Mixing COVID-19 vaccines

[LunarOne]

I had my first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine 11 weeks ago and I'm booked in for my second dose on Wednesday next week. Only with all the negative publicity going on involving the AstraZeneca vaccine, I'm thinking of cancelling my second dose unless they agree to give me the Pfizer vaccine. Has anyone else managed this?

I've done some research on the efficacy and risks of mixing the vaccines, and although there's no published evidence relating to doing this with the Covid-19 vaccines yet, there is quite a lot of evidence out there that shows that mixing vaccines is a particularly effective strategy with vaccines in general.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/05/...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56730526

[anonymous-user]

i'm on immune suppressants, namely white blood cells . i've had both jabs and still alive. Yes i know it is obviously rare and happens but living is a risk anyway, ig you feel the risk for you is too high don't bother having the second one.

[wattsm666]

Out of the 242 clotting cases, only 1 was second dose.

[simoid]

The vaccine helpline were very helpful when I spoke to them. Perhaps they can assist. If you’re at a smaller vaccination centre they probably won’t have Pfizer as that’s an industrial freezer job.

I would respectfully suggest that there a lot greater risks you’ll take on the day of the vaccination than receiving a second dose of OAZ, though.

[LunarOne]

My vaccination centre does both vaccines, but not at the same time. I took mum there to have both of hers and she got Pfizer. When I went for my first and asked which I was getting, I was told that they were only doing AstraZeneca that day.

I'm overweight and on HRT so I'm already at much higher risk of developing clots than the average person, and I currently have symptoms of poor circulation that are under investigation. So while I accept that the specific risk is low, I'd prefer to minimise my risk and enjoy the potential benefits of mixing vaccines.

[simoid]

don’t know about the specifics re mixing but as I say when I spoke to the helpline they were very helpful. Ultimately it’ll be best for you to have a low stress vaccination so hopefully they can accommodate.

[isaldiri]

wattsm666 said:

Out of the 242 clotting cases, only 1 was second dose.

Mhra yellow card data states 6. And given second dose numbers are very biased to older age groups the effect of second doses will not be obvious for a while.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronav...

""Up to 28 April 2021, the MHRA had received Yellow Card reports of 242 cases of major thromboembolic events (blood clots) with concurrent thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts) in the UK following vaccination with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca. These events occurred in 141 women and 100 men aged from 18 to 93 years and the overall case fatality rate was 20% with 49 deaths. Six cases have been reported after a second dose .""

[anonymous-user]

LunarOne said:

I'd prefer to minimise my risk and enjoy the potential benefits of mixing vaccines.

interesting on that outlook, considering how there is not as much evidence for the benifits than the small amount of adverse effects fir the jab. The way i would look at it, from a risk point is if no side effects from 1st jab then probability wise, there would be less risk than mixing them.

[wattsm666]

isaldiri said:

wattsm666 said:

Out of the 242 clotting cases, only 1 was second dose.

Mhra yellow card data states 6. And given second dose numbers are very biased to older age groups the effect of second doses will not be obvious for a while.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronav...

""Up to 28 April 2021, the MHRA had received Yellow Card reports of 242 cases of major thromboembolic events (blood clots) with concurrent thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts) in the UK following vaccination with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca. These events occurred in 141 women and 100 men aged from 18 to 93 years and the overall case fatality rate was 20% with 49 deaths. Six cases have been reported after a second dose .""

Quite right, I had misread something else I think.