AstraZeneca Any experience?

[White_Rabbit18]

I know most posters are in the States but I am wondering if any International posters got the AstraZeneca vaccine. I was ok signing up but now I am nervous because of the bad press. I guess my biggest concern is that I won’t know the difference between normal side effects and have to worry and go to the ER side effects

 

[BadPinkTink]

I'm in Ireland. The official recommendation here is that general public over 60's are getting Astra Zeneca. My mom and most of my moms friends have now received their first dose. Other than the anti vaxers , I have not heard of any over 60's holding back, there seems to be a very big up take and someone said that one of the big vaccination centres at a hotel convention centre was like a festival for old people, big turn out and people emotional at getting their first dose.

My mom has had no side effects. Like most people her age, she has health issues but most people here feel Covid and the after affects of Covid are a bigger health risk than the Astra Zeneca vaccine.

 

[NAB]

I hear you. Got got the shot a week ago Tuesday with my husband.

After the shot at 1:00 pm and I got a slight headache and the chills at bedtime. Had a restless night. My husband ran a fever and had a restless night. In the morning we were both fine but my husbands fever came back around lunch. He laid down for a bit was fine after and since. We are 58 year old.

The paper we got listed these: seek medical attention.

Shortness of breathe

Pain in chest

Swelling or coldness in an arm or leg

Persistent abdominal pain

Severe or worsening headaches or blurred vision

Multiple small bruises, red or purple spots or blood blisters under skin.

I had a slight headache yesterday when I got up yesterday but it went away and wasn’t what I call severe but I wondered at first .

 

[Aladora]

I'm in Canada and got my first AZ 10 days ago or so, as soon as they opened it up to ages 40+ in BC. I got it around noon and that night had a low grade fever and chills. I didn't sleep at all that night and took the next day off to sleep! The vaccine arm was really sore for around 3-4 days. All pretty typical side effects.

 

[White_Rabbit18]

I'm in Ireland. The official recommendation here is that general public over 60's are getting Astra Zeneca. My mom and most of my moms friends have now received their first dose. Other than the anti vaxers , I have not heard of any over 60's holding back, there seems to be a very big up take and someone said that one of the big vaccination centres at a hotel convention centre was like a festival for old people, big turn out and people emotional at getting their first dose.

My mom has had no side effects. Like most people her age, she has health issues but most people here feel Covid and the after affects of Covid are a bigger health risk than the Astra Zeneca vaccine.

Ok...I am in my late 30s so curious to see how younger people are handling it

 

[White_Rabbit18]

I'm in Canada and got my first AZ 10 days ago or so, as soon as they opened it up to ages 40+ in BC. I got it around noon and that night had a low grade fever and chills. I didn't sleep at all that night and took the next day off to sleep! The vaccine arm was really sore for around 3-4 days. All pretty typical side effects.

Thanks .... were you nervous about the blood clots?

 

[Aladora]

Thanks .... were you nervous about the blood clots?

No. I looked at the stats and decided my chances of getting a blood clot with the AZ vaccine were so much lower than getting a blood clot if I had Covid, was on birth control, or took a flight for example.

I have a sheet with the warning signs and you can bet I am keeping an eye out for any of them but as I said, the risks are so low in comparison to other factors that I'm not really worried.

 

[White_Rabbit18]

No. I looked at the stats and decided my chances of getting a blood clot with the AZ vaccine were so much lower than getting a blood clot if I had Covid, was on birth control, or took a flight for example.

I have a sheet with the warning signs and you can bet I am keeping an eye out for any of them but as I said, the risks are so low in comparison to other factors that I'm not really worried.

Do you mind sharing what is on the sheet? Thanks so much

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

I have had both doses. No side effects at all and the vaccination itself was painless.
This is the U.K. guidance.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca

 

[BadPinkTink]

Do you mind sharing what is on the sheet? Thanks so much

This is the page on the Irish Health Department website. Its probably the same info you have seen, but it might be useful to see what other countries say

AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine Side Effects

 

[Aladora]

Do you mind sharing what is on the sheet? Thanks so much

Photo of the sheet I was given:

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Parents had their first jab. Mother was fine, father just hunkered down and took it quiet for the first 48 hours afterwards but was fine. None of us are worried about blood clots. I've just had my first Moderna shot, so have no direct experience.

