstream media is biased and look for the truth in the wrong places; but most people who haven't had the vaccine are frozen in fear of making the wrong decision, due to the sheer volume of informationand differing extremes of opinion.

Everything we do has a risk, decision making is simply weighing up those risks. I am currently deciding whether I will get my DC vaccinated when offered. I am vaccinated, but my risk is higher than theirs.

So, what sources do I trust? Its difficult, I read across a wide selection of sources, from healthcare, media, government and look to world news. So I was aware of the AZ risk long before getting it.

With Pfizer, the risks are much less significant/confirmed. It has had approval for the longest and many millions have received it.for a vaccine it is pretty safe and effective.

The mRNA fear is blown way out of proportion in the mad media. This isn't gene therapy, it doesn't and cannot enter your DNA. it gives your body a preview/snapshot of the virus, so that it can recognise and deal with it more easily.

I'm not going to try to pressure you either way.

I was in a similar predicament OP, overthought the whole thing, read far too much stuff I didn't really understand and just ended up thoroughly confused and scared whatever I did would be the wrong decision. In the end I couldn't stand the indecision anymore and decided I was just going to do it and then at least I didn't have to think about it anymore, so I had my first dose (Pfizer) 4 weeks ago. No side effects except a slightly achy arm and absolutely no regrets, it's like a massive weight has been lifted and I'm not remotely worried about having my second dose. I don't think I would have felt like this if I'd 'decided' not to have it, that indecision would still have been there and I would still be turning it over in my head wondering if I should have it. This way it's done, no going back or decisions still to make, honestly it's a relief

I think a pathological aversion to control is at the root for some.

Hi OP. I am in the same predicament as you. I have my first jab booked for later this morning, unsure which vaccine I will get presuming because of my age (30) it will be Pfizer?

To be honest I think I’ve been burying my head in the sand last couple of months and tried to avoid even thinking about the vaccine as I am so scared that whatever choice I will make will be the wrong one. I think it also doesn’t help that a lot of people in my family haven’t had any vaccine yet. Unfortunately there is a lot of acceptance of some of the more extreme theories re:vaccination where I live.

Even on MN I feel myself being swayed from one choice to the next depending on the posts I read. In the end I decided to book my jab after seeing so many young people ill in hospital wishing they had taken the vaccine. I am still very very scared even whilst typing this and have had dreams about it too the last few nights. I’m so sorry to derail your thread OP just wanted to let you know that you’re not alone. I’m sure there are quite a few of us out there!

I think the most startling thing I read recently was that 97% of Covid hospital admissions in the US were not vaccinated and 99% of Covid deaths were also unvaccinated. That’s been reported across a myriad of news sources

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/22/us-coronavirus-covid-unvaccinated-hospital-rates-vaccines

@eggman007

I think a pathological aversion to control is at the root for some.

Or is it the opposite, that the anti-vacc crew feel huge loss of control if they get vaccinated. Because they get told the vaccine technology is scary due to it being novel. Vaccine mechanisms and manufacture are never going to be fully understood by most the population. It's much easier to understand the safety results & effectiveness results though -- the safety profiles (based on real people not theories) on the vaccines are very good and not hard to understand. Far safer than getting wild disease unless you're < 30/40.

Just wanted to update. I am currently at the vaccination centre, had the jab now in the waiting area for the 15 minutes. Everyone here has been very kind and helpful. Most of the volunteers here are with St. John’s ambulance and have been told that it’s common to feel a bit unwell in the first 48 hours and to take paracetamol/regular painkiller if I need it. So far I feel okay and will continue to update if you feel it will help @tumbledryerfault

Forgot to mention I was given Pfizer

I volunteer at a vaccine centre. Honestly, if you have any doubts or concerns go and speak to the staff there. They genuinely will spend time with you to make you comfortable with the decision you make. If you decide not to you certainly won’t be forced.

Obviously they/we want everyone to be vaccinated, but no one is paid on a per jab basis.

If you feel unsure, ask your GP or other HCP. As pps have said, the vaccine centre staff are super.

Everyone on social media may have vested interests. Some (on here for example) are hidden in plain sight and have been (in)famous for years for being loud and proud anti-vaxxers (citing bodily autonomy dressed up as "the science" while at the same time flying into every thread mentioning termination to give their despicable and very definitely not bodily autonomy views on that.)

If you are researching- do a fact check on anybody named in a "this eminent scientist" says...I've yet to find an anti vaxxer cite anybody who hasn't been totally discredited and often struck off (if an actual doctor) for peddling misinformation.

