To wonder if lack of covid boosters this Autumn is government cost cutting

[Hulabalu]

And if it is cost cutting , isn’t it a short sighted one? The more people get sick the more the cost to /,strain on NHS?

And wouldn’t it be sensible to “run a please be considerate and wear a mask if you have symptoms?” campaign . Not just for Covid but a cold / cough / sore throat ?

We’ve just had it here, proper knocked us both about. Loads of our friends have had it too and it takes ages to get over - dh still testing positive after ten days and we’re both still coughing and feeling really tired.

We caught it on holiday, actually on the flight there I think and tbh I bloody wish we’d worn masks - even if we had looked inadequate (🙄 you fucking lemon).

i won’t fuck off
it isn’t about mandating it’s about reminding people to show consideration for others as part of society. I see elderly people wearing masks as they’re afraid to get sick.
But it’s more effective if those who actually sick with whatever to wear masks to minimise spread of their germs.

what do you mean by inadequate ?
why negative opinion of mask wearers ?

I wouldn't bother.
I think people are still wearing masks to avoid all germs and illnesses.
Everyone should wear a mask when they're unwell.

Oh Christ yes. Please don't suggest that we start wearing those bloody things again.

It’s because the pandemic is over and Covid isn’t a big deal to most people. HTH.

No. You'd have to hold me down and wrangle a mask over my face nowadays. That's right up there with keeping two meters distance away from other people and uninviting people to Christmas dinner to save the NHS and other batshit things that I'll never do again.

And as for having an injection to ward off an illness that everyone gets regardless, that's another no.

I’ve had it twice in the last 3 years - both times caught on holiday and both times completely different but both bloody horrible. It wasn’t a “big deal” in that I didn’t die and wasn’t hospitalised but much worse than your usual virus.

10/10 wouldn’t recommend. I’m not about to start wearing masks in Tesco again, fuck that!, but I would for travelling I think.

I’ve heard a few people say they no longer qualify but i still got mine. I just booked on the government website as usual and the pharmacy asked how i qualified (I have an autoimmune condition that puts me at risk of serious illness), and I got my jab. It was just as easy as always.

The vaccines don't reduce transmission much, only severity of disease hence why they're offered to those most vulnerable and most likely to be admitted to hospital or die.

For the majority of the population Covid won't get you admitted, or kill you. A mass vaccination programme is unnecessary according to the JCVI.

It's been a challenging October so far explaining to so many patients of mine why I can give them a flu jab but not a covid one...

@Hulabalu you have to be realistic, seeing as they are not even vaccinating pregnant women any more - the JVVI have crunched the numbers and determined that over 75’s and the immune suppressed still need it funded by the NHS….perhaps more energy could be put in to persuade older adults why they should accept the flu jab, uptake for that remains poor. You can always choose it privately if you can’t accept that the NHS has to make decisions based on finances combined with clinical evidence.

Yes, because you qualified to have it . However family member who has a heart condition , and has had a stroke due to it has not qualified because they are not immune suppressed or over 75 . Yet they were told to shield in the beginning and was eligible thus far .

So you had a heavy cold.

If you want one you can book one and pay.

I am going to book in, but we are a family who love a vaccination!

Yep OP, of course it’s cost cutting and short sighted, especially given how stretched nhs is. Yes too to reducing the overall cost of covid (and other) infections, which are costing an absolute fortune.

Yeah, I wear a mask in crowded places as I have cancer. Nice to be seen as inadequate. Honestly some people just don't think🤦

Yes I will likely pay private , I just think it’s short sighted as will cost the country more in long run with hospital admissions, long covid etc

Wouldn’t it be nice if people with symptoms just wore a mask to reduce spread of germs ? It’s not much of an ask. If I have a cough I’ll wear a mask on the train if it makes others more comfortable and I’ll keep my distance from people if I am required to go office. I actually think offices could suggest mask wearing as courtesy if symptoms

Yes I will but it’s a lot of money for me. I imagine there are people who would feel safer having vaccine but just can’t afford it. People with asthma etc.
Limiting free vaccines will end up costing country more with sickness

Nobodies forcing you to wear a mask. It’s up to you if you want to be selfish and breathe your sicknesses on to those more vulnerable or who might get unlucky . That’s on you but it’s the problem with western society compared with eastern who are more respectful and wear masks if sick without even being asked.

Issue is people like asthmatics are at risk of severe problems , even a standard cold can turn nasty for asthmatics as goes on to lungs. but they dont qualify for free vaccines. I can pay just about , but many can’t afford , so there is a health penalty for the poor.

What auto immune condition out of interest?
my local chemist gave me free flu jab but said covid only for over 75

I don’t understand why people are even testing for Covid anymore. Do we have flu tests?

Either you’re a little sick but can continue on. Need to stay home sick sick. Or you end up in hospital sick. Doesn’t really if it’s Covid or the flu.

It’s to reduce severity if you’re someone with a health condition. Some people have no health condition but get unlucky . I think it can reduce likelihood long Covid too .