Pfizer versus AZ Vaccine.

The AZ was and is, my first choice (if we had a choice). I admit to feeling uneasy when the blood clots scare came out, but I believe that at my age, the chance of clots for any reason are much higher than the tiny risk of the vaccine. Anyway the Pfizer has a risk of anaphylactic shock, so we are between the devil and the deep blue sea!

I think the reason for using different manufacurers’ jabs from the original vaccination is that there will be slight differences in immune responses, giving overall better protection

I think some boosters will be Moderna too Janetashbolt. I saw about the study from Israel, and from their findings it doesn’t matter if it’s a third dose of Pfizer because it promotes ten times as many antibodies as two Pfizer doses. Good news.

MaizieD

There's a twitter thread here, looking at the comparative data, by an FT journalist who has been covering C19 from the start.

People might find it helpful. Or people might turn their noses up at it.. who knows...

twitter.com/jburnmurdoch/status/1438100712441974786

That link from MaizieD was very interesting. It does seem that protection from Pfizer lasts longer. I've also heard that giving booster of a different vaccine gives better response than "more of the same"

I had 2 Pfizer jabs, December and March, had hoped my booster would be AZ but it looks like all boosters are going to be Pfizer

I have just read on Mail Online News that an Israeli Study has found that the Pfizer booster vaccine stimulated a tenfold greater immune response than the 2nd Pfizer jab, just after one week of taking it. They are now checking how long the boost to immunity lasts.

It is curious nanna8 because all the vaccines have a tiny number people who have developed blood clots after receiving the vaccines. I understand that the numbers re AZ or Pfizer are similar.

MayBee70

Isn’t it usually young women that are at risk of blood clots and young men that are at risk of myocarditis (sp) with the Pfizer vaccine?

That’s what we have been told about az re blood clotting but they haven’t even mentioned the possible side affects of Pfizer. Curious. Perhaps the politicians have shares in Pfizer? Just an uncharitable thought.

Isn’t it usually young women that are at risk of blood clots and young men that are at risk of myocarditis (sp) with the Pfizer vaccine?

Yes Vegansrock there have been a few cases in Italy where tragically younger people died of blood clots. This dented the confidence in the AZ to the point where people fled the vaccination centres in terror when told they would receive the AZ.

In our area they are just starting flu jabs last year was the first time I had bothered to have one
We have had quite an outbreak of Covid in our town but the vaccine does seem to be doing its job those that I know about have had no symptoms or report they have had worse colds
I don’t particularly want a booster yet and presume won’t be offered until late this year I only had my second AZ in May but will take whatever is offered
Those infected that I know about are a mixture of AZ and Pfizer
Pity that they can’t get the 6 million or so that have refused the vaccination to take it up The city near to us has a low uptake and surprise surprise a high infection rate

There was an early case of an 18 year old dying of a blood clot after the AZ vaccine in Italy ( they vaccinated by priority group eg health workers etc ) which caused a pause on the AZ vaccine there and the same in some other countries. Not reported much here unsurprisingly

I received the Pfizer vaccine at our local vaccination center. I saw on the news the other night (can’t remember which channel) that British people will be receiving either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as a booster, but that a lot of AZ will be used abroad.
I do not understand why the leaders of some other countries, France, Germany, and Australia spring to mind, but I believe there were others, simply rubbished the AZ vaccine. No other vaccine has been targeted and criticised in the same way. There must be a reason but I have no idea what it could be. These are leaders of countries and Health Services who were playing with the lives of other people. Why?

I believe the vast majority of Pfizer was given through mass vaccination centres though Maw, I know in my Health Board in Wales one GP practice did it out of 80ish. Maybe just a bad theory though!

It is impossible to generalise Casdon , our local GP surgery did my Pfizer vaccination and all the people I know locally.

I’ve had another thought. If the boosters are all Pfizer or Moderna, virtually all of them will need to be administered through mass vaccination centres, not through GP surgeries. That is one way of reducing the load on GP surgeries, many of which gave the AZ vaccine, and maximising throughout as the mass centres are more efficient.

Thanks again Blue Sky. I thought that would be the case. It is a worry given that we, like you, are still being very careful and intend to do so, at least until we get our boosters. I was hoping to relax a bit and see the grandchildren but that will have to be put on hold again.

No the people I’ve heard of, who caught Covid after being double jabbed like me, were equally AZ/Pfizer. I’m grateful I was doubled jabbed, just puzzled it happened in the first place so soon, as we are retired, don’t mix socially and don’t have children/ grandchildren around.

MayBee70

I’m just trying to get some understanding of the politics behind it all. I’d love to have a conversation with the people behind the AZ vaccine to see what they really think of the dominance of Pfizer.

I’m just going to bump this up to prove that I’m not knocking the AZ vaccine. I just want to understand the reasoning behind what seems to be the dominance of Pfizer. It’s not my fault if people only half read something and jump to conclusions.

I'm actually defending the AZ vaccine if you actually read what I’ve been saying from the start. I just wanted to understand why they were giving people the Pfizer vaccine and not the AZ one. It only occurred to me later that maybe people were getting infected after having the AZ vaccine. I’m not speculating but asking if anyone has any facts and figures that I haven’t seen.

I wasn't getting at you, please don't think that MayBee70. But some people will read a comment like "people that are being infected are ones that had the AZ vaccine" and only half-read it, and that's how rumours start. And suddenly its all over Gransnet .

There's a twitter thread here, looking at the comparative data, by an FT journalist who has been covering C19 from the start.

People might find it helpful. Or people might turn their noses up at it.. who knows...

twitter.com/jburnmurdoch/status/1438100712441974786

I agree - I just get what I’m given when needed.

Might it be that it’s easier and less complicated to have different vaccine types for different uses? Scale one up for export to third world countries ( the one that travels best) and set up the domestic clinics with vaccine that need similar storage, transport and administration?

Has anyone ever worried about which flu jab they got? Or questioned a doctor about which vaccine he was using for our children? I was glad to get a vaccine, it happened to be AZ.

Alegrias1

MayBee70

Thanks. That makes me wonder if people that are being infected are ones that had the AZ vaccine.

Sorry, I just had to jump in here MayBee70.

Its just really not on to even speculate about this. All the vaccines we have are super-effective and I'm going off to find out some figures about it. It is not right to make anybody think that having the AZ vaccine means you are going to get infected and having any of the others doesn't.

Off to find the figures!

I’m actually defending the AZ vaccine if you actually read what I’ve been saying from the start. I just wanted to understand why they were giving people the Pfizer vaccine and not the AZ one. It only occurred to me later that maybe people were getting infected after having the AZ vaccine. I’m not speculating but asking if anyone has any facts and figures that I haven’t seen.