To think anyone should be able to get the Covid boosters if they pay for it

[goaskmum]

So, a new booster is coming soon but it will only be provided to vulnerable people.

AIBU to think that if non-eligible people want it also that they should be allowed to get it from the likes of Boots as long as the pay for it just like non-eligible people can do with the flu vaccine?

I’ve had my two primary doses my booster dose and going by the eligibility criteria for the fourth dose, I’m not eligible for it and may never be (unless they open it up to everyone at some stage) but I wouldn’t object to getting it to protect myself even more.

I support the fact that there are no more covid restrictions, I hated them the same as everyone else and I’m glad they are gone I hope they never come back but I think it’s unfair that if you want the vaccine you can’t get it, I’d be happy enough to pay for it and have it.

YANBU.
I used to be a vaccinator but since January the demand has fallen so much I am not needed. Literally a few patients per shift were attending.
My Dad is 77 and is having his 4th dose tomorrow but my Mum who is 72, obese with hypertension won’t be offered a 4th. I’d do anything to get her another, especially as Covid is the most prevalent it has been at the moment. DH and I have just had it, my second time. Certain DS has had it but didn’t test him because he hasn’t had symptoms. Let us pay for a booster please!

I'd definitely pay and know my parents in their early 70s would do too!

Two tier healthcare is not the answer. Those most vulnerable but not eligible are highly likely to be in low income groups, they can't afford to pay for boosters.

Campaign for better protections for those that need it.

For those that would pay, what is your cut off point? You can get another vaccine if you travel to the UAE.

@Bickles

YANBU. I used to be a vaccinator but since January the demand has fallen so much I am not needed. Literally a few patients per shift were attending. My Dad is 77 and is having his 4th dose tomorrow but my Mum who is 72, obese with hypertension won’t be offered a 4th. I’d do anything to get her another, especially as Covid is the most prevalent it has been at the moment. DH and I have just had it, my second time. Certain DS has had it but didn’t test him because he hasn’t had symptoms. Let us pay for a booster please!

Thank you for all your hard work, if it wasn’t for people like you I dread to think how this pandemic would have panned out!

Yes, I totally agree! I’m not vulnerable at all but I would absolutely take a fourth jab just in case and to help protect my vulnerable family members / friends.

I get that some people think all these boosters are ridiculous, but they don’t need to have them if they don’t want it but I think the option should be there for those who do want it, even if they aren’t eligible.

I mean, I’m not eligible for the flu jab, but I’m not automatically blacklisted from getting it. I can just pop into my local Boots and get it, albeit with a fee attached to it!

I don’t think you should be automatically barred from getting this new covid booster

I don't think YABU at all in theory OP, although in practice surely it would only be reasonable if it were available at the same time for those who couldn't afford to pay that cost, on a means tested basis. Those with underlying health conditions may (in most circumstances) be covered by current policy but low income families (or those not yet diagnosed with the relevant conditions) wishing to protect loved ones or themselves would presumably not find that cost manageable.

I think it's also worth considering that we don't really know the efficacy or longevity of ongoing boosters, movements of future strains and so on. Logistically if cases continue to rise perhaps in the near future additional boosters will be offered, or made annual as with the flu vaccine.

I am ECV and would still prefer any extra vaccine availability be diverted towards developing countries to protect populations and ensure their first and second vaccines. Most people who have had their available vaccines here who are not clinically vulnerable are not currently at a high risk of serious illness or death.

Hmm I mean that system wouldn't really be fair for people who desperately want their elderly parents booster vaccinated but can' t afford it. It would be better if boosters were made available to everyone over 60. I would happily have another booster (30s, overweight, otherwise healthy) too but can cope with not having one.

@Flowersandhearts

Hmm I mean that system wouldn't really be fair for people who desperately want their elderly parents booster vaccinated but can' t afford it. It would be better if boosters were made available to everyone over 60. I would happily have another booster (30s, overweight, otherwise healthy) too but can cope with not having one.

I think OP was suggesting it be like flu - so vulnerable people would get it for free, just extra people who wouldn’t otherwise get it could pay for it.

Yanbu
I'm 47 so I assume I'll have to pay for my booster soon. I pay for my flu jab too.

I'm quite willing to pay, just like I did for flu (got a free one this year because of my "vulnerable" household, dp is over 50 just)

We'd happily pay for one each...there's no point vaccinating my DH (who is 60 with heart issues) and not me.
If cases continue to rise, there may well be a(nother) U turn and it will be offered more widely.
The "grey pound" I hate that expression still has a big impact on the economy, and the economy is all this Government of the Talentless is concerned with.

i assume my disabled adult child who lives in a care home will get it.
I won't be eligible, which is daft as I visit them and they come home.

I don’t think, ethically, the UK can make covid vaccines available privately due to global supply. I know a couple of countries have but I can’t see our government touching that one with a barge pole whilst there is still some pressure to roll out vaccines/boosters in other countries. Production of vaccines has a ceiling.