As you say OP, you've always had various jabs in the past. I think it's just that this Covid thing is so much bigger than all of us that sometimes we are bombarded with opinions and information and it's hard to see the wood for the trees.

but no one is paid on a per jab basis
GP's are. i think it's £22 per injection

@thenakedmolerat

but no one is paid on a per jab basis GP's are. i think it's £22 per injection

More anti-vax misinformation. By leaving out the details and deliberately giving half truths, you're implying GPs are incentivised to vaccinate people even if uncessary.

News
Covid-19: GPs to get £12.58 per dose to deliver vaccine from December
BMJ 2020; 371 doi: doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m4354 (Published 10 November 2020)
Cite this as: BMJ 2020;371:m4354
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Gareth Iacobucci
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The NHS has published an agreement to enable general practices to start delivering a covid-19 vaccine from as early as next month.

A new directed enhanced service (DES), published 10 November,12 says practices will be expected to coordinate and deliver covid-19 vaccinations collaboratively and at scale in primary care networks.

The draft deal, agreed between NHS England and the BMA’s GP committee, says practices will initially need collectively to nominate a single site per network to deliver vaccinations, with additional sites possible as supply increases. Designated sites will be expected to deliver vaccines seven days a week between 8 am and 8 pm if supply allows.

Practices will be paid £12.58 (€14.15; $16.69) per vaccination. This is 25% more than the current £10.06 practices receive for an influenza vaccination, in recognition of the need for extra training, post-vaccine observation, and other associated costs. Practices will need to provide most of the required staff from their own workforce.

www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4354

@LilyPond2

Apparently in the US there are people with a significant financial interest in promoting an anti-vax message. Sometimes its people trying to flog their "alternative treatments". Channel 4 did a programme on it (-Dispatches?) fairly recently. You might be able to find it on catch up.

I saw this. It is sad how these profiteers pray on people's worries and anxiety. Then they can sell their snake oil treatments.

I think some love spreading fear and don't really understand some of the stuff they spread but it makes them feel like a part of a cult of people with their eyes open it causes others to roll their eyes and some of the rubbish they spout and some is downright dangerous.

[quote Divebar2021]I think the most startling thing I read recently was that 97% of Covid hospital admissions in the US were not vaccinated and 99% of Covid deaths were also unvaccinated. That’s been reported across a myriad of news sources

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/22/us-coronavirus-covid-unvaccinated-hospital-rates-vaccines[/quote]
wow

"why people would actively discourage someone to have a vaccine? "

Simple. They don't want to have it themselves for some reason, they fear being a minority. So more unvaccinated people there are, better for them. And maybe other reasons as pp says, like political/financial reasons.

Thanks for replies everyone - glad to see some of us are in the same boat and I'm not the only one over analysing everything. I've decided I'm going to go today and have it - I will have a quick chat with the vaccinator when I'm there. I've been the same as a PP and literally changed my mind so many times I think I am just going to go for it, the stress from overthinking it is probably way worse than it should be!
@Elopelo hope you are still feeling ok? I've a bit of a cold so I'm hoping that will be ok (not Covid have had a neg test). My main worry is that Covid was so mild for me I'm worried I will get some crazy side effect that's worse than Covid :( but I think I'm just going to have to take the plunge because no amount of reading seems to be making it much clearer 🙈. I will update after incase anyone is interested

I think that's s good decision.

Oh bless you @tumbledryerfault I will be thinking of you today and hope all goes well for you.

So far thank God I’m feeling okay just a sore arm but not that painful that I’ve had to take anything for it yet. Like you I have been feeling a bit bunged up the past few days, with me I think it’s hayfever as I usually get it around this time of year. I haven’t noticed the hayfever has gotten any worse since the jab. It’s been over 24 hours for me plus this may be a bit tmi so apologies in advance but I’m also on my period so will also be keeping an eye out if I experience any changes with that as so many women have reported.

Wish you the best with it all. Please do update us if you can. We can support each other through it.

@tumbledryerfault I could have written your post word for word. I understand, truly do. I’m petrified of the side effects…menstrual issues, having multiple bleeds a month etc.

I truly hope you make a decision that you are comfortable with, and do update here if you need a hand hold.

I’m still on the fence and it’s a HUGE weight to carry around

@tumbledryerfault how are you getting on? Hope you are well.

Hi sorry for late update - got vaccine on Saturday around 5pm- no side effects except a bit of a sore arm but again nothing more than I've had with any other injection. Dh had his too and the same sore arm and he was a bit tired that evening but fine the next day. @Elopelo I was on my last day of period when I got vaccine too so I will keep an eye and see if it comes on as usual next month. How are you doing now?