I went for my Covid vaccination yesterday and was turned away because I'd been vaccinated against something else (Shingles as it happens, but against anything - flu or whatever - will have the same result) in the previous 7 days. I was due to get the Pfizer vaccine so whether this contra-indication is specific to that or it's also applicable to Oxford/AstraZeneca, Moderna etc., I don't know. It seems that no-one at my own surgery where I got the shingles vaccine was aware of it, even though it's one of the basic screening questions. So, if your Covid vaccination is imminent, be warned! I involved the Practice Manager at my surgery and managed to get the vaccination re-arranged for next Wednesday morning...
David, I don't think this is specific to the Covid jab. Over the years owing to the job I did then I have had shots for a number of exotic diseases as well as the "usual" ones and I can remember being asked many times if I had any other jabs recently. I hadn't so was never turned away. I assume there is a risk of a bad reaction if different jabs given too soon. Mind you, back in the early seventies before it was eradicated, I had a smallpox jab which laid me low for a fortnight. Apparently it was a rogue batch of vaccine and several other folk were also affected. If that was smallpox then I am forever grateful that it has been wiped out.
I had a shot for shingles but unfortunately, I came down with it just before I got the shot! This was 8-10 years ago. The doctor started me on Xeljanz, one pill a day (don't know the dosage, yet) for the arthritis. Perhaps this will stop me from getting the Covid19 shot? If I plan on receiving it... (Knock on wood), I had the Asian flue in 1957, and haven't had any kind of flue since!
Could well be, Bob, but if that's the case then it's even more surprising not one of the five health professionals I consulted at my local surgery regarding the advisability of the shingles vaccination warned me against it in light of my impending Covid vaccination. Three practice nurses, one nurse practitioner and even a doctor on the day of the shingles vaccination... Mind you, just thinking about it now, I'm sure I received a right cocktail of vaccinations for all sorts of exotic maladies (Galloping Nile Foot-rot etc.) all at the same time, just prior to visiting Egypt...
I don't know, George. I heard from a member on CCS (who, coincidentally, received his vaccination at the surgery from which I was turned away) that there are further screening questions prior to vaccination which concern other medications but unfortunately I didn't get as far as those! I found this:- Advising individuals with allergies on their suitability for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine – SPS - Specialist Pharmacy Service – The first stop for professional medicines advice which does mention classes of drugs that are contra-indicated when being considered for the Pfizer vaccination. I note it contains nothing specific about having received other recent vaccinations so that would suggest Bob (R100) is correct, in that this is the general situation with all vaccinations rather than anything specific to do with the Pfizer one...
I also saw the advice not to have the Pfizer Covid jab if you have had past allergic reactions, which would definitely include me. There have been a number of fatal reactions to the Pfizer vaccine specifically and while the rate is proportionately low, I will wait for one of the other shots. The latest idea of mixing different manufacturers vaccines in a single dose I find worrying for this reason but for most people it probably wouldn't matter as much. On a related topic, the anti-parasitic drug, ivermectin is proving to be a very effective treatment for covid 19. There are currently a number of large scale medical trials going on in various counties to determine the exact effectiveness, dosing strategies and safety.
@ColinG I know that there has been a low rate of adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccination. In the USA the rate of anaphylaxis is around 0.2% occurring usually within minutes to hours (declining with time). No deaths from COVID-19 vaccination have been recorded in the USA as far as I know. Do you have a reference to “fatal reactions”? Cheers Tony
@AussiePete First thing I’d do is read this: FAQ: COVID-19 and Ivermectin Intended for Animals Or this: https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/625090/20201223-Evidence-Check-Ivermectin-and-COVID-19.pdf Cheers Tony
God. There is so much here to try and absorb! You have to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff. I was never any good at that!
Yes, I'd also be interested to see that. My understanding - and it could be wrong - is that there were two adverse reactions early on in the trials, neither of which was fatal. In any case, the link to the SPS I provided above is clear enough about people with allergies:- "anyone with a previous history of systemic allergic reaction (including immediate-onset anaphylaxis) to a previous dose or any component of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine should not receive it; the MHRA has advised that those with allergies, including anaphylaxis, to a food, medicine, vaccine or insect sting can receive any COVID-19 vaccine, as long as they are not known to be allergic to any component (excipient) of the vaccine." My personal view would be that the whole of the first bullet point needs to be read and fully appreciated - I've emphasised what I think are the important parts. Similarly with the second bullet point. Incidentally, I'm possibly sensitised to bee-stings but it wasn't that that excluded me last week. From what I saw of the surgery where I would have received my vaccination last Friday, It was professionally set up, properly maintained and run with all Covid precautions prominently in place and clearly being followed. I would have no hesitation in thinking that they are similarly prepared to deal with any adverse reactions that may arise. It was, and is, a doctors surgery which had been reconfigured with the sole purpose of administering the two vaccines - none of the other business of a doctors surgery was going on. I presume this is what is happening all around the country...
Roll out is being very handled professionally here in Nottingham. We took our 90 year old father for his first jab about 3 weeks ago. Incidentally, a good friend of ours Chris who is 59, just received a letter from his local surgery (also in Nottingham) to ask if would like to take part in mixed inoculation trials. The blind trial would mean that he would receive two different injections (4 - 12 weeks) apart. The trial is to determine if there is an 'increase' in protection when given different versions as apposed to just one.
Heaven knows where I saw the fatality news report.... it was a few weeks ago now if it was even real news! It's probably only a miniscule proportion in any event. I've been allergic to stuff since my earliest memories: penicillin and a few of the alternatives, zinc, soap (seriously!) some metals on watches and other items that come into contact with my skin, egg whites, latex... and more. Stuck up here in the Highlands and keeping away from people for the most part, I'll hopefully be ok until they roll out the other vaccines like the new one being made up here - forget it's name but I think it's by a French pharmaceutical company.
Hi Colin, @ColinG what you probably saw was a misinterpretation by non-believers (what that really means is they take facts out of their context, and, without giving you the whole picture they are in effect spreading fake information. Places like Facebook are flooded by "experts" nowadays, I try to not go to Facebook as often as I did as all these idiots make me bl**dy angry!). In Belgium for example, vaccination started in the homes for the elderly. Indeed, some residents died within days of receiving their first injection. However, these people were weak and ill and would have died anyway. These deaths were all investigated and none were caused by the vaccine. I for one am looking out to get my vaccination, as I kinda lock myself up in the house because my immunity system is compromised. I might have to wait longer however as it seems my treatment is one of few meds that cannot be combined with the vaccines. We'll see!
My mother (96) had the Pfizer about 3 weeks ago, & I had the Oxford on Saturday. We were both asked about recent injections & as neither of us had had any, we both got our Covid one. I’m glad to report that neither has had any adverse effects
I have not heard of anyone having any reaction (from a group of about 20 people directly known to me) - not even a sore arm. Thank you @David Shouksmith for the links, I had heard that anyone who had any allergy should not have it and was meaning to look into it shortly. Your links have answered my questions.
