Have you had the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the last 6 weeks?

[JustineBMumsnet]

We’ve been asked by the Drug Safety Research Unit to find Mumsnet users who have had the first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the last 6 weeks to take part in a project to monitor the effects of the vaccine. You can take part whether or not you’ve experienced any symptoms following the vaccine

Below you’ll find some information on the project from Dr Liz Lynn, Head of Scientific and Educational Development, Drug Safety Research Unit:

“Hi, I’m Liz, and I’m from an organisation called the Drug Safety Research Unit (DSRU). We’re an independent academic unit and registered charity, established in 1981 and based in Southampton. Whilst all medicines are subject to thorough testing for efficacy and safety before being made available, continued monitoring to gather information in ‘real life’ is always essential too. That’s where we come in.

We’re currently working on a project to monitor the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. This study is supported by a consortium of doctors, pharmacists and scientists from 12 UK universities and NHS trusts. Data collected will be shared with the manufacturer, the UK’s regulating body, and the results will be publicly available too.

For the study, we’re asking anyone who has had their first dose of this vaccine within the last 6 weeks to sign up to this questionnaire-based study. The initial sign-up phase takes around 10 mins, and participants will then be contacted via chosen method (text, email or phone) for a few follow-up questions over the course of the next 18 months. Of course, opting out at any stage is possible.

People have stepped up to volunteer in so many ways during the course of the pandemic, but the fight continues and ongoing research is a vital part of this. We’ve been grateful to the thousands who have already signed up over the last few months but we need more! In total we’re looking for 20,000 UK volunteers to help us with the trial, before their short 6 week window has passed. Please help by signing up, or sharing with others who you know fit this description. You can sign up and find more information available here.

Thank you for playing your part!”

Please note this project is not being run by Mumsnet, and if you sign up you will be sharing your details with DSRU.

Thanks
MNHQ

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

A study funded by AZ themselves.

That's very normal — why would anybody else fund a study into your material? It's a bit like big companies paying Deloitte/PWC etc to audit them.

I don't think I'll be given the AZ vaccine, but if I am I'll sign up.

[Sometimesfraught82]

I had Astra
I am 100% supportive of the vaccine programme
What I don’t like is a lack of transparency and being upfront in this thread about the funding
Even in their follow up response they didn’t address this

[icanbewhatiwant]

I was going to sign up. Then counted how long since my first and it is 7 weeks.

From speaking to people and from stuff I've read it seems most people, if they are going to get a reaction (as in ill, I'm not talking about blood clots) get it from the first AZ and fine after second. Then those having the Pfizer get it after the second dose. But I see some on here did get ill after second.

[Pri1988]

Hi just wondering if anyone can help as DD is 10 weeks old she’s been crying her eyes out for milk and been really windy with Aptimal first infant. Since day one I’ve had the wrong bottles been using Tomee Tippee and baby had had to suck quite hard resulting in me feeding her little and often hence the milk being ok. Now I’ve changed the bottles baby is drink quicker and full amounts however she has been crying for milk. I changed to the hungry milk as she’s a lot better more satisfied however she’s only drinking half the amount and falling asleep for 1 -2 hours is this normal ? Also when I feed her the full amount say 4 ounces she’s wide awake any suggestions am I over feeding her with 4 ounces or under feeding her with 2 ?

[JustineBMumsnet]

Hi all, the DSRU has asked us to pass on the following, which outlines how this study differs from the Yellow Card scheme.

"The Yellow Card scheme is a well-established system for reporting suspected side effects of medicines in the UK (set up in 1964 by Dr Bill Inman, who subsequently established the Drug Safety Research Unit and became our first Director). It is the UK’s national system for spontaneous reporting, and as such requires the reporter to suspect that there is a link between the symptom and the medicine or vaccine. The Yellow Card scheme and post-authorisation studies like ours are two of several methods for monitoring the safety of a newly approved medicine or vaccine. Our study on the AstraZeneca vaccine is an example of active surveillance, where we ask participants for details of any symptoms they have experienced, without relying on the participant to suspect that there is a link between the symptom and the vaccine. Crucially this active surveillance approach allows us to collate data from a large number of vaccinees, which can reveal some rare side effects which were not previously linked to the vaccine or medicine. It is a legal requirement to conduct this type of monitoring under UK and EU Pharmacovigilance legislation. We invite volunteers to register for our study whether or not they have had symptoms after their Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccination. Those who have had symptoms can also submit information to the Yellow Card scheme. Thank you"

[SafferUpNorth]

From what I understand the NHS is conducting its own research. Certainly when I had the AZ jab a couple of weeks ago, the vaccinator asked whether I minded being contacted for follow-up research.

