Phil Brown’s sick of being treated like a second-class citizen because he had AstraZeneca

Those of us who have had AstraZeneca are a little sick of being treated like second class citizens by people who have had the other shot and feel superior, writes Phil Brown.

Okay so I had the vaccine that dare not speak its name. But I’ll speak it anyway. AstraZeneca. There, I said it. I’ve had both jabs of Astra and I’m fine. Thanks for asking.

And I’m sick of being treated like a second-class citizen just because the other one with the silent P is more fashionable. Oh you had Pfizer and you feel special? Get over it.

I had Astra and I’m still human. Those of us who have had Astra are happy to have had it and we want to be treated fairly and not discriminated against.

“If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?” With huge apologies to William Shakespeare.

People wait in a queue to receive their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Picture: Linh Pham

But the point is that there is this snobbery abroad that somehow we’re not up to it because we had the less fashionable vaccine. And this is perpetuated in the media at large.

Now I have no medical expertise at all (though I go to the doctor a lot) but let me tell you that I think that if more of us had AstraZeneca I think Queensland would not be lagging so far behind in the vaccine race that wasn’t a race but now is a race. You with me so far?

Phil Brown is loud and proud of his decision to get AstraZeneca. Photo: AAP

The whole fiasco wasn’t helped when our state’s leaders reflected a vaccine hesitancy about AstraZeneca despite medical advice and evidence to the contrary that the risks are minuscule.

Okay I’m sure Pfizer is terrific but just because you had it and I didn’t … so what? You feel better than me?

I said this to someone not an hour ago and they responded that yes, they were better than me. A joke with a kernel of truth in it.

Vials of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Picture: AFP

Soon we’ll have a new lot of people feeling superior, the Moderna crew. They’ll probably look down their noses at people who have had AstraZeneca and Pfizer. Moderna will be the new black, no doubt.

It is ridiculous that there are people out there risking life and limb when there is plenty of vaccine available to them right now.

Okay I know there are others who won’t get vaccinated at all (nutters) and that’s a problem. As for the rest, get a jab of any description and get it sooner rather than later. Because if you do we may be able to get back to some semblance of normality.

I really don’t care what sort you get. If you’re a dedicated Pfizer devotee, well get that one but just get one! And don’t judge me. I had AstraZeneca and I’m loud and proud about that. Deal with it.

Originally published as Phil Brown’s sick of being treated like a second-class citizen because he had AstraZeneca