3rd Covid jab

[PricklesTheHedgehog]

Anyone know exactly who will be offered a 3rd vaccination in the UK?

Would being on biologics fit the criteria?

Well, 60 certainly seems high when compared to 25... 

Hope you are offered a 3rd vaccine soon @PastMyBestBeforeDate.

You too Prickles :)
I've no idea how that figure actually translates into protection. Or what bits of my immune system do work. I'm not in any hurry to find out by experience though!

I think I might fall under it...
Chronic neutropenia. I'm on a biologic but not an immunosuppressant one

I couldn't work out how to link. The BBC have reported that the third jab for those immunologically compromised may be followed by a booster jab, so hopefully you'll get another two doses, probably different types to try to achieve the best outcome.

I don't qualify as the drugs I take are just under the doses. Hydroxychloroquine, sulphasalazine and prednisolone.
And yet I blame the long term steroids for reducing my immune response. I've just had covid, quite badly, was hospitalised and still a long way from back to normal. However the doctors were clear that the vaccine prevented it from being even worse.
I would suffer any kind of vaccine unpleasantness to avoid that again.
I imagine I will now have some N antibodies at least from having covid.
I suspect this may be an annual thing and so I so my strategy now will be to take any booster offered but not just yet.

I've sent for one of these antibody tests as it covers infection ones as well as vaccine.

@beautifullymad

I couldn't work out how to link. The BBC have reported that the third jab for those immunologically compromised may be followed by a booster jab, so hopefully you'll get another two doses, probably different types to try to achieve the best outcome.

I read somewhere that the extra jab (the one announced last week for the unlucky 500,000 most vulnerable) will be an mRNA one.

Nothing on any wider booster programme for those outside the 500,000.

And we've not heard anything about how to get the extra one, despite notification being promised 'soon' a week ago.

It's going to crash in to booked flu jabs (either give together or 7 days apart, on current guidance). Assuming the flu vaccine arrives in time for those in the ropiest health who tend to book early

I'm trying not to think about any of this, as it's just so depressing! If they'd told us how long 'soon' is, and how to work out a personal safe timetable around the flu jab (if you already have one booked) it would have reduced uncertainty considerably.

I really don't think anyone checks with patient groups about impact of the messaging

Yes nether scheduling my (presumably) 2 additional covid jabs, my flu jab, my treatment, dd's second jab and both dc's non-live flu jab is going to be fun. Two different hospitals in different trusts plus my GP.

Thanks for the info here, as looks like I fall into this category. Has anyone heard yet about their third dose? Also, to those who have taken the test to see what your immunity level is, what is considered a good level?

I've booked my flu jab but no message about third vaccine yet
Although my GP tends to forget about my condition, I only get notified for a flu jab because they have me down as asthmatic (am not asthmatic, never have been)

Just to clarify for people. Vac centres are now offering 3rd jabs and boosters. They are usually Pfizer (or moderna). AZ is not being offered as 3rd or booster. Those who qualify for 3rd jab (and later a 4th jab) are those mentioned above who were on certain immunosuppressant medication when they had their first two jabs. That’s because evidence has shown that they may not have had a good enough immune response to the original vaccines. Boosters are being offered as a one off jab to a different group, those over 50 and those who are considered ‘high risk’. 3rd jabs can be given to those who qualify 56 days or more after their 2nd jab. Boosters however can only be given 6 months after the 2nd jab. So even if you don’t qualify for 3rd jab you may qualify for a booster. Both are the same dose equivalent.
That is the current situation.

And in regards to the flu jab, it is ok to have it at any time before, at the same time, or after your 3rd jab or booster. If you’ve just have your flu jab in one arm they will put the Pfizer/moderna in the other arm.

No invitation arrived for me yet.

I'm feeling impatient as I really want to have it, but then I'm also feeling guilty knowing that in some countries, people haven't had a first vaccination yet.

Has anyone had their third primary dose?

Had my booster today

I received a text today inviting me to book my booster. Until this text, I'd heard nothing and tbh was going to wait until I was at the 6month post- second jab to follow up. My second jab was on 8th April so 8th April will mark 6 months.

So for those of you who haven't heard, I'd hope you would hear by the 6 month post second jab date.

I'm CEV, with IBD and on 125mg Azathioprine.

*8th Oct will mark 6 months

The booster jab for people over 50 has been muddled with the 3rd primary dose for those clinically extremely vulnerable people with specific conditions/medicine regimes.

The difference between the two is not being widely recognized.

I've had six months since my 2nd primary vaccination. My GP practice seems overwhelmed and is not taking enquiries about Covid vaccinations.

At this rate I'll be offered the booster before the 3rd primary dose.

This is from the Crohn’s and Colitis website.

If you know you are on the list of entitlements for the 3rd jab (not the booster) and it’s 56 days or more since your 2nd jab but you haven't received your letter yet you may wish to consider turning up at your local vaccination centre with evidence that you are on or were on the medication. Take your medication, any letter stating you are on it or a print out of your current meds from nhs record. It would then be down to the discretion of the on duty doctor at the vac centre as to whether they approve you for a 3rd jab. I say this as I work at a vac centre and my DH had his 3rd jab this way. I can’t guarantee every centre or doctor will be working in the same way but it may be worth a try.

@PineappleVision Thanks for this! It might not be needed now for me (but might be useful for others to know).

Earlier today I had a call from GP surgery inviting me for my 3rd vaccine. This was great news!

But... I need to time the vaccination so it has the best chance to work, and I can't find out this information.

I've contacted my IBD team, no reply yet (they are always massively overwhelmed and understaffed).

If anyone can direct me to a reliable source of info I'd be grateful.

I'm currently on Azathioprine 100mg plus Infliximab10mg per kg every eight weeks. I need to know when in the eight week cycle is the optimum vaccination time.

@PricklesTheHedgehog If I recall correctly, the advice is to try and get the vaccine when you are the least immunocompronised (I'm sure that was on gov.uk) but given you are on an eight week cycle, I have no helpful suggestions. It was easier to work it out for my mum who is on biologics for RA, as she gets a dose once a year (and second infusion 2 weeks after). They prioritised her covid vaccine and she then had the infusion about 6 weeks later.

I'm on 125mg aza so have decided to stop taking it (starting yesterday) for 2/3 weeks which is a short window, given I'm booked in fro my booster vaccine next Tues. I did debate getting the vaccine a little later but it's been 6 months since my last jab so I thought best to get it done sooner rather than later

At the moment they have no way of logging third primary jabs on their database. So you need to make sure they make a note, so when the system is adjusted they can log it correctly. That will then ensure you are called up for your booster after your third jab.

Still waiting for biologics team to let me know the best time to have the vaccine.

I found this on the website of the British Association of Detmatologists:

Ideally, the third primary dose should be given during periods of minimal immunosuppression. Some immune-modulation strategies lend themselves to planned vaccination (e.g. rituximab or infliximab, where vaccination is best timed at 2-3 weeks before the next infusion cycle). For many patients on long-term and stable immunosuppression, the timing of vaccination is less important. In instances where interruption of immunosuppression is both feasible and without risk of destabilising the underlying disease, the JCVI suggests that the ideal timing is 2 weeks after the period of immunosuppression, in addition to the time period for clearance of the therapeutic agent.

@lazymum99

This is just what I wanted (I've still not heard back from my hospital medical team). Thank you Lazymum99

Here's the link in case it helps anyone else.

www.bad.org.uk/shared/get-file.ashx?itemtype=document&id=7260

Sorry, I don't think that worked. Trying again.

www.bad.org.uk/shared/get-file.ashx?itemtype=document&id=7260