Novavax vaccine trial part 4 - STILL waiting for approval

[Frazzled2207]

Here we are again

Can I ask what people are feeling about having the one off booster? I don’t NEED two, I wont ever be going abroad. But ive just been rung by a trial dr from my site, asking if I wanted to watch and wait, or have the one off booster now. He did mention the potential of side effects (and ive read here about how awful it sounds) - which is frightening me slightly. I am 31, no clinical reason for me to have the booster now (or at all, depending on what JVCI and Govt decide). I was unblinded in summer, I had my real vaccine in April/May. If I had been really vaccinated in Nov/Dec, then I would have the booster without a doubt. I just dont know what to do!

@Dreamer1989

Can I ask what people are feeling about having the one off booster? I don’t NEED two, I wont ever be going abroad. But ive just been rung by a trial dr from my site, asking if I wanted to watch and wait, or have the one off booster now. He did mention the potential of side effects (and ive read here about how awful it sounds) - which is frightening me slightly. I am 31, no clinical reason for me to have the booster now (or at all, depending on what JVCI and Govt decide). I was unblinded in summer, I had my real vaccine in April/May. If I had been really vaccinated in Nov/Dec, then I would have the booster without a doubt. I just dont know what to do!

I’ve had the booster and personally…..even though I feel crap after having the booster…..I would still have it. If it gives me a better chance of fighting off COVID, then I would always say yes.

I have adverse reactions to medication and I even had a bad reaction to the flu jab, so you may react differently. Just be prepared in case you do react.

I’m on day 4 after the booster, arm sore, red and hot, still feeling nauseous but no more fevers, chills or headaches. I’m hardly eating anything, but on the positive I had a little lockdown weight to lose and I now have the excuse to eat well at Christmas 😂

At my final session, just been handed this letter. Incredibly rare but interesting - 8 people in 49000.

And this one.

Hope those suffering from the side effects are recovering well. I had a fever and headaches for a couple of days after the pfizer. Although I felt awful at that time, I am glad that it was done. A month after the pfizer dose, my period started and this surprised me, as I have been going into a menopausal stage for the past 2 years. There has been a fresh call from doctors/scientists for more research into the link between Covid vaccines and disruption of menstration cycle, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Since my Novavax vaccines last year were trouble-free, I am a little deflated by a series of side-effects from the pfizer dose. I still haven't decided if I want another dose or not.

So a week after first Pfizer I finally feel human. Still getting random sweats (also menopause related but have got worse the last week) and I feel so tired all the time but the rest of the horrible symptoms have gone.

I haven't decided on 2nd vaccine yet. I am just praying it gets approved and we don't have to make that decision. I honestly can't be that ill again.

I have a real stupid question - if Novavax gets approved in the UK, will we be offered a booster of that - therefore hopefully not getting side effects that Pfizer seems to be giving?

@Dreamer1989

I have a real stupid question - if Novavax gets approved in the UK, will we be offered a booster of that - therefore hopefully not getting side effects that Pfizer seems to be giving?

I think it is unlikely as everyone seems to be getting Pfizer with a few areas getting moderna. They have a lot of Pfizer jabs ordered and available. My amazing GP has said he will order Novavax in for me if he is able to, if I wanted that. I am just hoping it is approved so I don't have to have another jab. Can't afford another week off work, and I do not want to be that ill again.

I felt so pressured at the final appointment - I honestly didnt know what to do for the best. I chose to wait, but they said it would be really hard
To access Pfizer unless I had it done with them within the week.

Hi all, I hope you don't mind me stepping into your thread, which I have been following with interest - you must be so frustrated.

I am on a different trial. It's a booster vaccine trial where you get a third dose that's either AZ, or a tweaked version of AZ designed to work against the Beta variant.

I listened to the press conference yesterday with interest as it seems pretty clear that in the future you won't be considered fully vaccinated unless you have had your booster jab. I am actually fine with that but I'm just wondering about the implications of being on a trial and the covid pass and so on. Selfishly I would also like the most protection I can get and I suspect that 3xAZ (I will have had 3xAZ of some sort) is not as good as 2xAZ + 1 Pfizer/Moderna.

I spoke to the trial team today because I like to be organised about these sorts of things. I will be eligible for an NHS booster in the middle of December. They said to think about it for a couple of weeks and that leaving is an option but they don't have the safety data on having 4 vaccines - I know some of you have had 4 vaccines so I wanted to ask your thoughts on that and also to ask what you would do in my position? I don't want to be unable to go to events where you need a covid pass and we also have a holiday to France and Germany booked next year. I know France is quite strict. The doctor said they could get me some sort of letter in lieu of the covid pass but I'm not sure I want that hassle and I would prefer to just have the same covid pass as everyone else.

Anyway, I have a while to think about it but I'd be very interested to know your thoughts. I would feel bad leaving the trial but I have to think of my own safety too and it also seems as though the Beta variant is not really much of a threat so in the grand scheme of things, perhaps the trial is not one of the most important ones running anyway. They did also say that potentially I could get the NHS booster and still be in the trial if AstraZeneca wanted me to.

