Under 40 in #Australia & considering the #AstraZeneca vaccine but unsure whether you should wait for Pfizer? This thread is for you.
Goal: Provide resources so that you can make an informed decision based on YOUR risk tolerance
Let's go.
PS: More resources at the end
#COVID19nsw
Goal: Provide resources so that you can make an informed decision based on YOUR risk tolerance
Let's go.
PS: More resources at the end
#COVID19nsw
1st, why consider the AstraZeneca now
👉 The Delta strain is here. It is highly transmissible.
👉On Jul 9, in NSW we had 43 cases in hospital (10 people in intensive care, 4 requiring ventilation).
👉14 people below 55 in hospital (7 under 35).
👉 2 under 40 in ICU
👉 The Delta strain is here. It is highly transmissible.
👉On Jul 9, in NSW we had 43 cases in hospital (10 people in intensive care, 4 requiring ventilation).
👉14 people below 55 in hospital (7 under 35).
👉 2 under 40 in ICU
👉 Over 14,000 contacts.
The delta strain is highly infectious. Young people are ending up in hospital. You just never know when, where, & how you'll come into contact with it.
The delta strain is highly infectious. Young people are ending up in hospital. You just never know when, where, & how you'll come into contact with it.
2nd, Covid complications/long covid
i.e. Respiratory; cardiac, renal & GI issues; loss of smell/taste lasting months after infection; brain fog.
Data show 1 in 10 people 18-45 years with COVID get long-COVID. Graphic by a pharmacist seeing long covid patients @TheAmirImani
i.e. Respiratory; cardiac, renal & GI issues; loss of smell/taste lasting months after infection; brain fog.
Data show 1 in 10 people 18-45 years with COVID get long-COVID. Graphic by a pharmacist seeing long covid patients @TheAmirImani
3rd, the vaccine works!
Public health England released data from over 4,000 cases of people infected with the Delta variant. In vaccinated people the AstraZeneca vaccine was 92% effective against HOSPITALISATION after two doses.
Public health England released data from over 4,000 cases of people infected with the Delta variant. In vaccinated people the AstraZeneca vaccine was 92% effective against HOSPITALISATION after two doses.
4th, you really do need the two doses
Single doses of either Pfizer or AstraZeneca aren't very effective against the Delta.
Let's consider this for AstraZeneca:
You get it now, get some protection, wait 2 months and get your next shot.
Time to full protection ~2 months
Single doses of either Pfizer or AstraZeneca aren't very effective against the Delta.
Let's consider this for AstraZeneca:
You get it now, get some protection, wait 2 months and get your next shot.
Time to full protection ~2 months
For Pfizer:
If *and that's a big if* you get it a month from now, you can get your second shot in another month
Time to full protection - 2 months
In other words add a month to when you think you may get your vaccine.
Plus you've spent time waiting unprotected.
If *and that's a big if* you get it a month from now, you can get your second shot in another month
Time to full protection - 2 months
In other words add a month to when you think you may get your vaccine.
Plus you've spent time waiting unprotected.
Both AstraZeneca and Pfizer are 33% effective against SYMPTOMATIC infection from the delta strain 3 weeks after vaccination with first dose.
Compare this to alpha which is around 50%.
Compare this to alpha which is around 50%.
5th & now the ugly scary bits:
We've heard of the rare but serious blood clots (VITT/TTS) that have been linked to the AZ vaccine.
These are not ordinary clots. They have long-term consequences. It's important to acknowledge this.
We've heard of the rare but serious blood clots (VITT/TTS) that have been linked to the AZ vaccine.
These are not ordinary clots. They have long-term consequences. It's important to acknowledge this.
How rare?
Data from public health England (administered millions of AZ vaccines) estimate VITT/TTS risk as follows:
1st dose: 1 in 50,000
2nd dose: 1 in 600,000
Why does it happen and who does it happen in more? uncertain at this point.
Data from public health England (administered millions of AZ vaccines) estimate VITT/TTS risk as follows:
1st dose: 1 in 50,000
2nd dose: 1 in 600,000
Why does it happen and who does it happen in more? uncertain at this point.
The medical community is aware of TTS. And it's really important that you are aware of it.
Why?
Because treatments are available & if you choose to get the vaccine you need to be aware of when & what signs to look out for. Here's a handy graphic(additional reading below)
Why?
Because treatments are available & if you choose to get the vaccine you need to be aware of when & what signs to look out for. Here's a handy graphic(additional reading below)
We need to be honest that for many young people the risks of vaccination outweighs the benefits. Here's what the scales look like if we stimulate Australia's first wave
But the benefits don't take into account:
-Potential protection against long-COVID
-Protection against non-severe COVID
-Protection you'll provide your family & community by reducing transmission risk if you get infected
-Potential protection against long-COVID
-Protection against non-severe COVID
-Protection you'll provide your family & community by reducing transmission risk if you get infected
They also don't take into account that risk changes and with a blink of an eye we can go from 0 to 100 cases. AND protection from vaccines takes time to develop (see point 4 above).
They also don't take into account changing life circumstances.
Will you need to travel to see a loved one if they fall ill? Do you really meet people in crowded indoor places? Do you have friends that work in transport? Are you seeing vulnerable people? planning pregnancy?
Will you need to travel to see a loved one if they fall ill? Do you really meet people in crowded indoor places? Do you have friends that work in transport? Are you seeing vulnerable people? planning pregnancy?
It's a really hard decision for a lot of people to make. I am under 40 & fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca as of Thursday. It will still take me ~2 weeks to get fully protected. I am really happy with my decision despite my low risk & wfh since last year.
Keep in mind that you are NOT stuck with a vaccine type i.e. if you got AZ now you're not locked to it. Canada has changed its guidelines to allow people to mix vaccines e.g. get a pfizer shot after AZ. Its possible that Australia will follow suit once supply is available
Collection of resources for pregnant women considering vaccination: docs.google.com/document/d/1Uk…
Resource for people wanting to learn more about the rare blood clots, see page 2 of this awesome document that has a lay audience summary covid19-sciencetable.ca/wp-content/upl…
Resources for pregnant women considering vaccination: docs.google.com/document/d/1Uk…
Resource if you want to learn a little more about the rare but serious clots linked to #AstraZeneca. Excellent lay audience summary on page 2: covid19-sciencetable.ca/wp-content/upl…
Data from Public Health England showing effectiveness of AstraZeneca against hospitalisation for the Delta strain: gov.uk/government/new… and gov.uk/government/new…
Please consider getting vaccinated.
#sydneycovid
#sydneycovid
And because photos of people getting vaccinated always help alleviate fears, here's @normanswan getting his second shot
https://twitter.com/normanswan/status/1414052240159956995?s=20
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