In other circumstances I’d absolutely pay for a vaccination along with the flu one that I already pay for routinely. I’d probably get the flu one anyway but I reason at the moment dd gets a live flu vaccine through school and I’d rather get a vaccine before that.

My concern is if the rollout for older people and those who CEV is slower if there is an option for payment.

If you don’t have a weakened immune system, why do you feel like a booster will make any difference to you?

Agree with above poster that it is more important to get the rest of the world their initial jabs.

@Samcro
@pussycatunpickingcrossesagain

There is definitely a point in vaccinating your vulnerable people even if you aren't. Because the vaccine isn't that good at stopping you getting Covid. So another booster would make you less likely to get it and hence pass it on. But not that much less likely.
The main benefit is to the vulnerable vaccine recipient; if they get covid, the chance of serious disease is then reduced a lot. And for a person with elevated risk that is a big reduction.

Having said all that there is an argument that more jobs would mean a lower background infection rate, which would also protect the vulnerable a bit. But there will come a point where you just won't get a return from a booster for most people. So I kind of suspect that there will be booster waning and the main adult population will get another jab at some point. Maybe tailored to new variants too.

YABU - we do not. We do not need a two tiered system during a pandemic.

You need to get the booster to those who are most at risk first, rather than going to the people who provide the greatest profit for Boots/whoever.

I vaccinate people in my spare time, pretty sure the 4th will be offered to other groups in time , same as the others were.
There was a drive to get the 3rds done by Xmas which is why it opened up as it did.

Quite a few people with seriously impaired immune systems have already had their fourth dose (second booster call it what you will) and the UK is now rolling out another dose to the next tier of vulnerability.
It has been known for some time that vaccination does not stop someone testing positive and then passing the virus on to someone else so vaccinating fit healthy people is not such a priority.
China and Hong Kong did not prioritise vaccinating their older members of society and now have high death rates despite two years of lockdown (although perhaps their government wants it this way)

I’d bet my house they’ll open it up to further groups on the nhs in time. I have no problem with the concept of people buying stuff the nhs won’t give them - chickenpox vaccine for kids springs to mind.

But just letting people repeatedly buy covid boosters when they want to because they think more boosters is always better doesn’t make sense to me - the fact an 85 year old care home resident is being offered a booster on nhs (because they’d benefit from it) doesn’t mean that a 30 year old person with no underlying conditions would necessarily derive any benefit at all. I don’t think they’re being held back because the nhs is being cheap, I think they’re being held back because most people don’t need them right now. Many people only got their last booster just before Christmas!

Plus, they really ought to be giving first doses to people abroad who’ve not yet had access to anything.

There are people in the world who haven't been given one vaccine yet, they should get one.

I think they probably will in the end. It just might be something to do with the supply chain. The government bought up in advance millions of vaccines. The big companies - Pfizer, moderna etc have got orders to fulfil with governments who are distributing the vaccines.

I think maybe it's a case where they work out contractually that they get priority before private companies start to sell.

Also I think globally there are still alot of issues with vulnerable people not getting the vaccine in countries like Africa and India - they probably haven't even had their first dose. Countries like the UK would look very greedy taking vaccines for the wealthy, leaving people abroad with none.

I'm guessing they'll just need to work through these things from a supply perspective and also an ethical stand point.

Once it's been sorted then it will be made available privately like the flu vaccine, I'm sure.

I wouldn't be surprised if there's something like 'for every vaccine you buy we help a child in Africa get boosted', type campaign. It will just take some time to get there.

They may even be looking at how to make it work privately I.e should it be the same as the cost of a prescription, or more in line with the flu jab. Currently alot of the vaccines have been administered by volunteers or a country wide effort - that type of set up can't continue. So what set up and cost will it be. Will pharmacies like Boots and Lloyd's be set up to deal with demand.

I just suspect there might be alot of things governments and companies like Pfizer and distributors will need to think through. But I'm certain we'll get there with it - maybe not this year though.

No I don't agree. It should be rolled out in the way that the vaccinations and boosters were previously. I can afford to pay but I don't think I should be able to jump the queue.

@Cornettoninja

I don’t think, ethically, the UK can make covid vaccines available privately due to global supply. I know a couple of countries have but I can’t see our government touching that one with a barge pole whilst there is still some pressure to roll out vaccines/boosters in other countries. Production of vaccines has a ceiling.

In other circumstances I’d absolutely pay for a vaccination along with the flu one that I already pay for routinely. I’d probably get the flu one anyway but I reason at the moment dd gets a live flu vaccine through school and I’d rather get a vaccine before that.

Availability of vaccines ceased to be a constraint a few months ago. Astra Zeneca announced they were reducing production in India below what they were capable of, because of lack of demand.