How do you feel about the prospect of annual boosters?

[Bonifacethethird]

Just curious really. I know that the flu vaccine is given annually, but when news of the vaccines came out, I think a lot of people would've been imagining it to be a one (well one two dose program) and you're done type of vaccine?

Topical because Chris Hopson (boss of NHS Providers) was on TalkRadio yesterday saying annual boosters will likely be needed for the next five to ten years:

mobile.twitter.com/talkRADIO/status/1406887551634444288

I don’t think that’ll be a surprise to anyone considering how much it mutates. I don’t have an issue as I receive a flu vaccine every year anyway. Will be interesting though if they plan to vaccinate the population rather than the vulnerable as they do with flu vaccine

Expected. Why wouldn't there be, the bugger mutates?

I'm fine with boosters.

I don’t bother with the flu jab and probably wouldn’t bother with a covid booster either - unless they made it really convenient, such as vaccinators coming to my workplace rather than I having to go to wherever.

I suppose those who are worried will make the effort to get a covid booster just as they get a flu jab every year, but I think uptake among other groups will peter off fairly quickly.

It was publicised from the start that boosters would be very likely; the only question being how often.

Fine by me.

Probably be like the flu jab... You get I free if in the risk groups or care worker etc, or pay a tenner at Boots for the rest of us.

Expected it. I pay for a flu jab every year (working lone parent).

Great idea!

Grateful to live in a country where this could be an easily accessible option and very relieved at how well the vaccines seem to work. Things could be a lot worse!

We've always known they'd likely be needed. I'd be fine with them, it makes sense to protect yourself from mutations.

I've had the flu vaccine since having a child, partly because I'm getting older and partly because I don't want to be that ill and have to parent.

I think mass scale boosters won't happen just because of the logistics, it has taken a huge amount of money, time and goodwill for the main rollout to happen. As a pp said I think it will end up being a bit like the flu jab with certain groups getting it via the NHS and others a PAYG if they wish.

I think we will all be given boosters every year for the first 2 years maybe until we have the data of how much immunity the vaccines give and last for, once we see more data on transmission and deaths after vaccines. Then perhaps once the world cases drop enough, it might be given just to the vulnerable and anyone else will have to pay for it like the flu jab.
I think I'd take it until uk cases are extremely low

It would be nice if it could just be combined in with the flu jab. I would really rather not have a jab every single year, let alone two.

If it's done in a nasal spray format I'd happily take that, it's the injections I don't like.

Completely fine.

It depends if there is any vaccine dividend.

At the moment, for low risk groups, there is no discernible advantage to having the vaccine over remaining unvaccinated.

Once we can travel again, that might change, but the government needs to make it worth our while, given how awful the side effects of the jab are.

For context, I know 5 people, (similar to to me Heath and demographic-wise) who have tested positive for covid and all were totally asymptotic bar one who had very mild symptoms, far milder than my vaccine side effects.

Not a problem. I get the flu jab every year and having a COVID booster wont take more than half an hour of my time.

No surprise there. We have known this all along. It will be like the flu jab. I don't have that and probably won't have the CV19 jabs either.

Only if they've fully unlocked from the initial vaccination drive first. Until all of those rules are gone - no more needles or nose sprays for this family!

More than happy to have whatever booster is needed

Thanks for your replies. Most people happy with boosters then - a few people saying they wouldn't necessarily take them up and a few points about incentives being needed.

My own feeling is that I had so much anxiety around the initial vaccine that I don't relish the prospect of going through it again next year. Clearly I'm in the minority there though

I have the yearly flu jab & would be fine with a booster - expected it really.
I imagine more workplaces might start mass booster vaccinations like they do with flu jabs if it looks like Covid will become a dominant winter respiratory illness to limit time off work.

@Bonifacethethird

Thanks for your replies. Most people happy with boosters then - a few people saying they wouldn't necessarily take them up and a few points about incentives being needed.

My own feeling is that I had so much anxiety around the initial vaccine that I don't relish the prospect of going through it again next year. Clearly I'm in the minority there though

But presumably much of the anxiety is related to it being new and unknown? Once we have a much broader picture of the real risks associated with covid vaccination, a lot of people’s worries will be alleviated. Between 10 - 30 people in the UK die every year from complications directly attributable to the flu jab, but most people eligible for the flu jab still take it without being overly concerned.

I am still struggling with abnormal fatigue 20 days after my second jab, and it was two weeks at least after my first too, so I am worried about boosters being needed.
I suppose there might be the option of getting antibodies tested and only having a booster if necessary?

I’d be fine with a booster. Probably keen to get one actually. I want to protect myself for my DD more than anything else. If, at 45, I’m not considered eligible for one, I’d be happy to pay for one like I do with the flu jab.

I get the flu jab free every year. Wouldn't bother me, in fact I'd expect it