To consider paying for a private Covid immunisation?

Strongly support this. I had covid last autumn, testing +ve exactly 5 days after being on a packed tube.

But surely this just goes to reinforce the position that it seems to be pot luck?
There are people who had no vaccines and got seriously ill saying they regret not having the vaccine.
Then people who had no vaccines who barely noticed having it so say they're glad they didn't have it.
Then people who had 7 vaccines who have been getting seriously ill each time saying they think they're pointless.
Then people who had vaccines saying even though they were seriously ill the vaccines helped because they're not dead.
Then people who had 7 vaccines who have hardly noticed having it who say this proves the vaccine definitely worked.

Everyone is mainly going by their own experiences. If you know lots of people who have had vaccine issues then that will put you off vaccines. But if you know lots of vulnerable people you'll be more pro vaccines.

I know 2 families who have had people with severe vaccine issues who to be rushed to hospital and have been told to not have any more vaccines now. Both their families now all refuse any boosters etc.

Everyone's experiences are anecdotal and rightly or wrongly that's mainly what the majority of people go by when making decisions.

Anecdotal, but me, my exDH, and my DF have all had every booster going (I'm about to have my 7th) and none of us has had covid once. I'm also pretty sure my exMIL hasn't had it either.

We sort of cancel each other out.

The pollen count is really high at the moment, so lots of people have hayfever.

@bobaloo are they around young kids? Nurseries and schools are pretty much unvaccinated, yet have lots of covid.

YANBU.

Also: do consider wearing a high grade mask on public transport... Covid is airborne and hangs in the air like smoke. Fabric or blue surgical masks are ineffective, you want FFP2 or FFP3 grade to stop covid getting entry to your airways. Oxford Uni study on masks here

Anecdotal, but of people that I'm around, the ones who get the boosters get covid semi regularly and those who don't seem to avoid it. My elderly inlaws kept getting ill until they stopped getting boosters.

@CherubEarrings

Yes, I'd get it. I'm planning to as we have loads of trips and guest this summer and I don't want to be ill or pass something on if at all avoidable. For what it's worth, my mother is a doctor and is recommending the Novavax one. Apparently it's a traditional vaccine that has minimal side effects and was very effective for the last strain, anyway. My DH had the Novavax one last month as he was about to be working on a group project where they were all in prolonged contact and said he had zero side effects, not even a sore arm.

I’ve got COVID right now. I feel so unbelievably rough. My baby has it too and he’s struggling. I intend to get the vaccine going forward.

Definitely get it privately, you will be so annoyed with yourself if you catch it and it makes you ill and isolated. You can still catch it with a vaccine obviously but you should get a milder version with a quicker recovery. While you’re at it, you should get the shingles vaccine too on the NHS if you can ( I think you need to be 65).

I had a booster early May via NHS. HD not eligible so no booster. (We are pensioners, BTW)
Went on a cruise holiday abroad late May, DH got ill with Covid - he felt awful - brain fog, dreadful cough etc.. I got it 2 days later, felt mildly ill for a couple of days. By the time the holiday finished 75% of the people on board were coughing!
Anyway, I am fine, DH 's cough (which was nasty) is finally receeding. His brain fog lasted about 10 days.
I'd suggest getting the vaccine for free if you can, otherwise seriously consider paying.

cFS:ME symptoms can come after any insult to the system not just a virus.

I got ME twice from Covid vaccines. The second time was really bad. Then l got Covid and have now got Ling Covid as my immune system was so knackered from 3 insults in a row. Well actually 4. I got Covid after the first vaccine.

l hate Covid. I think people underestimate it’s danger, particularly with regard to long COVID. More and more people are going to end up with it. I don’t know ANYONE who found it like a cold. Dd 17 tested clear on Tuesday after it. She still can’t sleep and had wobbly legs and tummy pains.

Ds 27 was ill for 10 days with it. I had it 10 days both times and totally wiped out in the first 4 or 5 days.

I just wonder how people who catch it repeatedly (9 times or so) are going to be like in 10 years. When they’ve had 27 times.

Do it. Just had the latest batch of Covid and it has been truly unpleasant. Nearly two weeks and I’m still not right - other half had it the week before me. Two healthy 40yo’s and we were both wiped out.

Really wish we’d got the jabs (and that enough other people had them to actually provide some flipping coverage).

Absolutely no way. I'd much rather take my chances with covid than let that vaccine any where near me

Covid goes for certain people, for reasons unknown.

Well no, there are lots of well known reasons why some people are more at risk of severe illness

• diabetes
• heart condition
• age 70+
• overweight
• high bp

Etc

I had covid 8 months after the early AZ vaccine (the one they later suggested wore off) and was very unwell for a week.

I then had second vaccine (modena) and had covid since and it was extremely similar to the various other cough/cold viruses i typically get 2-3 times each winter.

I'm really sorry you're so unwell.

All HCPs I've seen re my ME-CFS (diagnosed) agreed it seems to have been triggered by shingles. Nearly all cases begin as post-viral syndrome. In your case, I wouldn't blame the vaccination but the disease.

I hope your health improves; I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy (on second thoughts, I would!) My only advice to you is to rest - more and for longer than you think you need

If you want it, and can easily afford it, then why not?

(sorry to tell you this, but they are free for everyone in my country)

I definitely would! I tried to book one yesterday, in fact, but NOBODY in my county is doing them 😢I've got COPD and spent the first five months of this year flattened by Not Whooping Cough. I'm still poorly and don't want bloody Covid.

If you can get one, prices seem to vary from £40 to £100 depending on provider and vaccination.

Neighbours stayed with family in the Cheshire area. Brought it back to N Wales, husband then caught it and shared around the family. None of us use public transport. So it's not that to blame.

Not sure where you are but there's a lot of it in NW of England. They're blaming this FLiRT variant or whatever it they're calling it.

I've just got COVID now for about the 6th time. I'm fed up of it now, it seems a bit worse each time (although short lived). Not old enough for additional vaxx so also considering private now. Personally I think they should off it to all health and social care staff, and school staff, for free.

I dont understand your point, no, why would anyone invest millions, and thousands of research hours into a vaccine for a cold, which is inconvenient at most, and anyway the vaccine would only protect from less than 0.1% of colds?

thousands of which are corona viruses.

One of which is Corona virus

We have never made a vaccine for the common cold.

colds are caused by thousands of different viruses

Does it stop you getting it? Being ill with it? Transmitting it?

I know someone with a huge infection number for COVID and she's well vaccinated.

We have never developed vaccine for the common cold.