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

@Pri1988, try starting a thread in this section and I'm sure somebody will be along to help you.

[motogogo]

Had second yesterday, nothing except bruising at the vaccine entry point unlike the first dose where I was exhausted and whole body felt heavy for 24 hours

[PixieDust28]

@Pri1988

Hi just wondering if anyone can help as DD is 10 weeks old she’s been crying her eyes out for milk and been really windy with Aptimal first infant. Since day one I’ve had the wrong bottles been using Tomee Tippee and baby had had to suck quite hard resulting in me feeding her little and often hence the milk being ok. Now I’ve changed the bottles baby is drink quicker and full amounts however she has been crying for milk. I changed to the hungry milk as she’s a lot better more satisfied however she’s only drinking half the amount and falling asleep for 1 -2 hours is this normal ? Also when I feed her the full amount say 4 ounces she’s wide awake any suggestions am I over feeding her with 4 ounces or under feeding her with 2 ?

If she is crying for more give her more. Babies will only take what they want. I think around that age my son was on about 6oz. I kept putting it up until he was content and happy on what he had.
We also had to change teats as the others were too slow. Didn't change bottle just a faster teat.

[PixieDust28]

Had both. First in Feb and second 2 weeks ago.
Didn't even have a sore arm the second time round.

[lubeybooby]

Are these clowns ever going to send me the actual survey? I filled in the initial things, then was told it would be emailed to me, nothing since. I did it the first day this post was live.

[timewilltel]

Need some positive stories from women who have had second babies!
So me and my partner are trying for baby number 2. I've only just come off my period so got about another 1 week before we can officially begin the "baby dancing" so my first child was basically conceived straight away first month trying and I assumed second would be just the same. The thing is I know I haven't even tried yet so I don't know but when I typed in google having second baby all I'm seeing is negative stories about people unable to do so and that's really getting me worried and paranoid. I think they call secondary infertility or something. Plus I'm in my late 30s so I know that doesn't help. Has anyone just conceived straight away with their second??

[kerrby31]

I'm surprised about the amount of suspicion people have over this study!

Pharma companies have to fund research like this all the time, its required of them by the authorities when a drug is approved.. Someone has to collect real world data on all the side effects a drug has and how often they occur. If they only had found out about side effects when doctors report them they would be under-reporting all the less serious effects and its not a true picture.

The research is ethics approved and its auditable so its all above board. Its really is so important that this type of research is done so we all can be confident the vaccines are safe

[SingingInTheShithouse]

I had a very bad reaction to my first AZ, found the yellow card report to be pretty shite as they don't respond to any questions such as what do I do about my second vaccine & why are those at higher risk for blood clots not considered in the same way they are contraceptive pills etc & given Pfizer instead 😏
My GP is having to email some central body in the hope of getting a reply 😏. Unfortunately I'm just outside of the 6 weeks asked for here, but I'm glad there is more than just the yellow card scheme gathering information

[Sometimesfraught82]

@kerrby31

I'm surprised about the amount of suspicion people have over this study!

Pharma companies have to fund research like this all the time, its required of them by the authorities when a drug is approved.. Someone has to collect real world data on all the side effects a drug has and how often they occur. If they only had found out about side effects when doctors report them they would be under-reporting all the less serious effects and its not a true picture.

The research is ethics approved and its auditable so its all above board. Its really is so important that this type of research is done so we all can be confident the vaccines are safe

It’s the fact they don’t make clear in their Ip

Or indeed in the follow up.

They make no ref to the funder at all. And who is paying for something is a detail most like to know before providing information

[rella2021]

Lates U.S. report says 86% side effects from the vaccine for children.... that is absolutely huge. Only two years ago they would ban any vaccine with even 2% side effects....

[Sometimesfraught82]

@rella2021

Lates U.S. report says 86% side effects from the vaccine for children.... that is absolutely huge. Only two years ago they would ban any vaccine with even 2% side effects....

Sore arm for a day or two - that’s the main side effect amongst children reported

Won’t stop me grabbing with both hands for my two when available