My answer was an emphatic yes until recent events, which now make me unsure.
I understand the problems of AstraZeneca weren't foreseeable, but we went almost all in on the cheapest solution. In January, my BMI was 41, and I would have been eligible under 1b, which would mean Pfizer. Now with a BMI of 35, I no longer qualify.
I turn 50 in September, and I guess I'll get AZ then, knowing there is an incredibly minute chance it will kill me, which is a bit discouraging.
All of this has encouraged me to apply for Serbian citizenship (descent) as they haven't scrimped on their vaccination program and allow a choice of vaccines (note if you choose Moderna, you'll be waiting until October at least.) But with at least a 5-month wait for citizenship processing and uncertainty, if getting a safe vaccine is a valid reason to leave Australia, that is looking a long shot.
Pennywise pound foolish has been a constant bugbear in my life, but maybe I'm wrong as most prominent businesses and the government operate this way.
Let me say, flying half way round the world, to get a shot is crazy. An accident on the way, radiation exposure on the plane, normal non vaccine blood clots for sitting too long in the plane. Worse than crossing the Latte line in Sydney.
Other valid medical conditions here:
If you are not sure, see your doctor. When did you last have a cardio challenge test to see if you have any artery narrowings or blockages/ heart issues? Wealthy people with country retreats have them every two or so years to rule out dropping dead, unplanned. And sometimes a CAT scan calcium score. Sorry they are expensive and may not be covered on medicare.
In your weight range, dropping dead because of an unplanned hat attack is statistically much more significant compared with teeny weeny AZ risk. Dropping 6 BMI points certainly improved your overall life expectancy. For Australian males, age 88 for those alive now, is what the life tables show. Add a tad for Melbournians and non-smokers.
By Jab date, they will have probably added those who had a strong reaction to AZ, may be able to have an mRNA booster - aka mix n match. Strong means probably more than 3 days. Some report on a Friday, they feel iffy on the weekend, and OK by Monday. But some Pfizer shots also
flatten you.
If you are not a sickly person, had lots of ordinary flu jabs - no problems, had no allergies in the past, one expects lower risk. They have still not reported what these people have in common.
The rarest and most common blood types by ethnicity. My gut feeling is being B positive - you have a lower risk.
Most AZ reactions are in females. rather than say 55 for F and 50 for M, they made it one age.
Again ridiculous arbitrary fixed cutoff points. These may change as more becomes known.
Your risk appear lower for being M. Are you near a decent hospital - in the city - if so don't worry, as people now know what to look out for.
CSL has been very, very quiet why it has not released millions of locally made doses, to the point of being shamefully secretive. I would not be surprised, going forward, that the risk factor has been reduced.
I will tell you what educated boomers (50's and over 60's) are doing in Canberra. They are panicking, rushing to get themselves jabbed with AZ - 3 4 week wait. We know that if there is a uncontrolled outbreak of a variant, there wont be time to get jabbed in that time. They know if they catch long covid their long term health and ability to enjoy retirement may/will be ruined. And apart from NSW, they expect other state govts will mismanage the next outbreak, that will be a more catchy variant. And they expect this North Korean/East German communist peoples whatever international lockdown BS to get legally smashed. Getting AZ now, is a no-brainer.
