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

He was called for his vaccination because having had a DVT he is more at risk if he catches COVID, he is in the ‘underlying health conditions’ category, which is Category 6.

I still feel concerned that so many countries have called a halt, though. They can’t all be over - reactive panic merchants, especially places like Italy who have had so many cases. It is easy to airily dismiss claims because you don’t want to face problems and / or you personally didn’t have side effects. It may be something to do with that particular batch of vaccine but it still needs investigating and not dismissing as people’s over active imaginations.

nanna8 its important to be accurate with this whole thing and no countries have "called a halt". They have paused rollout while investigations are made.

No-one is dismissing any claims. No-one is saying its anyone's over active imaginations. There is however a lot of concern over the usual press approach which is making people think the vaccine is bad for them.

If countries decide to pause rollout because they think it is better to see some evidence before they go on, well good luck to them. Some European countries decided not to give the Oxford vaccine to over 65s. But have now started, of course. Netherlands have cancelled 43,000 appointments because of this. If I was in the Netherlands, I'd be spitting fire, actually.

I think you mentioned Thailand upthread? Well, they've started again. They've spent three days reassuring themselves that the data shows no adverse affects, which is what everybody thought would happen anyway. See attached, from the BBC site this morning.

Well said Alegrias.

I suspect this is another non-story, just like the French over-65s one, a sensible caution until further information confirms that there is, indeed, no problem

Hetty58

I suspect this is another non-story, just like the French over-65s one, a sensible caution until further information confirms that there is, indeed, no problem

This ☝️☝️☝️. The reporting of this issue in some parts of the media is driven by its own agenda which has nothing to do with reporting in a balanced and informed way.

With dear friends in some of the countries who are waiting anxiously for a vaccine, I’m just sad that not everyone is as fortunate as we are.

We have a friend (aged 49) in Germany who caught COVID, was in intensive care for two weeks, in hospital for a further six weeks and then a month in rehab because a blood clot has meant that she is having to learn to walk again and may never regain full use of one leg.

Vaccination seems risk free in comparison.

If you read the leaflets you get with any prescribed medication you will find the list of side effects is quite worrying.
I thought a lot about whether to have the vaccine, and decided to have it. No side effects so far.
I stopped having the flu jab years ago because I was not very well for months after having them.
I do think that it is something that people should decide for themselves.

suziewoozie

With dear friends in some of the countries who are waiting anxiously for a vaccine, I’m just sad that not everyone is as fortunate as we are.

Same here Suzie. I’ve tried to reassure them but they find it hard to ignore the press!
Good post Alegrias thanks!

Maybe some countries prefer that their citizens take the risk of dying with Covid, against the the much smaller risk of dying from a blood clot after vaccination. 37 clots against 17 million vaccinations. I’m not sure whether the 37 died or survived the blood clots, maybe someone else knows.
I think these countries should give their citizens the choice to take the vaccine or not. It’s heavy handed to stop all vaccination (temporarily) and therefore deny many people the opportunity to be vaccinated. The longer the Covid virus is allowed to circulate, the more risk of further variants.

I've just spoken to a French friend in France and there appears to be no sense of urgency. Just a case of "we'll wait and see." Their vaccine roll outs aren't going too well for several reasons so this is all sounds like a convenient excuse to give at this moment in time. Meanwhile a hospital in her area is receiving covid patients from Paris because the ICUs are full there.

It’s the main item on the BBC news this evening.

EllanVannin

Well I was worried a week after having had the AZ. I suffer from A/fib and hadn't had a bad episode since December 2019 when I was blue-lighted into resus---where I stayed ( wiredup ) for 6 hours until stabilized.

A week after having had the vaccination I had a really bad episode when both arms ached as well which told me there was a clot going on somewhere albeit not a severe one as my chest wasn't affected by pain. I didn't want to call the emergency services on account of catching the virus and I'd got to a point where I couldn't have cared less if I'd died . I spent the next 3 weeks being very dizzy.

I've made up my mind that I'm not going to have a second dose of vaccine on account of my blood-clotting problem as I mightn't be so lucky next time. They don't know enough about thrombotic conditions in each individual as it's not a one size fits all with blood conditions and warfarin medication.

I have A/fib too. You mention warfarin, so I assume you are taking that as a blood thinner. I am on rivaroxaban and I didn't have any after effects, thankfully. In your shoes I would have a chat to the GP. Perhaps your medication needs reviewing. Keep well.

Sarnia yes, it's to prevent the blood from pooling in the heart chamber where it could then send off clots around the body. Obviously the pumping mechanism isn't as good as it was. I take 5mg Bisoprolol to further control the A/fib episodes.
I've already had a mini-stroke just over 3 years ago but fortunately I wasn't affected too badly with taking warfarin and statins which probably prevented something much worse.

My mum's sister had thrombosis so the blood problem is in the family.

The damage has been done, even if a link is not found people won’t believe it.

Do these countries have access to alternative vaccines in the quantities they need?

Ellianne

Do these countries have access to alternative vaccines in the quantities they need?

Pfizer but not sufficient is my understanding. I also think US hadn’t yet approved AZ but is def using Moderna

Just been talking to my Spanish friend in Spain, her sister is a doctor and is fuming that they have paused this. Apparently its an "admin" thing that if concerns are raised they have to investigate. But while they investigate, the health service is prevented from administering vaccines and so the impact on people's lives is huge. If it was just a new replacement treatment for something it wouldn't be a big deal, but this is such an important new vaccine and time is of the essence. Anyway, they are hoping it gets resolved in the next couple of days

Speaking to my European friends, the fact that the AZ is also the cheapest vaccine available, equals the less efficient and safe!

Germany and France are now pausing. What is it we are not being told?

Nothing.
There are about the same number of people experiencing blood clots after having the Pfizer vaccine.

That is about the same proportion of people as would normally experience blood clots.

I am going to have mine on Wednesday and my husband is going on Thursday. We have enough family working in medicine and pharma to trust the non profit, low cost AZ Oxford vaccine

Would those who died would have died without the vaccine ?