To consider paying for a private Covid immunisation?

Money

My gp won’t write it either for some reason. He’s put ‘viral disease’ 😑

Why couldn't she write covid?

Yup if you can pay for it and worried then definitely do it - I am thinking of the same later this year (and I am in my 40s) - caught covid in Jan and was sick for 2-3 months so if this offers a bit of protection why not? Just like the flu jab.

I'm in London too, a lot of covid here, a lot of people off work, a lot of GPs writing weird and wonderful things on sick notes because they have been told not to put "covid". Or they think they have, or something, I'm not sure of the ins and outs.

My GP said I couldn't return to work, but she couldn't write "covid" on a sick note, so she went with the symptoms, which was low oxygen sats, and breathlessness. That is what was written on the sick note, instead of covid, just that I was low in oxygen, and it was making me breathless

There is certainly a lot around here right now. But I have relatives in other areas, such as Yorkshire, who tell me there is a lot there too

I'm in London, have just got Covid for the third time and know loads of people who have it now /very recently. The latest strain is nasty and I'm definitely paying for a vaccination as soon as I'm well enough.

Especially when they just let loads of doses expire

Because they realised that being vaccinated doesn't stop people getting it and spreading it, mostly people are no longer dying from it for whatever reason (personally believe that is due to the natural changes in the virus) and, therefore, the costs of mass vaccination programmes were deemed to outweigh the benefits.

I would presume because of cost

I will be doing exactly this in the autumn. Currently sick with covid, day 8, trying to work but brain is like mush. Nothing good comes of getting covid over and over again, just a damaged immune system and poorer health outlook. Feel really angry that we've been denied covid vaccines in the UK for last 2 years. In most European countries you can still have one if you want one even if not eligible but in the UK it's a hard no if you're not eligible. Crazy. I know many people don't want to be vaccinated - and that is absolutely their choice - but those of us who do want to protect ourselves have been badly let down imo.

Why has general immunisation stopped, I wonder?

I'm 61 and had a private jab in April. Currently have Covid for the first time and am very glad I was boosted as I'm feeling pretty rough anyway, and imagine it would have been worse without.
If you can afford it, go for it. You're not depriving anyone else.

@beckybarefoot yes I had the original lot of jabs. I’ve never had it before to my knowledge. I’ve also passed it to two of my kids. We’ve had to cancel a holiday as well as too ill to go

Yes why not, if you can afford it.

I'm over 65 so had a free Covid jab last October. In December I got Covid and was ill for 3 weeks. So I wouldn't assume that vaccination will help enormously - it might, it might not.

did you have the original jabs? how many times have you had covid?

I’m 39 and have it at the moment ( lots of positive tests) I am definitely thinking that going forward I will pay for it. I’ve been ill for ten days, probably the most ill I’ve ever felt in my life. I’m starting to get really anxious and depressed that I won’t ever feel better. Whatever this strain is it’s bloody brutal. I’ve never knowingly had it before

ah i see... so its a bit like the flu jab... some get it on the NHS and some don't, those we don't pay for it if they want it I do pay for it £15 or something every year because every member of my household have it free and as the only healthy person i have to pay for it because if i didnt who looks after me when i'm ill.

then that actually makes it worse... companies profiteering!!

There is a reason why covid jabs have not improved since they were originally devised.. like the flu jab, sometimes they work, sometimes they don't and i certainly wouldnt be paying £100 for 1

@beckybarefoot The private one isn’t better ! It’s the the same ! But most people these days are not entitled to a free NHS one not even people like me who were originally CEV . Why on earth do you think it’s snake oil ?

I had mine at boots, I didn't qualify for the NHS one but travel on public transport, dh has hospital appointments and I am going on holiday soon.

what makes you think the private dose is any better than that of the NHS? surely if there was something out there better by now, it would be available to all not just those who can afford it.

everyone is coughing and sneezing this time of year.. its summer, the pollen count is up ontop of the years we all had hiding behind masks, so there are bugs and germs out there which our bodies are not immune too.

covid is here to stay, like the common cold and flu. yes you can have a flu jab, and most of the times it works and sometimes it doesn't.

if you are worried, rather than pay for snake oil.. wear a mask and practive hand washing

Would you have taken it if it was free? If so and you can afford it, then seems sensible. To PP who said there's not much covid about, we are in a covid wave right now!!

It’s absolutely rampant at our university this month, we lost a load of staff in the same week. I’m currently WFH with suspected Covid (I can work from here but have the most dreadful cough so not inflicting it on the office). I don't have tests to hand but have the classic cough, temp, no taste etc. My team has had 20% off.

I have hayfever too and that is also bad but hayfever does not give you a fever. And a fever in this weather is fecking awful.

My friend was at Ascot. A few days later thought her hay-fever was playing up.
Antihistamines didn't help. Yesterday, she felt awful did a test and she has covid. She tested as her mother is CEV.