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Coronavirus

Pfizer versus AZ Vaccine.

(119 Posts)
MayBee70 Wed 15-Sep-21 01:01:14

I’ve been pondering on this all night. Why is the Pfizer vaccine the one that is being widely used? It’s only a bit more effective that the AZ one and it is thought that the effectiveness of the AZ vaccine may actually improve over time. Both vaccines can have dangerous, albeit rare side effects, but it’s only the AZ one that gets lots of publicity. I thought that the whole point of the AZ vaccine being non profit making was so that the whole world could be vaccinated but that doesn’t seem to be happening. Is that why Sarah Gilbert is querying the fact that western countries are giving people booster jabs when so many people in poorer countries aren’t getting any. She’s probably thinking they might as well have made lots of money out of it which, knowing her, would have been put to good use. I just don’t understand what’s going on. Is there something I’m missing? Don’t get me wrong (and I’m being very two faced here) I’ll be first in the queue to get my booster when it’s offered as there’s no point me saying ‘give it someone the other side of the world’ as they wouldn’t be likely to get it anyway. I’m just a bit confused by it all.

Elvis58 Thu 16-Sep-21 19:30:14

Az, pfizer does it matter? All that matters is you can still catch it but will not need a hospital bed or die from it.

Alegrias1 Thu 16-Sep-21 16:02:26

Agreed growstuff.

Although since the vaccine doesn't stay around in your body but dissipates very quickly, leaving your immune system to do the job itself, I expect the outcome will be the same.

But then, I'm not on any trials. Duh!

growstuff Thu 16-Sep-21 15:48:33

Alegrias1

^So everything that anybody says is just speculation.^

At the moment NOBODY KNOWS!

Is that right? Apart from the Spanish, the Germans, the Koreans, the Russians, the Philippinos, and the Oxford team

Nobody knows.

www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/features/covid-19-vaccine-mixing-astrazeneca-pfizer/

Maybe I'm misreading that article, but I think that's about giving one dose of AZ followed by one dose of Pfizer. It's not about boosters, although I don't see why the theory should be any different.

growstuff Thu 16-Sep-21 15:44:36

Chris Smith does know what he's talking about, but the only reference I can find to anything he's said is that, in his opinion, there should be targeted boosters (which, I believe, is what is happening). In the interview I read, he also said that they will be beneficial, but we don't yet know just how long any "boosted" immunity will last, which isn't surprising. As Peasblossom wrote, nobody can know long term effects until after a long term.

Greciangirl Thu 16-Sep-21 15:34:11

I think we should all be grateful for any vaccines that we are offered.

Us oldies are very lucky to be offered a third dose.
I really don’t think it matters if they mix them up.

We are a nation of fusspots.

f77ms Thu 16-Sep-21 15:15:27

BlueBelle

It shouldn’t be a divide this is awful saying ones better than the other and all these rumours and counter rumours
They are equally safe they are equally helpful as any vaccine given in these unprecedented times can be
My friend in Africa had the China vaccine and was tremendously grateful there was none of this, mine might be 2 % less effective They took and were thankful
I think the rumours in Australia and other countries about AZ have been terrible be blooming glad we ve got what we ve got and think of all the countries that haven’t had a look in yet

Absolutely spot on Bluebelle.

Peasblossom Thu 16-Sep-21 15:02:24

Umm, that’s exactly what I said.

We know that giving a booster shot generates more antibodies.

How effective the different regimes are won’t and can’t be known till later because you can only know about long term effects after a long term

Duh!

Alegrias1 Thu 16-Sep-21 14:53:56

So everything that anybody says is just speculation.

At the moment NOBODY KNOWS!

Is that right? Apart from the Spanish, the Germans, the Koreans, the Russians, the Philippinos, and the Oxford team

Nobody knows.

www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/features/covid-19-vaccine-mixing-astrazeneca-pfizer/

growstuff Thu 16-Sep-21 14:45:44

PS. Both my doses were Oxford/AstraZeneca and I had no side effects at all. I have no idea whether they worked.

Peasblossom Thu 16-Sep-21 14:44:54

HannahLoisLuke

Redhead56

I am concerned because we had the Astra Zeneca vaccines. But the booster are not AZ I don’t like the idea of mixing the medication.

