Regretting my vaccination choice :(

[Synctfsi]

I was vaccinated with AZ for my first dose.

I have a history of blood clots as did both my mother & father.

I’m under 40 and it was decided by my GP
that I would receive Pfizer for my second dose.

I went ahead and had Pfizer and thought nothing more about it.

That was until last week when it was announced that the UK didn’t recognise mixed vaccines as fully vaccinated (for the purpose of entry to the UK)

Since then I’ve felt really uneasy about having received two different doses.

I’ve heard from several other people that they had requested Pfizer as a second dose following AZ but were refused.
They’d even asked their CCG and were still refused.

I didn’t need to do that, my DR approved it right away.

I didn’t even research the effects, I was just happy to accept since I work in a job that puts me higher risk of infection (social worker and public facing) and I wanted to be protected.

I know nothing can be done now, it is what it is, but I’m really starting to regret it.

I don’t even know the effects this will have on my health, what kind of protection I have against Covid or how long it will last.

I can’t help but feel really shitty about my vaccines.

@BeauxRingarde

I guess lack of safety data?

There is no lack of safety data, this is an ant-vax lie. There has never been more data available on any vaccine in the history of medicine.

@BeauxRingarde

I’m talking about the safety data of mixing vaccine doses!

I’m talking about the safety data of mixing vaccine doses!

I know. There is plenty of safety data on mixing doses.

Mixing vaccines is safer, that’s why most countries have done it. Also the dept of health have said that this is a discrimination against those of us who live abroad only, despite my mix of vaccines being exactly the same as the ones the nhs gave you OP, you’re allowed a holiday but I’m still not allowed into my own country to see my family.

But it only affects us foreign residents so don’t worry.

I never knew there was any issue anywhere about mixing vaccines.

Sorry for your predicament.

Your covid passport says you have had two doses right? So in terms of that its fine.

The initial research for AZ followed by Pfizer showed that this was possibly the best combination to have as it gives the best protection.

I was reading a thread yesterday on twitter on some research which said that pfizer looks best for effectiveness - to a point, then it seems to wane and drops suddenly and that theres a crucial point after vaccination at which AZ starts to look more effective. So AZ may be better for longer in this sense.

The AZ / Pfizer combo study seemed to show that Pfizer gave a better antibody response but AZ gave a better T cell response. And AZ / Pfizer combo was particularly coming out particularly well because of that (and looked better than Pfizer then AZ).

At this stage we dont fully know.

But, you've got your paperwork which is all fine and accepted in the UK and EU and your vaccine combo looks good.

So stop bloody working yourself into a state about it. Its fine! Indeed potentially better than everyone else!!!

And safety data on mixing looks ok to.

You will be fine from a safety & efficacy pint of view, so don't worry about that. The problem is international travel, where the goverment has decided (without making it very public) that you have to have had 2 of the same vaccinations to be considered fully vaccinated. This is simply because they haven't approved the mix. When they do (soon, I would imagine) it will be fine.
Having the vaccine passport on the NHS app is actually irrelevant - it will be fine for going to another country, but the government rules will over-ride the "certificate" on your phone - you will have to have had two of the same to be considered fully vaccinated when you get back.
Write to your MP & push for this to be corrected, particularly if you are thinking of travelling soon. If you go to an Amber country it also means that everyone in your party has to isolate for 10 days too. The whole thing is ridiculous.

I've just realised that the other thread was yours too - I'm not sure what extra this is going to tell you. For others who don't knwo, this is what the Gov.uk website states:
*What counts as fully vaccinated
‘Fully vaccinated’ means you must have had a final dose of an approved vaccine at least 14 whole days before you arrive in England.

The day you have your final dose does not count as one of the 14 days.

If you were vaccinated in 2 doses it must be with the same (MHRA, EMA, Swissmedic or FDA) approved vaccine. For example, if your first dose was Moderna your second dose must also be Moderna.

For the UK programmes you can have 1 dose under the UK vaccination programme and the other under the UK vaccine overseas programme.

If you had an approved 1 dose vaccine, such as Janssen, you are fully vaccinated.*

You got what you wanted but you are still not happy. Maybe you should ask yourself why and what you should do about it? (There is safety data for mixing doses btw).

I had 2 x AZ. Wanna swap?

@MrsLCSofLichfield

I had 2 x AZ. Wanna swap?

@MrsLCSofLichfield

Why would you want to swap?

If it was causing you a problem regards proving you’re vaccinated I’d explain to your GP and get another Pfizer. If you’re worried about your immunity I wouldn’t I believe mixing vaccines has proven effective and you’ll be well protected. Don’t sweat it.

It's not just overseas visitors by the way (that might be an error, but it's not what it says).