Vaccine

[EvieJo]

Hi all, I have been offered the Covid vaccine, I work for the NHS and was previously shielding. I am working but currently in a non patient facing role due to redeployment. I have concerns, I suffer from a lot of allergies and my asthma is not under great control at the moment either. Just wondered if anyone has had it and how they got on? Also interested in general opinion and thoughts on the vaccine. Those close to me think I’m lucky and should just have it. I understand their feelings but I’m sorry, I just don’t feel that way myself, I would happily let someone else have my shot. ☹️

[Poppins23]

Like you I’ve been reluctant to have the vaccine but having had to work from home again for an extended period I would jump at it. Luckily for me I don’t have any allergies but asthma isn’t well controlled at the moment which is why my GP urged that I didn’t return. It isn’t an easy decision for anyone. For me I want some degree of normality back. It’s a decision that ultimately only you can make.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi

I suggest talking to your team and asking them or give AUK a call. However on the allergy aspect, they are saying those who carry epi-pens, or those who have needed admissions due to anaphylaxis (or needed adrenaline for allergy) should avoid. That’s the only concern they have currently.

I hope this helps

[Melanie1989]

Hi EvieJo

I can understand your reservations. As far as I am aware allergic reactions are only a risk if you carry an epi pen and have had anaphylaxis in the past. Even then data suggests a reaction would be rare. Your asthma issues shouldn't be a concern unless you are on oral steroids, then there is a possibility the vaccine may not provide as strong an immunological reaction but definetly do not quote me on that, this is second hand information from my consultant 😂

I would make an appointment with your G.P or AN and go over any concerns, so you can make an informed decision that is right for you.

After finding out how the pfizer vaccine works, has put my mind at ease of having it.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

Just to add, although this isn't of course applicable to the UK currently: in the US they have shifted from 'no one should have the vaccine with a history of severe allergies [as defined by Emma ie anaphylaxis/carrying epipens]', to 'discuss with your doctor if that's you, but it's not a blanket no'.

This FAQ from AUK and the BLF about the vaccine may help: blf.org.uk/support-for-you/...

If you're worried about the speed of development compared to usual, this article may help: theconversation.com/less-th...

(Basically a lot of the usual time for drug and vaccine development is spent on non-clinical red tape and reducing financial risk if it doesn't work. They have speeded things up a lot by committing to stages that they don't usually start until they know it works. That isn't clinical - if it didn't work, they wouldn't have given it, but they'd still have had to pay for it. In contrast, usually they wait to see if it works before spending more money, and that adds a lot to the development timeline).

For what it's worth, I have severe and often poorly controlled asthma and I will absolutely be having the jab as soon as I'm invited. While I'm less worried about the ITU/mortality aspect with COVID and asthma now, I still prefer not to get the disease and potentially develop long-term side effects. My asthma is much worse now because I caught swine flu 10 years ago; I couldn't get a vaccine then because I wasn't considered at risk, but perhaps if I'd been able to it would still be mild. I also caught RSV last year which again messed with my lungs and lingered. I'd rather go for the vaccine than the illness where I can, even if it's not life or death necessarily.

[twinkly29]

My 90 year old grandma had it yesterday. Ok she's not asthmatic (but that's not a risk factor for having it anyway) but she's been totally fine. It was sweet seeing a steady stream of (often not very steady!) frail old folk arriving for their jabs, delighted to be getting it all underway. The nurse booking it over the phone only needed to know if she has an EpiPen for allergies. But yes definitely discuss with your nurse or GP if you need to.

[Js706 in reply to twinkly29]

That’s exactly how my 80 year old grandma described it when she went the other day! 😂

[Doodles65]

I am a difficult to control asthmatic ( although well controlled at the moment fingers crossed) and work in admin in a GP surgery. I was offered the vaccination and went along to have it. However due to the fact that I have a penicillin allergy which causes my lips, feet and hands to swell as well as a rash I was refused it and advised to wait for another vaccine. I have never had an epipen nor have any other severe allergies. Disappointed but better to be safe. Work will be disappointed too as it will mean working from home again if i need to go back into shielding.

[nmcv13]

I echo others positive thoughts and explanation of why it’s been developed quickly and would just like to add that it’s all about balancing risk. Nothing is risk free; I think the risk of Covid is higher than the risk of a vaccine. I know people who have lost loved ones and people who are still sick months after infection.

[Poobah]

You're a bit of a pioneer for the rest of us, but I understand your concerns. It certainly hasn't helped with the media highlighting a couple of allergic reactions. I know that the vaccine protocols are strictly observed in order to keep the patient on site long enough to tackle any reaction swiftly. So far, the patients who have a history of anaphylactic type allergies & carried epipens, didn't have that type of reaction to the vaccine, didn't need their epipens, but they did react and were kept in hospital to be treated as a matter of super precaution. I'm both excited and apprehensive about the vaccine - I'm like that with any new medication that I haven't been treated with before. I've had bad reactions to asthma meds in the past and my reaction to aspirin & related stuff is ugly, but it's temporary and treatable. That's the way I'm approaching the vaccine, cautious excitement.

[SteK78]

Well my humble opinion on this....

Others have summed up the allergy side effect really succinctly and clearly, maybe a few media types could learn something from them to be honest!

Having followed the vaccine development since April, and read from proper sources and interviews what goes into them how they've been developed so quickly – as mentioned above the reason for the speed is because of the sheer amount of money thrown at them:

• usually it'd be a case of waiting months for enough money to be raised to start research

• then time and money to develop the vaccine or whatever medication happens to be developing

• then to get the money to pay for phase 1 trials

• then to wait for enough people to volunteer for that, then time to actually run the trial

• then the same for phase 2 and 3 trials,

• then more waiting and funding for the results and studying the results

• presuming everything is ok then finding a company to manufacure and distribute the vaccine/medication

So with these vaccines the funding, costs and finding partners to manufacturer and distribute it has bene made a whole lot easier and quicker due to the money poured into them and the need for a solution to the pandemic – they have still run the 3 test trials as any other medication would do, some have run pahse 2 and 3 at the same time which is a risk to the companies as, as has happened with two recently, the results from one fo the phases haven't been as good as they hoped for, but the costs of those trials have already been covered.

Also worth notnig that the reason trials have bene able to run and get results in the timeframe is due to the prevalence of Covid in some countries, particualrly the US and Brazil, which has helped the phase two and particualrly phase 3 trials as you can get results from them quicker than if you were testing a vaccine or medication against an illness which wasn't very widespread in the community.

As I've never (yet!) had any side effects to any vaccine, only a sore arm with the flu jab couple of times, I'd happily have the vaccine today if it was offered and have a lot of confidence in it and a lot of the others in development too, there's a few in trials now that could be even mroe promising down the line including one from Imperial College, though I'd give the Russian one a wide berth for now until it's properly evaluated and reviewed independently!

[Poobah in reply to SteK78]

An excellent explanation as to why the scientists have been able to develop and deliver the vaccine within the year. Thank you.

[SteK78]

Thank you!

It's something I think should really be made clear and concisely in a permanent prominent article on various media pages ie the BBC so the message is clear, rather than just having a 2 minute segment on it on BBC news once or twice. Jonathan Van Tam did a good summary of it in one of the press conferences too but again how many will have seen that I'm not sure or whether it's still available to view anywhere