COVID Vaccine

[Dhinox]

Greetings All - I am new here - wondering if those of you with GCA have been advised to have Pfizer COVID vaccine instead of AstraZeneca. In Australia only those under 60 y.o. are receiving Pfizer. My application for Pfizer has been rejected. I am 74 y.o. so don’t qualify despite having a condition that pre-disposes one to developing blood clots as can AstraZeneca. So good to discover a source of information. Many thanks

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

To be honest, any vaccine is better than none. …and the blood clotting issue is considered more of a concern in younger people.Your risk of dying with COVID is much more than with a blood clot, whereas they are more likely to survive COVID, so the blood clot scenario has more relevance.

[Dhinox in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks Dorset Lady, have been told by 2 specialists to wait for Pfizer, but am getting edgy now that COVID is having more impact in Australia, although not in our state. Was wondering if there is similar advice in U.K.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Dhinox]

This is from our NHS site - nhs.uk/conditions/coronavir...

Initially the Pfizer vaccine was first off the block, and therefore given over 80s and CEV (clinically extremely vulnerable), but AZ soon came on stream, and then it was generally pot lock as to who had what in our age groups down to those in their 50s….the Pfizer vaccine has to be stored at much lower temperatures than the AZ so was generally used in bigger hubs.

I had Pfizer (not by choice, it was what was offered) but know plenty who have had AZ with no issues…..so your choice really, but personally I would take what’s available.

[Dhinox in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for your responses - slow response from me as had great difficulty with website, being a seriously electronically challenged person. Had AstraZeneca vaccine three weeks ago with no reaction so far. Wish I had ignored specialists and had it months ago.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Dhinox]

Glad you’ve had it, and with no nasty after effects.🌸

[piglette in reply to Dhinox]

Every day there seems to be stories that one vaccine is better than another and some vaccines cause this and others cause that problem. As DorsetLady says a vaccination is better than no vaccination. I am not sure a lot of these doctors know quite as much as they pretend to.

[Dhinox in reply to piglette]

Hi Piglette - certainly concur with your doctor comments, but believe I received that advice because GCA predisposes us to blood clots, and I guess it was precautionary advice from doctors who don’t really whether or not that would make us more susceptible to AZ linked clots

[membership]

Hi.. I'm in to my fourth year of GCA with its ups and downs, but I would have had any Covid vaccine rather than catch the virus. I had both AZ doses at the beginning of the year,, never had any side effects at all, and am still testing negative for the virus. Most of the MSM comments are politically motivated/originate in anti-vaccine sources.. ignore them all, protect yourself and others with a vaccine.. take whatever you can, as soon as you can!