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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.

nanna8 Thu 16-Sep-21 23:36:06

I know someone who had the Pfizer vaccine recently and ended up in intensive care with an anaphylactic reaction. The trouble is no one can predict this sort of thing beforehand. He is in his 40s and ok now but I guess he won’t be going back for a second dose.

Hil1910 Fri 17-Sep-21 00:52:47

Had AZ without any side effects and covid 3 months later as did my OH. I‘ll be more than happy to have whatever is offered as a booster.

growstuff Fri 17-Sep-21 00:58:48

nanna8

I know someone who had the Pfizer vaccine recently and ended up in intensive care with an anaphylactic reaction. The trouble is no one can predict this sort of thing beforehand. He is in his 40s and ok now but I guess he won’t be going back for a second dose.

The rate of anaphylactic reaction to the Pfizer vaccine in a number of studies is about 5 per million doses administered, so he was extremely unlucky.

nanna8 Fri 17-Sep-21 02:42:53

Did those of you who got Covid after the vaccinations have a milder dose of the virus or was it really bad ? We haven’t got experience of that here because most of us have only just got our vaccines.

rosie1959 Fri 17-Sep-21 06:00:59

nanna8 I have never had Covid but do have a few friends who have managed to get infected after vaccination symptoms have varied from none at all only picked up by a Lateral flow test to mild cold or flu like symptoms that would normally pass them by without much thought No one I know has been really ill

NanaAnna52 Fri 17-Sep-21 07:54:36

Have any other post menopausal women had any inter uterine bleeding after the vaccine? I am 69 years old, 18 years since last period. I have been on hrt all this time, with no problems whatsoever. I had the first vaccine and 8 weeks later, had a 6 day bleed, which was exactly like a period, (bought it all back!). Three months later, I had the 2nd vaccine and 2 weeks after, had another 3 day bleed. I saw my doctor after the first episode and have various tests...pelvic ultrasound, smear test, blood test...all normal, no reason found. I see postmenopausal bleeding is not mentioned in side effects, though I have read of heavier/messed up periods linked to it in around 6,000 women. Would be really interested to hear back if this has happened to others.

rosie1959 Fri 17-Sep-21 08:10:58

NannaAnna I was menopausal when I had my vacination age 62 ( late onset menopause at 60) I noticed some of my symptoms lifted may have just been coincidence

ayse Fri 17-Sep-21 08:26:41

NanaAnna52

Have any other post menopausal women had any inter uterine bleeding after the vaccine? I am 69 years old, 18 years since last period. I have been on hrt all this time, with no problems whatsoever. I had the first vaccine and 8 weeks later, had a 6 day bleed, which was exactly like a period, (bought it all back!). Three months later, I had the 2nd vaccine and 2 weeks after, had another 3 day bleed. I saw my doctor after the first episode and have various tests...pelvic ultrasound, smear test, blood test...all normal, no reason found. I see postmenopausal bleeding is not mentioned in side effects, though I have read of heavier/messed up periods linked to it in around 6,000 women. Would be really interested to hear back if this has happened to others.

They are currently doing studies on younger women who have experienced this side effect and the initial results suggests that this is not harmful.

Having said that, it seems strange to me that any vaccine produces this side effect. It’s not natural and therefore no booster for me of Pfizer but AZ would be acceptable.

The scientific community cannot possibly know of long term side effects, just a best guess.

Alegrias1 Fri 17-Sep-21 08:31:37

"The scientific community" do not make "best guesses".

They predict using evidence and knowledge of their subjects. There's no "guessing"

ayse Fri 17-Sep-21 08:32:43

I forgot to mention that as part of Biobank I did a test in August to check if I had antibodies having had the AZ vaccine with no post vaccination symptoms twice in late winter 2021. The test came back as having antibodies. I understand that no reaction means you have a strong immune system but I may be wrong on that.

ayse Fri 17-Sep-21 08:33:51

Alegrias1

"The scientific community" do not make "best guesses".

They predict using evidence and knowledge of their subjects. There's no "guessing"

Ok, so they predict but this could also be incorrect!

Alegrias1 Fri 17-Sep-21 08:45:57

As a former member of "the scientific community" I find it quite insulting that modelled forecasts and the use of years of experience in a topic are referred to as "guesses".

Hil1910 Fri 17-Sep-21 08:49:26

nanna8

Did those of you who got Covid after the vaccinations have a milder dose of the virus or was it really bad ? We haven’t got experience of that here because most of us have only just got our vaccines.

Yes it was mild for both of us and we had different symptoms. My husband lost his sense of smell and taste and I had a head cold.
I should add that I’ve also had anaphylaxis and was treated with kid gloves by the staff at Washington Nightingale Hospital when I had both of my jabs. I had no reaction to my AZ vaccine

BlueSky Fri 17-Sep-21 09:03:37

nanna8 we had mild symptoms, a dry cough and feeling unwell, but no high temperature. My DH had the loss of smell and taste but I didn’t. It took about three weeks to feel normal. I was disappointed to get it so soon after my jabs but on the other hand, grateful I had had the vaccinations. Hopefully now we’ll have extra immunity.

nanna8 Sat 18-Sep-21 10:01:01

Thanks BlueSky, Hill 910 and Rosie1959 for your comments. Helps put my mind at rest . They sometimes mention that most hospitalised Covid cases here have not had any vaccinations but not all, there are some who seem to end up in hospital who actually have had the jabs but mostly only one, not two.

rosie1959 Sat 18-Sep-21 10:04:54

Good to know it has helped nanna8 In my mind I have to trust the vacination or there would be little point in having it in the first place

BlueSky Sat 18-Sep-21 12:21:23

Yes nanna8 apparently the majority of those hospitalised with Covid after being jabbed were elderly and/or had serious pre existing conditions. This still leaves a tiny percentage of people who were not elderly or with conditions.

Smurf52 Sat 09-Oct-21 23:15:37

I read that AZ cost £3 per vaccine while Pfizer is £15.