Listening to Dr Chris Smith on the radio the other night he said that giving a different vaccine as a booster from your original two jabs gives extra protection due to the different makeup.
I had AZ and will be happy to get a booster of anything.

I’m part of the trials to see whether it’s better to mix vaccines or give more of the same. And, in spite of the many experts, like Chris Smith ?, there are as yet no firm findings and won’t be for a while.

Because research takes time and gathering and analysing data takes time.

The only conclusion so far is that a booster, of an kind, increases antibodies in the blood. We don’t even know how lng for, let alone which is best.

In fact they are looking for participants in a trial of a new vaccine that combines two spike proteins. Volunteer and you will get real information by email.

So everything that anybody says is just speculation.

At the moment NOBODY KNOWS!

growstuff Thu 16-Sep-21 14:44:22

AstraZeneca didn't help themselves much right at the beginning, when it was shown that their testing was flawed. I think there's been suspicion about transparency for some time.

MayBee70 Thu 16-Sep-21 14:29:30

Buttercup1954

We also had the AZ one and were glad to get it. I feel that certain cou tries have tried to discredit AZ as they want you to take their more expensive therefore more profit for them vaccines. I feel proud that the AZ one was sold as cheaply as they could which to me seems a much more caring attitude in the middle of a pandemic. AZ should be congratulated. But in this money grabbing world we live in unfortunately that is not the case.

That is what I’ve been thinking for a long time now. So much bad publicity for the AZ vaccine.

Buttercup1954 Thu 16-Sep-21 13:13:25

We also had the AZ one and were glad to get it. I feel that certain cou tries have tried to discredit AZ as they want you to take their more expensive therefore more profit for them vaccines. I feel proud that the AZ one was sold as cheaply as they could which to me seems a much more caring attitude in the middle of a pandemic. AZ should be congratulated. But in this money grabbing world we live in unfortunately that is not the case.

HannahLoisLuke Thu 16-Sep-21 12:52:59

deanswaydolly

Had 2 doses of AZ. Experienced expected side effects. Have ME, fibro and digestive disorders. Not had flu jab for years as was really ill for 3 weeks after. Still working, worried about having a different one.Anyone else with other ailments offer advice?

I’ve had two doses of AZ with no side effects. I have Polymyalgia Rheumatica, an auto immune disease for which I take steroids. I’m very happy to have a booster if any brand if vaccine.

Tooyoungytobeagrandma Thu 16-Sep-21 12:47:17

Why worry about "mixing" vaccines? If you have an annual flu jab you are not likely to be getting the same one year after year same with antibiotics/meds etc made by different pharmaceutical companies. I had Pfizer daughter had AZ, same hub different times and grateful to get them. A neighbour, double jabbed, is still recovering from covid and is sure had they not been vaccinated would have been in hospital rather than at home. Five weeks on and is up and out but still extremely tired and weak. I still wear my mask in shops and keep my distance where I can but am trying to get back to some sort of "normal" just taking precautions that are simple to do.

HannahLoisLuke Thu 16-Sep-21 12:41:29

Redhead56

I am concerned because we had the Astra Zeneca vaccines. But the booster are not AZ I don’t like the idea of mixing the medication.

Listening to Dr Chris Smith on the radio the other night he said that giving a different vaccine as a booster from your original two jabs gives extra protection due to the different makeup.
I had AZ and will be happy to get a booster of anything.

Kate51 Thu 16-Sep-21 11:59:03

I am immunocompromised and had the AZ vaccine. My daughter, my friend and her son all got the phizer. My daughter, my friend and her son have all had covid. I have not. My friend and my daughter both were quite ill for about a week. My friend's son said his was no worse than a head cold. We are all thankful none of us got really bad and admitted to hospital. I shall be happy to take any booster when offered.

