Astrazeneca vaccine suspended..... Not proven to be linked to the jab yet, but investigations are ongoing *title edited by GNHQ*

Firecracker123

You can't just turn up for a jab you have to be invited by your GP or by letter from NHS.

Anyone in England who is eligible for the vaccine (including anyone aged 55 or over) can book an appointment online using this link.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

It does say that you have to be registered with a GP in England though.

Ellianne
I hope they don’t live in Portugal because they’d have to do ten days quarantine first before they were admitted to the country. Mind you, it’s probably preferable to waiting till Lord knows when for a vaccine.

Firecracker123

You can't just turn up for a jab you have to be invited by your GP or by letter from NHS.

I know that Firecracker.
Some expats are still registered with gps in the UK. Some have properties back here, so can give their UK address. It would be easy enough to go online to book and give your last address in the UK.

Sorry about typos, I pressed post by accident before I previewed.

You can't just turn up for a jab you have to be invited by your GP or by letter from NHS.

garnet25

Firstly, I've had the AZ vaccine and I trust it implicitly. Secondly AZ are supplying their vaccine at cost price whilst the other companies are making a profit. Given that the 3rd world will be a huge market for and anti Coronavirus vaccine a very great deal of money is at stake. Lobbyists have been known to influence Governments.
The WHO and many other influential scientific bodies have declared the AZ vaccine safe please do not be put off having it by scaremongering.

I have wondered about this too garnet because I understand that the UK and AZ have committed to providing the vaccine either free or at this very low cost to third world countries. The cost of the AZ vaccine is only about £2 something as I understand it, whilst all all the other vaccines are far more expensive. The N
Moderna one, which Britain has ordered some of, comes in at about £30. The British government put up a huge amount of money towards the development of the AZ vaccine and if they sell it at such a low price, or give it away, it will certainly threaten those who have produced other vaccines possible profitability. Maybe this is why some are appearing to try to discredit it. Just a thought

I think to put a little perspective on the issue it should be noted that around 3000 people per month in the UK suffer from some form of blood clots, based on that figure, with the massive vaccine rollout, it would be expected that a few of these would show up after having the vaccine.

Thank you sodapop. I was mentally picturing how one could get to Calais, then tunnel and arrive at a booking centre for jab all in a day or two. As you say, morally wrong, but if one had to wait a long time it might be tempting.

sodapop

Ellianne

So if as a Brit living abroad with a British passport and an NHS number, could you get yourself over to the UK for an AZ jab?

I couldn't do that Ellianne feels morally wrong. If I choose to live in France I should abide by their rules.

How impressive. Nice to read

Ellianne

So if as a Brit living abroad with a British passport and an NHS number, could you get yourself over to the UK for an AZ jab?

I couldn't do that Ellianne feels morally wrong. If I choose to live in France I should abide by their rules.

My friend and neighbour in Malaga rang me yesterday. She’s 85y and no signs of a jab yet there. Her friend is 88y and she hasn’t heard anything yet either.
?

I have the opposite problem - symptomatic carrier of severe haemophilia B - a bleeder!

Latest news from The Telegraph

There is "no indication" the AstraZeneca vaccine has caused blood clot incidents, the director of the European Medical Agency (EMA) has said.

Emer Cooke, executive director of the EMA, said: "We are still firmly convinced that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing Covid-19, with its associated risk of hospitalisation and death, outweigh the risk of these side effects."

The number of thromboembolic cases seems to be no higher than that seen in the general population, she added.

An estimated 17m AstraZeneca vaccines have been administered across Europe.

Ms Cooke, also said there were similar reports about blood clots related to other coronavirus vaccines.

When asked at a press conference about reports of blood clots in relation to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, she said: "We are looking at adverse effects associated with all vaccines.

"At the moment the current focus, because of the reported instances in Europe, is of the AstraZeneca (vaccine) but we have looked at the background rates for all the vaccines currently in circulation and it looks like there are similar numbers coming in across the world."

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TBH it is on my mind as I had a DVT 40 years ago caused by the contraceptive pill and phlebitis during both pregnancies. I have an appointment for my first vaccination tomorrow and am still going.

European Medicines regulator spokesperson says she is convinced that benefits of using AZ vaccine far outweigh possible side effects and yet Spain have decided on a two week delay!

LauraNorder

Just heard on BBC news EMA meeting to discuss on Thursday, no rush then.

Not really accurate. EMA are currently actively reviewing all the evidence and will announce their conclusions on Thursday.

So if as a Brit living abroad with a British passport and an NHS number, could you get yourself over to the UK for an AZ jab?

Firstly, I've had the AZ vaccine and I trust it implicitly. Secondly AZ are supplying their vaccine at cost price whilst the other companies are making a profit. Given that the 3rd world will be a huge market for and anti Coronavirus vaccine a very great deal of money is at stake. Lobbyists have been known to influence Governments.
The WHO and many other influential scientific bodies have declared the AZ vaccine safe please do not be put off having it by scaremongering.

Sorry soda I didn’t realise. Presumably you’re anxious to get your vaccine. I hope it’s soon for you.

Sorry maddyone I live in France, didn't make that clear though.

Just heard on BBC news EMA meeting to discuss on Thursday, no rush then.

NellG

If any of you ever used/use the pill, implants, injections for birth control, or are on HRT, did you worry about the much more likely increased chance of clots? If the answer is no then don't fret too much about the vaccine. If it was worth the risk to stop a baby and a hot flush, it's worth the lesser risk to save your own life and that of others.

Quite, NellG. Two of our family members in their early 40s, with no underlying conditions, have had their jabs this week. They’re not of an age where they’re likely to have a serious outcome if they do get Covid, but didn’t hesitate.

We’re just delighted that the vaccine rollout is going so well.

EMA to make a statement this afternoon.

I should think it’s difficult to prove a causal link if the blood clot event takes place a few days after the vaccination.

Thank you Elegran for researched and balanced post. If only the European politicians would read your post they would see the facts and the truth.

I’m not convinced that this episode isn’t political, but whether it is or it isn’t, I hope European politicians understand that many more people will die of Covid as a direct result of this pause. Are they happy to accept higher numbers of Covid deaths? Far more people will die of Covid than the tiny numbers who have died possibly as a result of the vaccine.

Surely the administration of the vaccine is the greater good.

OnwardandUpward

Scrub that ^ I just found his story (Dr Gregory Michael) and he died of Immune thrombocytopenia after the Pfizer Vaccine. It was this blood clotting failure that caused a brain haemorrhage.

It seems that reactions are rare but that they can happen.

Has a causal link been proven? It hadn't been in the articles I found.