@dollywoodlooksgood you have to personally risk assess it for yourself, it is so hard. I know people who have had 4 vaccines and been fine. I (and husband) have had 3 so far and that Pfizer shot knocked me off my feet for a week! I have to make the decision whether to go for a 4th. Husband has decided he will go for the 4th as he is over a year since his vaccines. I had mine in April so I feel comfortable only having 3 (if novavax gets approved in the next 11 weeks that is!).

Do not rely on a letter getting you in to France and Germany. It probably won't as they won't know how to deal with it. You need a full on covid pass to get to travel as freely as possible. Novavax trialists have fought for these extra approved jabs as we have been disadvantaged for months not being able to travel.

I had Pfizer yesterday as part of the Cov-Boost sub study. I feel awful 😔 Temp of 39, arm reeeeeealy hurts, my skin hurts, headache, nausea, bit random but my left knee hurts. There's no redness or swelling in my arm, just immense pain.

I've felt so altruistic throughout this 😂 but fuck me, I'm not doing that again!

Has anyone completed their 4 shots. At my end of year consultation the doctor couldn’t tell me 100% that my records would be properly updated to show 2 Pfizer. Being left with one Pfizer & 1 Novavax showing would not be valid anywhere apparently.

I've just been for my last visit at my trial centre and been unblinded, as I thought I had the vaccine last year.

Hopefully on Monday I can book a booster although I'm not looking forward to the side effects.

Is anyone here under 40 and worrying if we will be able to access a booster, if and when our age group is allowed one? I declined one through the trial, not 100% sure why. But I am slightly panicing I wont be allowed to get one via NHS esp as the bloody Novavax hasnt been approved here yet.

Excuse me for butting in to your thread but I’m in Australia and waiting for Novavax to be approved. Was supposed to be here now but it’s being stalled.
A poster mentioned she had terrible side effects after the second.
Can you guys please tell me what the Novavax was like in comparison to the Az or Pfizer which are only available currently in Australia. Moderna is available but I don’t want that.
I noticed some people were ok but others were unwell with Novavax.
Also saw that letter about cholecystitis which is not appealing.

Hi @Sarahschild. I had mild side effects for less than 24hrs with one of the Novavax doses but only a sore arm with the second (I now can't remember which was which as they were only 3 weeks apart and it was over a year ago!). I recently had Pfizer as I need an approved vaccine and I had much more severe symptoms with that, very sore and swollen arm for 5 days, fatigue, muscle aches etc... but perhaps that was due to an interaction with Novavax? Who knows. I am due my second dose of Pfizer soon and I am hoping it will be much less severe.

FWIW I help out in a vaccine centre every week and people report a really mixed bag of side effects with all the vaccines. Some people have nothing and some people are really hit hard. It really is pot luck I think! Another example, my DH had 24hrs of feeling rotten with his first AZ but no problem with his second dose.

Thank you Vargas
Yes it does seem to be random.
In my immediate circles everyone has been ok but some other stories are quite bad.
I hope Australia gets this vax soon because it’s getting harder each week just to live normally with out being vaxxed

@Sarahschild I had a bad reaction to second novavax injection and was ill for about 72 hours.

Had Pfizer a couple of weeks ago and it floored me completely for a week. I personally think it's a reaction between the 2 but who knows as others have had novavax and Pfizer and been ok.

Personally if I were you any vaccine is better than no vaccine even with side effects. I would be going and getting a vaccine ASAP and not waiting which could be weeks or months still for novavax to be approved.

[quote ItsSnowJokes]@Sarahschild I had a bad reaction to second novavax injection and was ill for about 72 hours.

Had Pfizer a couple of weeks ago and it floored me completely for a week. I personally think it's a reaction between the 2 but who knows as others have had novavax and Pfizer and been ok.

Personally if I were you any vaccine is better than no vaccine even with side effects. I would be going and getting a vaccine ASAP and not waiting which could be weeks or months still for novavax to be approved.[/quote]
I had the same reaction as @ItsSnowJokes with the 2nd Novavax and the Pfizer booster(or may be classed as 1st approved) dose.

But then I react badly to medicines. Even the flu jab made me nauseous and tired for about two weeks.

A vaccine is better than no vaccine though 👍

www.theguardian.com/society/2021/nov/24/novavax-expected-to-be-approved-as-fourth-covid-vaccine-in-uk

[quote Dreamer1989]www.theguardian.com/society/2021/nov/24/novavax-expected-to-be-approved-as-fourth-covid-vaccine-in-uk[/quote]
I really hope it's soon! Then I can be counted as fully vaccinated and not have to have another Pfizer as 1st Pfizer will count as a booster.

Do you think us Novavax’ers can have a booster of Novavax?

@Dreamer1989

Do you think us Novavax’ers can have a booster of Novavax?

I asked my GP this (after I had been so ill with pfizer) and he said he would order it in for me if he can get hold of one. I dont think it will be needed now as if its approved them my Pfizer would count as booster but will be fab for those who haven't had Pfizer.

It's great that Novavax might be approved in UK soon, but for those of us who need to travel it only counts if the country we are travelling to approves it too...