Gabrielle56 Thu 16-Sep-21 11:58:20

In days of old when knights were bold etc etc. WHO knew ANYTHING about vaccines other than medics??? The problem now is that everyone's an expert thanks to tinternet. Personally I think it's short sighted to rush into a 3rd jab when only 3% of African citizens have had even 1!!! They surely need it more than the rich west? Also it's in areas where virus is free to run unchallenged that mutations develop that can so easily be able to dodge our magic bullets, so where will we ALL bethen? I'll tell you, we'll be stuck in a permanent state of fear and lockdown regretting at leisure our greed and selfishness. I won't rush to be vaccinated a third time as I think the close to 90% protection I probably have plus good practices will suffice until the whole planet's citizens have had a chance to be protected at least once!

Alegrias1 Thu 16-Sep-21 11:47:27

but this hasn't had the world wide headlines that the clotting had with AZ.

US: www.washingtonpost.com/gdpr-consent/?next_url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.washingtonpost.com%2fhealth%2f2021%2f08%2f19%2fmoderna-vaccine-myocarditis%2f

eu.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2021/09/15/myocarditis-and-covid-19-louisville-doctor-answers-questions/8264034002/

India: www.republicworld.com/world-news/us-news/pfizers-jab-puts-teenage-boys-at-risk-more-than-covid-due-to-side-effects-says-study.html

Canada: www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/should-my-child-get-their-second-vaccine-shot-despite-heart-inflammation-risks-1.5558712

France: www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210823-us-grants-pfizer-covid-vaccine-full-approval-triggering-new-mandates

That's pretty worldwide.

Deedaa Thu 16-Sep-21 11:42:57

I'm 75 and had the Pfizer vaccine. Mine were done at my GP's surgery. Don't know yet what they'll be offering as a booster. I've only met one person who's had a bad reaction and it turns out that she has allergies which mean she shouldn't have any sort of vaccine.

Vaxxers by Sarah Gilbert and Catherine Green is a good read about the development of the AZ vaccine.

cc Thu 16-Sep-21 11:39:46

Santana

In my area the Pfizer vaccine was available first, and only in places where it could be kept at the required extra low temperature. So vaccination hubs at hospitals and a couple of GP practices.
A few weeks later the large scale vaccination centres opened giving AZ. I could book mine there or wait for GP surgery . Nothing to do with age really, just if you were higher up the list you got the first one available.
Both equally as effective, and whole thing very well organised here. Elderly people at home were given AZ by a group of retired GPs in a charitable organisation approved by the NHS trust.

Yes, we both had the Pfizer vaccination because it was the first that was offered to us, so had it again for the second dose. Other local older people had the AZ at the same centre at another time, no particular reason.
I honestly wouldn't have minded which we had, was just so relieved to have been vaccinated.
I understand that the AZ is a different type of vaccine which can be modified by inserting a "string" of DNA to make it effective against variants or indeed other viruse. I'm guessing that this means that we'll probably all have some sort of AZ vaccine in the future.

maddyone Thu 16-Sep-21 11:39:07

I think there was a reporting bias icanhandthemback but I don’t know why.

icanhandthemback Thu 16-Sep-21 11:30:25

A lot of people in the older generations had AZ and mixing the vaccinations is thought to increase immunity. That is why the boosters won't be AZ for a lot of people.
Moderna and Pfizer used amongst the younger generations but they won't qualify for AZ because of the clotting issues. Interestingly, Moderna (and possibly Pfizer) can cause inflammation of the heart for younger males but this hasn't had the world wide headlines that the clotting had with AZ. Of course there is no reporting bias...!

maddyone Thu 16-Sep-21 11:27:00

I think all medicines, including vaccines, have a tiny risk of a reaction, which includes anaphylactic shock. That’s why there’s always at least one doctor at a vaccination centre, as I understand it, and it’s usually a GP, which is one small reason why it’s more difficult to book a GP appointment.
The risks of a vaccine are so much smaller than the risks of Covid. I’ll take my third vaccine, whichever one it is, when it’s offered. At my vaccination centre we all had to sit for 15 minutes after the vaccine.

deanswaydolly Thu 16-Sep-21 11:25:11

Had 2 doses of AZ. Experienced expected side effects. Have ME, fibro and digestive disorders. Not had flu jab for years as was really ill for 3 weeks after. Still working, worried about having a different one.Anyone else with other ailments offer advice?