Pfizer versus AZ Vaccine.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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".

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!

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

I have ME and was pretty sick each time after AstraZeneca but not so bad the second time. I dread having a booster. Also a booster with a different vaccine. Who knows what will happen to me. But i will probably go ahead. I have never had a flu vaccine. Because some people with ME are OK but some are very ill afterwards. And you don’t know which one you will be. I think having more than one vaccine at a time is a strain on anybody. Better to space them a bit. For the individual. But better for the community as a whole and cheaper to get on with it and give them together. Vaccines do have a risk to a few people. But if they are not too many, the individual is sacrificed for the herd. This is life.

DH and I are 60 , he is CEV ( clinically extremely vulnerable ) we both received the AZ.
I would have preferred Pfizer but still happy to receive any vaccine.
I have heard the booster will be Pfizer full dose (1 vaccination ) or Moderna half dose.

Just a thought, who are ‘The elderly’? Our parents’ generation? Certainly not us!

51,281 Covid deaths were recorded between 2nd Jan 21 and 2nd July 21.

256 of these had had the double vaccine.

The median age of these was 85.

34 were immunocompromised.

So most of those who died in this period were those who had not been fully vaccinated.

Elvis58

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.

Yes Elvis hopefully. I understand that those who sadly still died most were elderly and/or with previous serious conditions.

Both of our shots were AZ and we were profoundly grateful for them.

DH (80) had the Pfizer vaccine, I (71) had the AZ one. Neither of us had any problems. We'll be happy to received whichever booster we're offered.

Also been told today that our GP practice will be doing Flu jabs in about a weeks time. If they offer the Covid booster and Flu jab at the same time we'll be happy with that too.