Third primary dose of COVID vaccination for severely immunosuppressed individuals

[LeeBowman]

My GP, Consultant, National Vaccine Helpline, and 119 all cite each other to give information about the third primary dose. No one is taking ownership, no one has the answer. Are third primary doses actually happening (as announced on national news)? Has anybody got any info about how to get them?

Definitely happening. My brother has an appointment for his in September. We are in Liverpool.

I can't get a shred of information about it, and I'm definitely eligible.

Bloody ridiculous.

@Whattheschitt

Definitely happening. My brother has an appointment for his in September. We are in Liverpool.

Is that a third primary dose or a booster?

Same boat here - no information and no one seems to know anything at all. So much for getting it in September.

I had a 3rd dose this weekend. My GP sent me a link which I used on the govt website and I had it in a big vaccination centre. It was a 3rd pfizer vaccine at the same dose and formulation as the 1st 2 I've already had.
I'm frontline NHS, not immunocompromised or shielding.

My DH had his just over a week ago however I feel really uneasy about it due to conflicting information. He's just been classed as vulnerable 18 months after being diagnosed and treated for skin cancer. His booster jab was given only 11 weeks after his second jab and at the same time as his flu jab. The news states boosters 6 months after second jab, drs say 8 weeks after second jab and the nurse who gave him his booster said 3 weeks after second jab is the earliest it can be given and that he'll have his next booster in 6 months time!!

I think that your consultant is supposed to decide on the whether you should receive a booster (before the six months) and the best timing. If your second dose was in April you should be able to book soon anyway as it will be over six months.

@glitterelf

My DH had his just over a week ago however I feel really uneasy about it due to conflicting information. He's just been classed as vulnerable 18 months after being diagnosed and treated for skin cancer. His booster jab was given only 11 weeks after his second jab and at the same time as his flu jab. The news states boosters 6 months after second jab, drs say 8 weeks after second jab and the nurse who gave him his booster said 3 weeks after second jab is the earliest it can be given and that he'll have his next booster in 6 months time!!

They have just given him an extra one then as maybe he has more chance of producing antibodies than he did previously.

4 GP friend have had third; ICU nurse friend got theirs tomo, immunosuppressed parent having theirs next Monday.

Health and social care workers are already getting theirs, half my colleagues have had one and my appt is next week. We're getting flu vax in one arm and COVID booster in the other

DH is frontline NHS and is having his on Thursday. I'm CEV and haven't heard anything, but have an appointment with my GP on Weds, so I'll ask her then. She's usually pretty hot on getting things sorted for me.

My GP has been in touch this week to arrange Oct appt. I’m CEV. I am apparently having covid fax in one arm and flu fax in the other.

Yes

‘Vax.’ Not fax! Spellcheck strikes again.

Immunosuppresed dh got his today, just got the letter on Friday too. Pretty sure it's arranged via the gp.

@Belladonna12

I think that your consultant is supposed to decide on the whether you should receive a booster (before the six months) and the best timing. If your second dose was in April you should be able to book soon anyway as it will be over six months.

Not a booster, Belladonna, a third primary jab for immune suppressed people. They're different.

I think people are confusing the booster doses which are being offered to everyone over 50 years and the extra dose that very immunsuppressed people are supposed to be getting if their consultant thinks it a good idea.

Not a booster, Belladonna, a third primary jab for immune suppressed people. They're different.

I know what they are. They are all to boost the immune system and therefore can be called boosters whether considered part of the primary jabs or not.

Just out of interest, what's the difference?

@shouldistop

Just out of interest, what's the difference?

At the beginning of September, the JCV1 decided that specialists could offer very immunsuppressed patients a third dose (regardless of when they had the second) if they thought it appropriate so that they had more chance of producing antibodies. A couple of weeks later they decided that everyone over 50 should receive a booster if it was six months or more since the second.

Thanks @Belladonna12

I have been trying for weeks to get mine. 119 and GP just passed me from one to the other. CCG eventually got back to me and I had it done on Saturday. It's been a farce.

Thanks @Belladonna12 that's clearer than what's been said to us. I actually called our GP surgery up to query it and was told oh it'll be because he had cancer and chemo but he didn't have chemo. In all honesty I'm annoyed they've waited 18 months to class him vulnerable and sending out of the blue texts and calls requesting BP readings apparently because of the meds he's on but he's not on any 🤷🏼‍♀️
He's already been signed off from the skin cancer specialist which again I was shocked at.

We're in the same limbo

Complaint to CCG (copied to MP) if something doesn't shift in the next few days.

Blood Cancer UK (apparently) has a template letter for complaining to CCGs, as so many people have been utterly failed

DH (CEV and ex-shielding) has heard nothing. We did get our flu jabs a couple of days ago.