 

[Skywalker]

I have heard enough about this particular vaccine to make me nervous/hesitant too.
However having said that, I must say I know a lot of people (through work, friends, family, family friends, etc. etc.) that have had Astra Zeneca by now and are all, of course, just fine.
When my name comes up, I will get it.

 

[bcwife76]

I'm in Canada (also BC) and had my first dose (as did my husband) last Sunday. Within 8 hours he started feeling side effects (fever, headache, chills). He called in sick to work on Monday morning but was starting to feel better by then, still had a very low fever and was very tired. He was fine by dinner time. My side effects didn't start until 26 hours after the shot, also fever (not as bad), chills and headache. I was much better by Tuesday morning. I'm 45, he's 44. I'd do it all over again, better than getting Covid. My concern is supply or lack thereof. My province is nearly out and we don't get regular deliveries like we do with Pfizer and Moderna. Canada is supposed to get 4.1 million doses at the end of June so hopefully we do.

 

[ronandannette]

Thanks .... were you nervous about the blood clots?

The world-wide instance of blood-clotting is pretty consistently being reported at 4-per-million (1/250,000) and not all of those instances are fatal. I just did some googling and in Canada, based on 2019 statistics, the odds that year of dying in a car crash were about 1/18,000. We all do much, much “riskier” things every day than take the AZ vaccine.

Regarding side effects, I’ve been able to conduct my own little anecdotal observation in real time because including myself, 10 people I’m in daily contact with all took AZ last week. I personally had zero effects; couldn’t even see or feel the spot where the needle went in. 4 others reported basically nothing as well. The other 5 all had sore arms, one had a warm red lump, three of them also had headaches and felt run down, only one (ironically the most active and physically fit; a man aged 47) had the full gamut of fever, chills, joint pain, headache and fatigue. Not scientific by any means but a truthful account. FTR, our ages range from 41-55, three women and 7 men and none of us with any significant health issues.

 

[Nagle]

I had the first A-Z shot about 3 weeks ago. My arm was sore the next day at the injection spot and had a bit of a headache. My shot was about 2 pm on Thursday. Around 6 pm on Friday I got the chills, couldn’t get warm and could not keep my eyes open I was so tired. Went to bed by 7:30 and slept til 8:30 Saturday morning. I was fine from that point.
I am 58.
Edited to add that I am in Ontario.

 

[White_Rabbit18]

I had the first A-Z shot about 3 weeks ago. My arm was sore the next day at the injection spot and had a bit of a headache. My shot was about 2 pm on Thursday. Around 6 pm on Friday I got the chills, couldn’t get warm and could not keep my eyes open I was so tired. Went to bed by 7:30 and slept til 8:30 Saturday morning. I was fine from that point.
I am 58.
Edited to add that I am in Ontario.

Thanks... I still have a week to decide before my appointment but I am going back and forth between what to do.

 

[White_Rabbit18]

The world-wide instance of blood-clotting is pretty consistently being reported at 4-per-million (1/250,000) and not all of those instances are fatal. I just did some googling and in Canada, based on 2019 statistics, the odds that year of dying in a car crash were about 1/18,000. We all do much, much “riskier” things every day than take the AZ vaccine.

Regarding side effects, I’ve been able to conduct my own little anecdotal observation in real time because including myself, 10 people I’m in daily contact with all took AZ last week. I personally had zero effects; couldn’t even see or feel the spot where the needle went in. 4 others reported basically nothing as well. The other 5 all had sore arms, one had a warm red lump, three of them also had headaches and felt run down, only one (ironically the most active and physically fit; a man aged 47) had the full gamut of fever, chills, joint pain, headache and fatigue. Not scientific by any means but a truthful account. FTR, our ages range from 41-55, three women and 7 men and none of us with any significant health issues.

Thanks... I am jealous of the people who are already done and don’t have to worry about it. I am in my late 30s...

 

[White_Rabbit18]

Photo of the sheet I was given:
View attachment 571637

Thanks for posting. At what point, will you feel like you are in the clear from having to observe for symptoms? Two weeks? Three weeks? I guess hospitals are more aware now about complications

 

[BadPinkTink]

Thanks... I still have a week to decide before my appointment but I am going back and forth between what to do.

before you make a final decision, check out what options are available to you for a different vaccine. In Ireland, if people are scheduled for AZ and refuse, they are not offered another appointment for a different vaccine and they miss out on their allocation and will have to re register once all the age groups are open, ie September / October time