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?

Got mine tomorrow....and my flu jab at the same time....I got a text last week from my gp.... rang up and booked....it’s all been very straight forward

@shouldistop

Just out of interest, what's the difference?

The severely immune suressed get a third primary and the booster.

The rest of the population (health/care, CEV/CV, household CEV, over 50s) have two primary doses and a booster after 6 months

I rang hospital, who sent me to GP, who sent me to 119, who said it was up to the GP. I asked 119 if I would get called for my booster before my 3rd primary dose and was told 'probably'

I emailed my GP, with a copy of the letter sent to GPs by NHS England, and explained which criteria I met to be eligible. They agree I am eligible, but they said
'At the moment we are awaiting the search criteria information to be able to identify all those patients like yourself. Once we have this list, we will be referring all our patients in this grouping to the CCG who will then be in contact with yourself about booking a 3rd primary vaccine.'

So who knows wtf is going on.

I've got my appointment booked for October
.

I've heard about this through friends & family, it's meant for those people who are severely immunosuppressed, for various reasons

It seems to be classed 3rd dose all as part of the primary vaccination schedule; these people will then receive a 'booster' 6 months after the 3rd dose is given.

Not to be confused with the booster which has been in the news, to be given minimum of 6 months after the 2nd dose.

@Belladonna12

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.

The 3rd primary dose should be offered to anyone who fits the JCVI criteria....round my way, mostly seems to be GPs who are pulling this information out from their EMIS records...and then sending out texts to invite

Or to put it another way, the 3rd primary dose is an extra top up dose for those who may not have gained this from the first two primary doses.

Think the general idea behind the boosters is to extend the length of protection you’d get from the primary course of vaccinations

I am a shielder, immunosuppressed and over 50. I had a third dose at the weekend (plus my flu jab). I suspect it was because I'm over 50 and six months past my second jab tather than the immuno suppression that triggered it. It's all very confusing.

My son just got his invitation for his booster dose today (he’s 18 and CEV).

Oh and his invitation came from the GP

My DH was contacted last week and has his 3rd Vaccination tomorrow.

www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/updated-jcvi-guidance-for-vaccinating-immunosuppressed-individuals-with-a-third-primary-dose/

NHS website

Elderly neighbour who has additional health issues who was offered her first vaccine pre xmas (so first wave) has been offered third dose.

@TakeMe2Insanity

Elderly neighbour who has additional health issues who was offered her first vaccine pre xmas (so first wave) has been offered third dose.

3rd dose as in boosteR?..or 3rd primary dose? ( which is the subject of this thread) .....millions of people getting a 3rd jab ( booster);....only around 400,000 being offered a 3rd primary vaccine

My husband should be having his 3rd primary dose due to leukaemia, but he hasn’t had anything yet from his GP or consultant. I had my 6th month booster as a HCP yesterday.

In my husbands case he should get the third dose now (it should be given ideally at least 8 weeks after the second dose, but for most is closer to the 6 month mark due to the recent changes) and from what I understand a booster 6 months later.

I don’t understand this.
Vaccines are intended to provide immunity pretty much immediately and one dose should mean you are protected for years, if not your entire lifespan.
It makes no sense.

@Powertothepetal

I don’t understand this. Vaccines are intended to provide immunity pretty much immediately and one dose should mean you are protected for years, if not your entire lifespan. It makes no sense.

We are talking about patients with compromised immune systems where vaccines are known to less effective.

We are talking about patients with compromised immune systems where vaccines are known to less effective
The answer is surely then to test for anti bodies..?
Not just keep giving boosters?

My mum got a text for her third and had it last week.

And in any case, my understanding was that immunosuppressed individuals shouldn’t be vaccinated full stop?

Your understanding is wrong petal

My parents are having theirs next week along with their flu jabs, dp's sis had hers last week (immunocompromised) and my sil has hers tomorrow (on immunosuppressants)

@PastMyBestBeforeDate
Not quite.
The advice is that immunosuppressed people can’t have live vaccines.
But the Covid vaccine isn’t live.

It still seems off to me tbh

@Powertothepetal

And in any case, my understanding was that immunosuppressed individuals shouldn’t be vaccinated full stop?

You are wrong

Cev friend of mine got her third dose last weekend, her GP surgery is doing them for people meeting the criteria.