Hi everyone just wondering what everyone is doing about get the COVID 19 jab? I’m booked in for my first dose but having second thoughts with the blood clotting that’s happening, I am over 60 so I’m ok to get it but unsure.

Statistics are just that...numbers. I'm not too sure where your figure of 99.98% survival rate originates, but according to the Johns Hopkins statistics, the mortality rate in the USA for people who've contracted covid is 3%. Not 3% of the entire general population, but 3% of people who have tested positive. I have three medical conditions (aside from the cancer) and also was treated for a brain aneurysm. Each of the three conditions have a roughly 40% mortality within ten years of diagnosis. The one affects 5 per 100.000 people, the second one 20 per million people, the third 4 per 100.000 people and the type of aneurysm I had affects 2.4% of all intracranial aneurysms which affect 4% of the population. The percentage of 2.4% of 4% is 0.00096%. Oh...and the breast cancer is 1 in 7 in Australia...used to be 1 in 8. I'm the lucky one who has struck the jackpot with all of these which probably explains why each time I've been admitted to hospital, I have a line of students wanting to do their "long case studies" with me. (It comes up on an internal computer). I've been swooped upon by quite a few of their professors too for teaching purposes. I don't mind, if they learn something that refutes the old chestnut in medical circles of "If you hear hoof beats...think horses, not zebras". The lecturers say to the young students...."Behold...a zebra". These highly qualified doctors have kept me alive well past what was expected, so I think I'll stick with their advice. Each person is responsible for their own decisions regarding their medical treatment and I respect that.

The thing is that people need to understand that blood clots form in a number of different ways and for differing reasons. In the same way, coughs are caused by different problems, and the treatment differs too. You don't treat an asthma cough with antibiotics, and you don't treat pneumonia with ventolin. I'm a bit more knowledgeable about blood clots as I have a condition called antiphospholipid antigen syndrome. This makes my blood "sticky". I've had two pulmonary embolisms and multiple DVTs in both an arm as well as in the legs. I take warfarin daily and have done for over twenty years and will do so for life. My INR (degree of blood thinness) is kept very high and I walk the tightrope of risk of severe bleeding on the one hand, and further blood clots on the other. My husband had a massive heart attack over ten years ago and takes Plavix and Cartia to prevent further clots. He can't take my meds, and I can't take his. The method of blood clot formation is different, as is the cascade of events at a cellular level that poses a risk to us both. The clotting problem with this vaccine is different from both what he and I are at risk for. I've had a good discussion with my rheumatologist, a professor at a major Sydney hospital regarding vaccination, and he has told me that, even for me, with such a track record for life threatening clots, I should still have it, because if I did get covid, that would probably be it for me. My husband spoke to his cardiac specialist as well, and was given the same advice.

Everyone has to make their own decision. While I'm grumpy about the AZ, a little because of the potential side effects but more because of it's efficacy compared to other vaccines, I will still get the shots. I have heard too much from people I know overseas to want to risk our community. I did sit on the fence for awhile but not because I thought that the stories of severe illness and death in the media were untrue - I know from friends and family that they are very true. More because I was waiting for the okay from my oncologist and to see the early effects of the rollout. It is becoming more and more likely that we will have a major outbreak here if the herd immunity is not there. So many countries that have done well, have fallen. I've gone through enough with BC and do not want to get ill, nor to be the weak link that passes something on to someone who cannot withstand it.

For those of us fortunate enough to be in Australia at this time, it seems that we are not being asked to do a great deal - in comparison to many places overseas. The last great flu epidemic claimed, as a conservative estimate, between 17 and 50 million lives worldwide. Given the population was much smaller then, the impact was immense. Many of us have flu shots, which are not without risks. Having had cancer, we know that the unexpected can happen. This coronavirus is called novella because it’s new (not a flu strain) and we don’t know yet what it can or may do. I am happy to have my shots (one already), and wear a mask when asked, to keep all of us as free as possible of the virus. This may be a longer road than we think.

I have chosen to be vaccinated having spoken with my family in UK and understanding the devastating effects it was having there. I am fortunate that it was offered through my work due to being in a support role in healthcare. I was expecting to receive the AZ vac as I am over 50 but ended up with the pfizer vac (i would have had either).1st dose - sore arm at point of entry for about 24 hours, 2nd dose a bit more of a reaction, about 15 hours in, woke up with headache and chills as well as painful arm and a bit of a fever. This lasted about 24 hours but went as quickly as it came with the aid of panadol and rest.I am now fully vaccinated as the wait was only 3 weeks between jabs, I feel that it has given me confidence should there be an outbreak here and benefits outweigh the small period of side effects I felt.Understand as per many posts above everyone needs to make their own decision, I am happy with mine and just wanted to share my experience on this post.

COVID 19 jab | BCNA Online Network

195 Replies

Halla
Member
5 years ago
Next update: side effects gone! 👏🏻 So 24 hours, then over.
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Halla
Member
5 years ago
Oh yes @afraser good point, side effects are annoying but I am very proud of myself that I have done my bit. They are a small temporary price to pay.

My 85 year old father and his partner had no side effects whatsoever.
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Afraser
Member
5 years ago
Feel good! Today’s report that nearly a third of the Australian population don’t intend to get vaccinated is alarming. Added to those who genuinely can’t, we won’t have sufficient immunity to avoid a third wave if and when we open up (which those who won’t vaccinate also seem to want!). And it won’t be the over 80s who are the only ones at risk with a third wave, just look around the world . For those of us who have realised we have something wrong and might die, the vaccination risk (inherent in any vaccination) has never seemed to me to be too big an ask in a pandemic.
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Halla
Member
5 years ago
Update: I had the AZ jab yesterday and today I’m feverish, nauseous, aches and pains, shivers, have a bad headache, and a sore arm. Also really thirsty and have funny smell to pee. I had a spa and sauna last night and think I may not have drunk enough water, so I recommend keeping extra hydrated after the jab! Bummer! I’ll live though, I’m just going to take it easy today and have Panadol. All the symptoms are listed as quite common so I’m not worried just annoyed that I’m one of the unlucky ones to get them!
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Sister
Member
5 years ago
Okay - I'm booked in for the first one in a few weeks time. Still not sure how I feel about it, though.
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Halla
Member
5 years ago
I had the first az jab today. So far so good!
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Afraser
Member
5 years ago
@Caz1

Well done, hope you have few, if any, side effects! Mostly those I know have had a day or so of being a bit tired and achey, one had a bad headache for a few hours, but nothing too worrisome.
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Caz1
Member
5 years ago
@Afraser that’s great to hear about the QR codes becoming uniform!

I wear my mask out everywhere, except when walking the dogs. And am diligent with my QR check ins. Many aren’t. Not sure why, all it takes is a couple of positive people and we are off again.....

So, had my jab today. Very well run at local medical clinic,great solidarity with many fellow citizens.
My only peeve was I didn’t get a sticker afterwards! ;)

Sigh, yet another excellent excuse to add to my long list for being a lady of leisure this weekend :D

Caz xxxxxx

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June1952
Member
5 years ago
All sounds as if men stuff up our lives on all levels ..
Any women involved in the decision-making must have no clout .....
End of ......
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Romla
Member
5 years ago
@BlackWidow QR code usage has improved markedly here since police have been vetting businesses and imposing fines .
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COVID 19 jab

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