Would you have the jab annually if this was the only option to keep virus at bay?

[citcatgirl45]

Just discussing the pandemic with my DH and we were discussing vaccination. We have both been double jabbed and we were discussing if it became necessary to have it annually like the flu jab- would you have it every year?? I said yes (I had very few side effects from jab) he said no way (he felt ill for days after both jabs!). We are both in our 40's with no health conditions.

@SirSamuelVimes isn’t there an argument that the immunisation gained from the vaccine for some elderly and vulnerable isn’t as high as it is for other groups. So therefore it helps if other people are vaccinated too. I certainly feel more comfortable around my elderly DM now we are both double jabbed, it gives me that extra confidence. Hadn’t really thought about that in relation to the flu jab before, but will be paying for that next year if not offered it. This year has made me more aware of how vaccines work

Why wouldn't you.

[quote ineedaholidaynow]@SirSamuelVimes isn’t there an argument that the immunisation gained from the vaccine for some elderly and vulnerable isn’t as high as it is for other groups. So therefore it helps if other people are vaccinated too. I certainly feel more comfortable around my elderly DM now we are both double jabbed, it gives me that extra confidence. Hadn’t really thought about that in relation to the flu jab before, but will be paying for that next year if not offered it. This year has made me more aware of how vaccines work[/quote]
But at what cost? The NHS is chronically underfunded. The same cost/benefit analysis applied to every other drug or treatment needs to be applied to the Covid vaccination programme too. We cannot afford to fund a whole population yearly vaccination programme just because it makes people feel more comfortable. Not unless you are willing to have your taxes substantially increased to pay for it.

We cannot afford to fund a whole population yearly vaccination programme just because it makes people feel more comfortable.

If the alternative is locking down or having to expand nhs capacity, we absolutely can.

No the vaccine side effects were 10x worse than the virus

Maybe you will be able to pay for the booster like you can the flu jab, if you don’t qualify to have it for free. Will happily pay for it

Yes if I can have Pfizer! Had 2 doses of that easily and will no real side effects. Friends and partner had AZ and all felt unwell for 24 hours to a week! Also, just anecdotally, have heard of 5 people who are double-jabbed with AZ but still still got Covid in recent weeks and felt like crap. Haven't yet heard of anyone who had 2x Pfizer getting it.

I have an annual flu jab.
I wouldnt take the covid one if it is going to knock me out for 2 days each time. If the side affects lessened with exposure, fine - so I'd probably try the first annual booster. But if that resulted in 2+ days in bed, it wouldnt be something that got repeated (second AZ jab had worse side effects than the first).

No because I have scarred and I don't want my arm covered in scar tissue. I also had a reaction to my first, expecting the same with my second and then had to have a course of antibiotics"just in case". I'm not going through that every year for something that is unlikely to affect me if I catch it.

No because I have scarred and I don't want my arm covered in scar tissue.

@TheKeatingFive

We cannot afford to fund a whole population yearly vaccination programme just because it makes people feel more comfortable.

If the alternative is locking down or having to expand nhs capacity, we absolutely can.

Lockdowns don't work. Look at Australia. Melbourne has just come out of a week of full lockdown, Sydney is just going in. And that's with closed borders.

The NHS needs better funding and expanded capacity. We need to accept that this is now something that will kill people every year. Same as we have accepted the thousands of flu deaths every year. The calculation needs to be how many vaccines to keep the death figures in line with typical seasonal flu deaths.

Yes I would. Double yes as the covid vaccine would not only be about me but helping the health care system too.

I don’t disagree with your points SirSamuel but unfortunately lockdowns have been normalised by some sections of the population and the current government shows no interest in bolstering the NHS.

Ultimately I think yearly jabs would be the governments preferred approach to keeping numbers down as the other options are politically unpalatable to them. And they won’t give a flying fuck about the cost, because it’s cheap compared to the other stuff they’d have to do.

No the vaccine side effects were 10x worse than the virus

And yet here you are.

(I would, despite moderately bad side effects with AZ.)

I would if I was old enough, or had a health condition where I was eligible to get the free flu jab. I'm in my thirties with no underlying conditions and don't have a flu jab and am very low risk for covid, so no. Think I've had covid at least twice, symptoms once, but positive antibody tests six and 15 months later.

@JassyRadlett

Not quite sure I understand your point? Why would I have something twice a year that puts me in bed for 2 weeks when the thing it’s protecting me against gave me a mild cough and nothing else.

Yes I would. I also gave the flu jab every year. 🌹

"Have" not "gave"🌹

Not quite sure I understand your point? Why would I have something twice a year that puts me in bed for 2 weeks when the thing it’s protecting me against gave me a mild cough and nothing else.

I apologise, I didn’t realise you were talking about your personal experience of the virus, rather than in general terms.

I’m assuming the boosters won’t be as bad as the 2nd jab. That might just be wishful thinking. Since I know I am prone to a big reaction, I’ll try to schedule for right before the weekend so I don’t have to miss work.

Yes and we WILL ALL HAVE TO

Covid is not flu, mutations could continue to get serious

We're all going to actually need it every year unless it dies out (and by die out I mean endemic but not getting increasingly serious) - which will only happen if we vaccinate the world

Yep

‘Happily’ is the wrong word for me. But, yes, I would grudgingly, with much complaining have it.

My first dose hit me hard. I lost quite a lot of time off work and felt nauseous for weeks after. I have honestly not felt so ill since almost being hospitalise with suspected norovirus whilst pregnant.

I’ll feel a lot more cheerful about an annual booster if the second dose goes better!

Yes. I'm healthy and pay for a flu shot too every year.
I can't work and lone parent when I'm ill.

Yes.
I have annual flu and would love to have annual Covid.