What exactly is happening with AstraZeneca?

Strazdas · 07-04-2021 01:28PM

Stark wrote: »

Hopefully they can determine some pattern. If it's just young women for example, then it would be easy enough to simply give them one of the other vaccines instead. If it's everyone under 50, then we've a much bigger problem. (I'm also not convinced we won't see similar issues with J&J as the vaccines are so similar).

Apparently these type of clots reported by Fergal are considered minor ones and almost to be expected with vaccine usage.

It's the dangerous ones that affect the brain that have been causing serious alarm in Europe (but so far we don't appear to have had one in Ireland, thank goodness).

ACitizenErased · 07-04-2021 02:08PM

Benefits continue to outweigh the risks - blood clots to be listed as very rare side effect
https://twitter.com/EMA_News/status/1379794539456688137?s=20

v3ttel · 07-04-2021 02:10PM

I got mine yesterday. Zero symptoms for the first 12 hours, then I started feeling exactly how I would when I'm about to get very sick (dizzy, light headed, aches and pains all over). I started to get chills then and later I felt like I was burning up.

Since then, I just have a bit of a headache, a few aches and pains and feel a bit dizzy when standing up. It's all fairly standard for how I feel when I've a bad flu, etc. It was all explained to me that I'd have flu like symptoms for a couple of days, so no surprises. Starting to feel a bit better now more than 24 hours later.

Also have to say, the vaccination center I was at seemed to be really well run. The person administering the vaccine took their time to have a general chat, then explained everything about the vaccine, answered any questions. Everyone seemed to be moved through the system without delay but also without it feeling like a cattle mart.

07-04-2021 02:14PM

ACitizenErased wrote: »

Benefits continue to outweigh the risks - blood clots to be listed as very rare side effect
https://twitter.com/EMA_News/status/1379794539456688137?s=20

So young women just have to suck it up then.

Still don't understand what the issue is with directing other vaccines to the cohort at risk. It's not like AZ is the only vaccine available.

astrofool · 07-04-2021 02:20PM

Flying Fox wrote: »

So young women just have to suck it up then.

Still don't understand what the issue is with directing other vaccines to the cohort at risk. It's not like AZ is the only vaccine available.

Supply.

07-04-2021 02:24PM

astrofool wrote: »

Supply.

In Ireland, AZ will account for about a quarter of our supply based on the Q2 figures published today. There are other options for those at risk.

Even the UK is restricting AZ now (albeit the age cut off is only 30).

robinph · 07-04-2021 02:25PM

Flying Fox wrote: »

So young women just have to suck it up then.

Still don't understand what the issue is with directing other vaccines to the cohort at risk. It's not like AZ is the only vaccine available.

Under 30s to be given different vaccines in the UK now.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56665517

Think the quoted number of cases/ deaths in that article is wrong and is the combined EU/UK number and not that they have suddenly found loads more cases in the UK. Think the numbers match what EMA said a bit earlier for the combined total.

ACitizenErased · 07-04-2021 02:25PM

robinph wrote: »

Under 30s to be given different vaccines in the UK now.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56665517

Think the quoted number of cases/ deaths in that article is wrong and is the combined EU/UK number and not that they have suddenly found loads more cases in the UK. Think the numbers match what EMA said a bit earlier for the combined total.

Important point from the UK is that it's not a total ban on AZ for U30s, it's 'where possible', which means they can still have it

Beanybabog · 07-04-2021 02:30PM

UK offering alternative to under 30s now. With other countries suspending it in under 60s and 50s it really doesn’t seem great.

Probes · 07-04-2021 02:32PM

I’m confused by the outcome. They say that a link between gender, age and the clotting has not been found - but they are suspending the AZ vaccine for under 30s. Mixed messages.

ACitizenErased · 07-04-2021 02:33PM

The UK haven't suspended anything. They've said that if there's other vaccines available for U30s, give it to them. If not, give them AZ.

