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Ask HN: Would you go for a Covid shot not recommended in U.S. & your country?

by p1anecrazy on 3/31/21, 3:20 PM with 8 comments

Instead of just reading about I'm currently actually facing this choice and would like to get some unbiased advice. I was following the conversation too much and got too emotionally involved but now need a sober decision.

I live in Berlin and have just received an invitation to do a shot. According to the local rules, you can choose the brand of vaccine, but in reality it means doing AstraZeneca in a week or BioNTech in two months.

I would prefer to do BN 'cause it seems more advance, safe and too support local science, but remember a lot of public medical advice to vaccinate as soon as possible to help the population. Due that I was ready to do AZ, however, our local medical regulator (The Standing Committee on Vaccination) has just prohibited the use of AZ for anyone younger than 60.

The third option - that I would rather avoid - is going to Moscow to do the Russian shot. While I'm against it in general (due to logistic reasons and lack of proper early stage testing), I'm not sure if I'm just rationalising my preconceptions.

If AZ is still available, what would you do?

  • by pndy on 3/31/21, 4:09 PM

    Two months waiting for Comrinaty in Berlin vs nobody-knows-when-and-if-you-will-have-a-choice in Poland isn't that bad but if you decide to wait you're risking being infected in the meanwhile. Also, I don't think it's worth risking going outside own country just to get shot by desired formula.

    I'm bit concerned about AstraZeneca especially after reported yesterday name change to Vaxzervia [1] which sounds like a PR stunt done to save company's face since previous name is busted due to the blood clot issues - at least that seems to be the idea. At the moment people around 70 are being processed here - my mother got Pfizer's formula 1st shot today and next is due May 5th; I expect I'll have no choice but to take AstraZeneca or wait as I said, nobody knows how long. The sorta 'funny' thing is I'm living near the distribution centre in the middle of Poland where vials are being shipped around the country.

    [1] - https://www.brusselstimes.com/news/eu-affairs/162559/astraze...

  • by richeyryan on 3/31/21, 3:44 PM

    I'm in Ireland and I'll definitely take the AZ shot when it's offered to me. I think AZ absolutely bungled their part of the vaccine delivery unnecessarily undermining the public's confidence in their vaccine but for the vast majority of people it's safe.

    If I was given a choice, which I won't be, I might choose another vaccine but my wife is type-1 diabetic and pregnant so I'm taking any vaccine on offer.

  • by injb on 3/31/21, 3:40 PM

    By the time you travel to Russia and back you will probably have exposed more people than if you just stay at home and wait. I wouldn't touch a vaccine that has any doubt surrounding it, personally. Covid is not that bad for the vast majority of people. Just stay away from people as much as you reasonably can.

  • by ketamine__ on 3/31/21, 3:22 PM

    AZ is perfectly safe. Do that and then do Pfizer when it's available.

    Going to Russia seems a little extreme. If your personal situation is that dire you should be staying inside and not leaving the house.