abner

Note to the Australian vaccine hesistancy police: not all of us are actually hesitant, we just want to receive the best vaccines available. And the AZ vaccine surely ain't it, for any individual of any age, whether on efficacy or safety grounds..

Not only is there an acknowledged risk of severe blood clots from the AZ vaccine--and note, there have been more deaths in Australia due to those blood clots than to Covid-19 over the past 3 months--but AZ has developed a woeful reputation with US regulators for being 'economical with the truth' in terms of their trial results, on more than one occasion.

Meanwhile, the Australian government has already announced contracts for 25M new doses of a better solution from Moderna (and more doses from Pfizer as well), while at the same time telling us we won't be free to travel abroad until mid-2022 in any case. Make me eligible for a pair of those jabs (either brand), and I'll be first in line.

Amazulu

From my own research on AZ and talking to a doctor friend, i reckon that it's okay - and I'm not going to get involved in a debate on it, but there's no question that the government has fumbled the vaccine rollout and has sent multiple mixed messages. It's interesting that the UK totally cocked up their response to Wuhan flu but have smashed their vaccine deployment out of the park - which is the complete opposite to what Australia has done

DeadVim

I waiting for the “next wave” so I can sport my “I’d rather be building my immune system” or “Chinese Health Organisation” masks as decreed by our wise overlords.

I’m not so much “Anti Vax” as more “Pro Immune System”.

Beoz

"Those blood clots". Are you referring to blood clots suspected to be caused by AZ. Or all blood clots including the many more caused by the contraceptive pill? Please make sure the response is factual otherwise as usual, I will tear false fear mongering to shreds.

I am having my Pfizer tomorrow. I would happily have AZ too. I don't really care, I just want to play my part in herd immunity.

Retirednow

Waiting for Pfizer. My specialist and GP said wait.

old.sparkles

I had my AZ Thursday - all good so far. The sooner we can get vaccinated, the sooner international borders open hopefully.

spouse of scouse

Had my first AZ booked for a couple of weeks ago, but was put on high dose corticosteroids for a health problem and had to cancel. It's not that having the vaccine is more dangerous when taking steroids, it's that high dose steroids = a compromised immune system = an inadequate immune response to the vaccine, so you're not/poorly protected from covid. Can't wait until I'm off the bloody things so I can get my jab.

paulry

Smart decision, I think. I was supposed to have had mine last week but on the day I cancelled it in favour of waiting for the Pfizer one. My wife's (also ACT based) GP suggested we wait too.

scrubbedexpat100

Husband and I have both had our first AZ vaccinations, neither of us have had any issues.

abner

Agreed.

There's another element to this as well: there are conflicting views (and no comprehensive peer-reviewed studies informing those views) as to what the effect is of mixing different vaccine types, whether from an efficacy or risk perspective. E.g. what is the efficacy and risk profile if one receives an AZ first shot, a Pfizer second shot, and maybe a Moderna booster (the only new-variant booster currently on order by the Australian government, BTW) after that...?

If you start off with AZ, are you stuck with AZ all the way?

The mRNA vaccine vendors (Pfizer and Moderna, so far) seem more likely to keep up with developing variants than traditional vaccine tech vendors like AZ (and Novavax). And *any* vendor will prioritise efficacy and safety studies that test "their" boosters in relation to recipients of "their" original vaccines, leaving 'mix-and-match' studies to follow later, funded by somebody else.

Yet another reason to wait on Pfizer or Moderna options within Australia, for those not immediately eligible for the Pfizer path.

paulry

Those are my concerns too. Do we submit to this cocktail of vaccines, trusting that those who are making them up as we go along are not doing us and our immune systems harm? Maybe since we're in this very fortunate position compared with nearly everywhere else in the world, we're better off keeping our borders closed much longer to protect our population. Then once the rest of the world has sorted out and been vaccined for all these variants and learned all the lessons there are to be learned we can then submit if we wish, to whatever turns out to be the "catch all" vaccine that is most proven to be safe and effective in the long term.

louie

I knew I shouldn't have read this thread because it would annoy me....

I've had my AZ vaccination without a second thought because I wanted to play my part in protecting my community and getting back to a normal life.

Beoz

Exactly .... There are so many things in life which present a far greater risk to one's personal health than the AZ vac. The benefits of getting this done now far outstrip the risk.

Beoz

Why do you need a cocktail? One now one in a few weeks, repeat again next year with undoubtedly altered vaccine and/or different brand.

Do you get the flu shot every year? If so how do you know the version last year was the same this year?

Amazulu

My understanding after plenty of research is that there is no issue from receiving multiple types of kung flu vaccines. In fact, according to the CMO and other sources, you may get better immunity