Beanybabog · 07-04-2021 02:34PM

ACitizenErased wrote: »

The UK haven't suspended anything. They've said that if there's other vaccines available for U30s, give it to them. If not, give them AZ.

Edited that thanks

rm212 · 07-04-2021 02:36PM

I'm 25 and got AZ a little over 2 weeks ago as part of the high risk group. It seems like in Beaumont hospital, that started giving AZ to the youngest patients first, because everybody up there on that Sunday was around my age and this was only a couple of days after we resumed. So if the rate is higher in younger people, I'm surprised we haven't seen more cases here.

That being said, I'm starting to get a little worried. I've been feeling off the last two or three days, feeling a bit short of breath and having chest pains, both listed as warning signs for these clotting side effects. It's hard to tell if it's from the vaccine or my anxiety (possibly being caused by worrying about this). I'm considering contacting my GP.

stephenjmcd · 07-04-2021 02:36PM

Numbers from MHRA Chief Executive

79 reports of blood clots after first #AstraZeneca dose
51 women / 28 men
19 died
3 were under 30

Equates to 4 in 1 million doses dispensed ie ‘very rare’

rm212 · 07-04-2021 02:37PM

ACitizenErased wrote: »

The UK haven't suspended anything. They've said that if there's other vaccines available for U30s, give it to them. If not, give them AZ.

Watching the briefing now, that's not the impression that I'm getting. One of the MHRA experts even said those under 30 shouldn't get the second dose of AZ, I believe.

EDIT: Now the other guy said what you said, the messaging here seems a little mixed as I was sure the other person said that they shouldn't be given a second dose of AZ if under 30. I suppose it is a 'preference' then, but then they refer to this as 'clinical advice' and changes to the vaccine programme.

Beanybabog · 07-04-2021 02:37PM

I see on Twitter EU health ministers are meeting, would this be normal?. I can’t really see them going beyond what the EMA has said that the benefits outweigh the risk. Individual countries can do as they wish anyway?

LLMMLL · 07-04-2021 02:38PM

stephenjmcd wrote: »

Numbers from MHRA Chief Executive

79 reports of blood clots after first #AstraZeneca dose
51 women / 28 men
19 died
3 were under 30

Equates to 4 in 1 million doses dispensed ie ‘very rare’

Most of us have happily taken medication in our lives with similar odds of adverse effects and been perfectly happy.

Most of us engage in far riskier behaviour every day.

Unfortunately most of us are terrible at assessing risk.

Probes · 07-04-2021 02:39PM

ACitizenErased wrote: »

The UK haven't suspended anything. They've said that if there's other vaccines available for U30s, give it to them. If not, give them AZ.

I mean it doesn’t really matter, the recommendation is to offer a different vaccine. Can’t help but feel that this news will knock a lot of people’s confidence in the AZ one, rather than boosting it.

Beanybabog · 07-04-2021 02:39PM

rm212 wrote: »

That being said, I'm starting to get a little worried. I've been feeling off the last two or three days, feeling a bit short of breath and having chest pains, both listed as warning signs for these clotting side effects. It's hard to tell if it's from the vaccine or my anxiety (possibly being caused by worrying about this). I'm considering contacting my GP.

You should contact them straight away, they’ll be happy you do. Even if it’s “just” anxiety you should still be checked

ACitizenErased · 07-04-2021 02:40PM

Worth noting from EU conference, the chances of a blood clot when taking an oral contraceptive are 4 in 10,000. MHRA states that for the AZ vaccine is 4 in 1,000,000.

cmac2009 · 07-04-2021 02:41PM

How long after you've received the vaccine are you at risk of these blood clots for? Or have they not given any further details on that.

ACitizenErased · 07-04-2021 02:42PM

cmac2009 wrote: »

How long after you've received the vaccine are you at risk of these blood clots for? Or have they not given any further details on that.

