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 ?

😂

I haven't been entitled to an NHS Covid jab since they were universal but last year I discovered Carragelose based nasal sprays and used one 4 times a day throughout the colder seasons and I do feel it has made a massive difference. Last year I used a Lemsip one but they seem to have stopped making it so I am using a Boots own one this year.

People in the office were coming down with all sorts of respiratory infections but the worst I got were times of 24 hours of very mild symptoms. They spray stops the virus replicating so it doesn't fully take hold, and more important to me, it means I am much less lively to bring it home to others in my household.

There have been some study on it in 2021 as prevention using staff in Covid wards and the results were very positive ( pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8493111/ ) but surprisingly I can't see there have been any other studies replicating it.

If you want to wear a mask then YOU wear one!

Bigger problem is that many pharmacies aren't offering private jabs, so when the patient is told they aren't eligible for the NHS booster, they just have to walk away, meaning a completely wasted appointment slot.

At the pharmacy where I had my private jab (a private independent one), they had two streams, one for NHS and one for private, different consulting rooms, different staff, a nurse doing the NHS ones and the pharmacist himself doing the private ones.

There was someone there who'd been told he wasn't eligible for the NHS jab trying to get the private one instead, but he was told he had to make an appointment to come back a different time as the nurse doing the NHS ones wasn't doing private ones!

I think an awful lot of appointments/time is being wasted due to the NHS rule changes and lack of publicity/notice that the criteria had changed.

I have a lung condition and have been hospitalised for respiratory infections before but not offered this vaccination. I think N95 grade masks are protective. I'll probably use those for public transport. I'm allowed to wfh if there are lots coughing in the office. It's worrying for me.

I work in the NHS and I'm really annoyed that we don't get a free covid jab this year. Apart from everything else, selfishly I don't want my whole team to all get sick this winter - it will affect productivity despite the recommendations that it doesn't affect sickness rates anymore.
I will have mine privately but of course I can't ask my team to.

We (NHS in England) are offering Comirnaty KP.2 this autumn which is the same vaccine pharmacies are offering as far as I know. It’s the most recent vaccine available in the UK to protect against the most recent strains.

I’m not aware pharmacies have any newer vaccine available.

Just about everyone has had it in the last couple of weeks in the school where I work, including myself.
Parents ( including medical staff) send pupils in, knowing they have Covid and say that’s what everyone does now. All very well, but I have now had it six times and it’s not pleasant. Still I should be safe for at least 3 months now. Meanwhile my Father had his, along with his flu jab and he hardly ever goes out…..

Yes I remember reading this study. I use First Defence I’m if I’m going on public transport and if I’ve been around ill people.

LP8.1 vaccine is available. I’m not sure how widely it’s available in pharmacies though.

This.

I’m not spending my life hiding behind a bloody mask.

I'm 52 and I had my covid and flu jab together last week but I unfortunately am severely immuosuppressed.

Gosh all these covid minimisers and conspiracy theorists don’t know how lucky they are , keep on keeping on PP X

I cough with allergies, I'd be wearing a mask all year round!

DH has an issue with his white blood cells and platelets and I wondered if he'd be entitled to the Covid vaccine but he's not been told he is. I have a needle phobia so I'm glad I'm not entitled, at least I don't have to make a decision!

I will thanks. I just think if you’re sick you should consider wearing a mask too to protect others from your germs 🦠, but if you want to be selfish and inconsiderate then that’s up to you

People can determine themselves if they’re allergic or sick. If it’s allergies then mask not needed

not your whole life, just consider wearing one when you’re sick

Yes I’d only recently heard of this one; it seems on googling that some private pharmacies are offering it but not all. I guess it’s a cost/availability factor. Too new to have been pre-approved for the autumn/winter programme in time for rollout.

Personally think it should be available to those who want it.
Also, it should be available earlier in the school term.
2 members of our department have been ill for 3 weeks. Both tried to come in but shouldn't have been very ill. Only passed on to rest of school.
Several others have been off too. Not great.
Lack of ventilation doesn't help. Can't open the windows in my department.

Vulnerable member of department got covid before vaccine

do you think it helps to keep windows open in class and perhaps use a first defence spray if you start to feel like you might be getting something? Sorry that teachers aren’t better protected.

This sums up the catastrophic stupidity of the NHS in a single example. Everything is reactive instead of proactive and preventative.

Well yes because you fall into the eligible criteria (75+, care home resident or immunosuppressed) - so of course it’s easy for you!

But all those with diabetes, asthma, COPD, heart disease etc no longer qualify - they have illnesses but are not immunosuppressed as a result of them.

If I told you I run the medical room, that I see 50 plus students a day and I am located in the middle of the school, with no windows, would you believe me? I have pointed this out, but there is no money for new buildings…..

Im sorry to hear this, it doesn’t seem fair. Can you get some air purifiers ? Keep door open as much as possible.

I got an invite for DS who’s autistic even though he’s not immunocompromised. I use to have them as his carer but this year Ive not received a message.