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Original poster

So are we all getting a booster in Autumn then?

69 replies

OnTheBrink1 · 28/04/2021 19:38

Just seen the news that Hancock has ordered 60m Pfizer doses. So is that all the adult population given booster in the Autumn?
Will that be alongside the AZ that most people have had do you think?

OP posts:
Abraxan · 28/04/2021 19:50

The article I read just said the vulnerable, which I assume would include elderly too. Maybe the priority groups 1-9? Or maybe those eligible for the flu vaccine?

garlictwist · 28/04/2021 19:51

A lot of people haven't even had one vaccine yet. Autumn seems early for boosters.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 28/04/2021 19:53

I haven't even had my first yet!

mrsknottschicken · 28/04/2021 19:54

JVT said they hadn’t decided who would get a booster yet. But I’d hope it would be the whole of the adult population. I think we might need to do that to stay on top of variants. Maybe not forever, but for now. And then maybe it would just be for those that get the flu jab.

If not, I’d hope that anyone who wanted a booster but was not eligible would be able to pay for one, once the priority groups were taken care of. Although you have to draw the line somewhere, I think there’s a huge difference (risk wise) between a 45 year old and a 30 year old, for example.

GiveMeNovocain · 28/04/2021 19:55

I'll do what's advised for a healthy 42 year old. They might just give boosters to the vulnerable or widen eligibility to reduce spread. Happy either way.

Original poster
OnTheBrink1 · 28/04/2021 20:09

Ok- so if it was a booster of the Pfizer (as has been ordered) is that ok to mix the two? I didn’t think mixing vaccines had been trialled yet?

OP posts:
CovidHalloween · 28/04/2021 20:13

Mixing vaccines is in trials at the moment, I know because my neighbour is part of the trial.

Earlgrey666 · 28/04/2021 20:14

Are the boosters basically the same vaccine as already given or are they going to be tweaked ones to deal with variants?

I assume they will try and vaccinate all adults starting with the priority groups again and work their way down?

dementedpixie · 28/04/2021 20:16

I might have had my first one by then!

FlattestWhite · 28/04/2021 20:21

the Pfizer ordered in this batch is apparently not a tweaked version for variants, but the same as the one now, according to the BBC. There is some thought that giving a third vaccine of the same original variant again will still help against newer variants.

They said also in the article that CureVac is one that can be tweaked for the variants, and that there is something like 50 million of that ordered ( but it's a 2 dose one)

It doesn't sound like there is enough of either of them to do all the adults (how many is that? 50 million or so?) either with further Pfizer, or something tweaked for the new variant, unless some of the other ones are also tweaked. So I wonder how they will decide!

I'd very much like to be in the group that gets another one and/or one for the variants, even though I was only group 6, so not sure I would be if they only do groups 1-4.

MRex · 28/04/2021 20:23

The UK government are just hedging their bets again so that even if only one vaccine supplier works against some odd new variant everyone can get a booster, or so that even if only one vaccine works for children it can be offered. And so that if supplies are constrained they can give out a bit of everything.

I expect immune suppressed will need a booster, there is evidence that some drugs such as infliximab seem to interfere with creating antibodies (I'm only naming that as it was in the news yesterday, no idea if there are others or other studies underway). Then there are the dribbles of people who won't get a vaccine until they see covid deaths or illness for themselves, then randomly want a first jab in November. As for vaccinating everyone, it depends what the regular antibody testing shows; it most people still retain immunity then unlikely they'll re-jab. If it fades for all then boost for all. Most likely it'll fade for people with specific conditions and the most elderly / frail; whether they jab them all or do blood test to decide who to jab will remain to be seen.

FlattestWhite · 28/04/2021 20:23

I also think it will be harder to organise giving out that much Pfizer; they've partly been able to go so fast at first because AZ is easier to do in some of the centres without ultra cold storage etc. And all the mass vacc centres won't still be there in the autumn. So it might take much longer than the 3 months it took from late Dec-March to do the vulnerable again.

Abraxan · 28/04/2021 21:02

The mix is currently in trials.

I believe it's a Professor Snape,who,is doing the study on the vaccine boosters, including the mix of manufacturers

partyatthepalace · 28/04/2021 21:06

If needed. That’s what they are prepping for.

DarceyDashwood · 28/04/2021 21:27

@Abraxan

The mix is currently in trials.

I believe it's a Professor Snape,who,is doing the study on the vaccine boosters, including the mix of manufacturers

Imagine being called Professor Snape! Iconic! 🙌
Original poster
OnTheBrink1 · 28/04/2021 21:47

Yeah love the fact there is a professor snape how cool.
Ok so I see, it might be a top up of Pfizer but the same one that on offer now rather than tweaked.
Will be interesting to see if people who have already had AZ go on to have a Pfizer booster

OP posts:
RoseWineTime · 28/04/2021 22:48

I’m on in the original mixing trial and it is professor Matthew Snape who is leading the trial 🧙‍♂️

neveradullmoment99 · 28/04/2021 23:14

@Earlgrey666

Are the boosters basically the same vaccine as already given or are they going to be tweaked ones to deal with variants?

I assume they will try and vaccinate all adults starting with the priority groups again and work their way down?

I read they weren't tweaked for the new variants.
neveradullmoment99 · 28/04/2021 23:15

Well I am in my 50's and due to have my second vaccine in late June. Will I really need a booster in August?

ChocOrange1 · 29/04/2021 06:19

It's taken months to give everyone their jabs, surely they won't be able to do boosters for everyone. By the time the last person had theirs they would have to start all over again.
If they have to tweak the vaccine, it seems unlikely that everyone would need the new one. Vaccines may be less effective against new strains, not completely ineffective. So a healthy young person would be fine with the original vaccine which gives some level of protection, and just give the booster to elderly and vulnerable individuals.

millenialblush · 29/04/2021 06:22

Its not a 'booster', it's the same vaccine. People will just be revaccinated.

Sally872 · 29/04/2021 06:30

Professor Leitch (Scotland briefings) said the vaccine gives you covid antibodies, not Pfizer (or AZ) antibodies so it is not unreasonable to give different brands of a vaccine when talking about possibility of different vaccines for 1st and 2nd dose. Made sense to me.

Nodal · 29/04/2021 08:21

I've had 2 doses of AZ. I'd be quite happy to get either the tweaked AZ as an autumn booster or the Pfizer. They will produce slightly different antibodies with slightly different abilities to attack the coronavirus so the more antibody soldiers in my army, the better for me.

Dementedswan · 29/04/2021 08:36

I wonder if the booster will be available to everyone who wants one or just groups 1 to 4.

QueenStromba · 29/04/2021 08:37

@OnTheBrink1

Yeah love the fact there is a professor snape how cool. Ok so I see, it might be a top up of Pfizer but the same one that on offer now rather than tweaked. Will be interesting to see if people who have already had AZ go on to have a Pfizer booster
If you've had two doses of AZ then you'll need to have something else as a booster anyway as efficacy would be highly impacted by antibodies against the adenovirus vector. There's no tweaking for people who've already had it, it would have be a whole new vaccine that would probably have to go through trials again.
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