MHRA said roughly 4 days after receiving it you'd have symptoms

Turtwig · 07-04-2021 02:43PM

ACitizenErased wrote: »

Worth noting from EU conference, the chances of a blood clot when taking an oral contraceptive are 4 in 10,000. MHRA states that for the AZ vaccine is 4 in 1,000,000.

Are you comparing like with like here?
AZ is related to a very specific condition. The oral contraceptive has afaik no such link to this condition.

ACitizenErased · 07-04-2021 02:44PM

Turtwig wrote: »

Are you comparing like with like here?
AZ is related to a very specific condition. The oral contraceptive has afaik no such link to this condition.

Exact same symptoms. EMA agreed they're the same, I'm watching the press conference right now and they compared them.

Beanybabog · 07-04-2021 02:47PM

Probes wrote: »

I mean it doesn’t really matter, the recommendation is to offer a different vaccine. Can’t help but feel that this news will knock a lot of people’s confidence in the AZ one, rather than boosting it.

I’ve really lost confidence in it. I’m would never have been anti - vaccination at all, I got myself and kids extra vaccines etc. I was very excited about the vaccines coming and now I really hope I get a different one. I’ll be miles down the list so I suppose by the time they get to me we’ll know more and hopefully I’ll feel better about getting it, if that’s the one I’m offered. Comparing the risk of death from covid to AZ doesn’t really help when you can also compare the risk of dying from AZ to the risk from Pfizer which appears to be nil??

Lesalare · 07-04-2021 02:47PM

LLMMLL wrote: »

Most of us have happily taken medication in our lives with similar odds of adverse effects and been perfectly happy.

Most of us engage in far riskier behaviour every day.

Unfortunately most of us are terrible at assessing risk.

Most/all of that medication has been tested for a heck of a longer time than these vaccines.

07-04-2021 02:47PM

ACitizenErased wrote: »

Worth noting from EU conference, the chances of a blood clot when taking an oral contraceptive are 4 in 10,000. MHRA states that for the AZ vaccine is 4 in 1,000,000.

There are other options in place of the pill, and anyone at elevated risk of a clot is advised not to take it.

Women who are concerned about the AZ vaccine aren't being offered an alternative. If AZ is offered we're expected to take it.

Probes · 07-04-2021 02:48PM

ACitizenErased wrote: »

Exact same symptoms. EMA agreed they're the same, I'm watching the press conference right now and they compared them.

Aren’t a third of people dying from this side effect? Wouldn’t that equate to 1 in 10,000 dying from the pill?

Lesalare · 07-04-2021 02:48PM

Beanybabog wrote: »

I’ve really lost confidence in it. I’m would never have been anti - vaccination at all, I got myself and kids extra vaccines etc. I was very excited about the vaccines coming and now I really hope I get a different one. I’ll be miles down the list so I suppose by the time they get to me we’ll know more and hopefully I’ll feel better about getting it, if that’s the one I’m offered. Comparing the risk of death from covid to AZ doesn’t really help when you can also compare the risk of dying from AZ to the risk from Pfizer which appears to be nil??

This is exactly how I feel.

Ashbourne hoop · 07-04-2021 02:49PM

rm212 wrote: »

I'm 25 and got AZ a little over 2 weeks ago as part of the high risk group. It seems like in Beaumont hospital, that started giving AZ to the youngest patients first, because everybody up there on that Sunday was around my age and this was only a couple of days after we resumed. So if the rate is higher in younger people, I'm surprised we haven't seen more cases here.

That being said, I'm starting to get a little worried. I've been feeling off the last two or three days, feeling a bit short of breath and having chest pains, both listed as warning signs for these clotting side effects. It's hard to tell if it's from the vaccine or my anxiety (possibly being caused by worrying about this). I'm considering contacting my GP.

Contact your GP. As it was 2 weeks ago you should be fine, but ring anyway.

What exactly is happening with AstraZeneca?

Comments