Vaccine choice is ‘take it or leave it’ and most are taking it

IT is “take it or leave it” when it comes to which Covid-19 vaccine you are offered in Derbyshire, with the majority choosing to “take it”, say health chiefs.

Local leadership says there has been an increase in patients opting out of their second vaccine appointments but this has remained low.

Dr Robyn Dewis, Derby’s public health director, has said the risk of blood clots from the Covid vaccines is far less than the risk of blood clots from the virus itself.

The virus presents such an issue around blood clotting that health staff often have to administer blood thinners to patients suffering with Covid.

Dr Steve Lloyd, executive medical director at the Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “There is news about the

Astrazeneca (and Oxford University) vaccine in particular and would that have an impact in terms of second vaccine uptake.

“What we are tracking at the moment is a six per cent missed second vaccine for Astrazeneca compared to three per cent with Pfizer and Biontech.

“That is a really good figure – in other areas of the Midlands you’re looking at 18 per cent, so the work we have done in terms of engagement has significantly reduced that vaccine hesitancy.

“At an individual practice level you will have these queries coming through about ‘is there an alternative that people can use’

“But, fundamentally, there is not a choice on this on an individual level, this is dictated by national supply,” he added.

“Saying it bluntly it is take it or leave it – but actually the people who leave it are very few indeed. Uptake is very solid and very substantial.”

Health chiefs stress that all of the approved Covid vaccines are thoroughly tried and tested and have been declared safe.

“Assurances can and will be provided by staff at your vaccination appointments.

“They reiterate that the benefits far outweigh the risks.”