Plans for Autumn COVID booster jab

[Lynnikins]

Here are the current plans for a booster jab.

news.sky.com/story/covid-19-who-will-get-a-booster-coronavirus-vaccine-first-and-when-12370724

[quote IndigoC]@BlueBlancmange

The government here isn’t releasing that breakdown. I wonder why.[/quote]
Data collection?

Absolute numbers being low and so identifiable - as has been the case a few times already

Meanwhile figures are falling...

@CuriousaboutSamphire

(why do we need to wait a year?) Because they haven't all been made yet?!?!?!

err the 100m have.

And, errr, are being sent, possibly have already arrived in country or at Covax!

Most of them are short date so will need to be used quickly (end of September I thinnk) - another reason for the initial choices of countries to receive them - they potentially have the infrastructure to do so!

That countries like Kenya have already incinerated just out of date vaccines is a stark warning and will slow things down a little until production can catch up again - doses that the UK, USA and many others have already purchased in order to give away!

@Itsprobablynotcominghome

Really think they need to limit it to CEV/65+.

It’s pretty disgusting how many doses we have had compared to the rest of the world.

As someone who is CV and work in a school with no mitigation, I'm personally pleased to be getting the extra booster.

I am immune compromised and when I got covid last time (most certainly via a school pupil I taught) I was ill enough to be rushed to hospital with complications. Those complications are ongoing and actually now make me even more CV, though not CEV. I was off work for 7 weeks, several MN ths later I am still not fully recovered and due to the hypertension complication I now need life long medication as a result.

I have a flu vaccine every year to protect myself from illness.
I will be very grateful to be given a covid vaccine as frequently as required if it reduces my chances of being poorly again.

@Bonifacethethird

3 injections in less than a year. Any reason to think this won't be the ongoing schedule?

I think there is a chance it may be an annual thing, like the flu vaccine, perhaps amended slightly for different variants - again a bit like a flu jab.

I'd be happy to have it annually if need be. I have a flu vaccine annually.

I have never taken the flu jab as I never get the flu but am willing to have the covid booster.

I do wonder what will happen to those who are not in the the nine but got their vaccine early through previous work/ volunteers or just being in the right place at the right time. Niece had hers in early January but as since changed job to go back to teaching her age wasn’t till June.

I'm part of a volunteer covid scheme where we get extra tests etc. I had the antibody test a few weeks ago through it, via a blood sample. It showed no antibodies, I'm not sure if that means I haven't had covid or the jabs haven't worked 🤔🤔

They need to start looking at B and T cells rather than antibodies to show longer immunity. Antibodies will wane, but those other cells may last for decades. This is what's important to look at now.

@Itsprobablynotcominghome

Really think they need to limit it to CEV/65+.

It’s pretty disgusting how many doses we have had compared to the rest of the world.

The risk of serious illness and death increases from 45. As noted by UAE, India, Israel, and USA.

(Socioeconomic factors impact - so an urban poor 45 year old is at greater risk than a 50 year old in an affluent market town or village.)

And AZ (whilst good and still worth having) is not as effective as mRNA vaccines against Delta. Plus studies suggest that mix and match - particularly with AZ first - give stronger protection.

UK CEV list doesn't include all those at highest risk of serious illness or death (there's a difference between being higher risk of catching Covid, versus higher risk of being seriously ill and dying of it).

For example, many diabetics are not on UK government official CEV list. 1 in 5 diabetics hospitalised with Covid die within 28 days.

It's not just diabetes of course. All CV (including socioeconomic CV, i.e. homeless) need the additional protection.

Donated vaccines are a drop in the ocean re getting the rest of the world vaccinated. Biden and Macron's suggestion of temporary patent waiver would help more than leaving our own vulnerable at unnecessarily higher risk.

It's important to put your own risk oxygen mask on first, before being able to help others.

@Farevalah

I'm part of a volunteer covid scheme where we get extra tests etc. I had the antibody test a few weeks ago through it, via a blood sample. It showed no antibodies, I'm not sure if that means I haven't had covid or the jabs haven't worked 🤔🤔

I would double check which antibody test you took.

Many just test for antibodies induced by infection which has caused a lot of confusion in those thinking it was testing for both.

I'll be having mine , no problem.

I'm group 1 in that article so yes will be having it, as I had AZ so happy to have a Pfizer booster

I don't understand all this. We were told only a few months/ weeks ago that mixing vaccines was not recommended, but now it is? I was under the impression that two vaccinations was going to be enough. Why do the over 50s etc need a third? Why do the goal posts with these vaccines keep changing? Im rather concerned about all this as I was very ill with my first vaccination ( in hospital). I went ahead with my 2nd which thankfully was ok. I really do not want to be anyone's 'guinea pig'. Can any one on here with a medical background tell me what is going on and just how safe is it to be mixing these vaccines?

I'm a big supporter of the vaccine as I had mine early working for the nhs and being on corticosteroids, also being on a renal plan, however at 22 I don't think I should have gotten the Astra Zeneca I had really bad side effects, hallucinating, bed bound, extreme pain etc., how will it work for me I assume I have to have the same however my pharmacist told me different?

I’ve already booked my flu vaccine for September at Boots. However I will be in the second group for a Covid booster. Does that mean I’m supposed to cancel my flu vaccine and wait until I can have both together?

@MrsFezziwig. No, I don't think so. They're just doing the two together to relieve the pressure on gp surgeries. If you already have the flu jab booked, I'd just leave it.

@Farevalah

I'm part of a volunteer covid scheme where we get extra tests etc. I had the antibody test a few weeks ago through it, via a blood sample. It showed no antibodies, I'm not sure if that means I haven't had covid or the jabs haven't worked 🤔🤔

It will depend on which antibody test you had. Done only check for virus acquired; some for both.

Also a negative antibody test doesn't always mean you won't have some immunity from the vaccine iirr. Some of the ways they work don't show up in the tests.

In Germany their booster programme will include everyone who had previously had AZ.

Does anyone know if there are ANY boosters planned for us in our 40s, the majority of whom have had AZ?

Wondering who they will class as CEV this time around. Last year they decided certain people were CEV and then around April they changed their minds and added a whole load of extra people.

I don’t disagree with vaccinating ourselves first before the rest of the world. You always put on your own oxygen mask before helping others. It benefits nobody if the UK economy crashes so we can’t fund vaccines (or any other sort of aid) for other countries.

@Themeparklover my understanding is that you will get a different vaccine.
@Gothichouse40 they didn't mix at first because that hadn't been tested. They have been doing trisince January of mixing vaccines (I volunteered but was rejected on health grounds). The trials haven't been published yet afaik but early results showed a much stronger response to mixing vaccines. Which is exactly what the expected. The only disadvantage is there were more minor side effects.

Fizzi, thank you for your reply. More side effects is what I don't need. Every time I get a new vaccine Im in bed for weeks as it sends my autoimmune condition into overdrive. I really don't know what to do for the best. I really cannot say Im looking forward to this each year. I was bad enough with the flu jab alone.

Anyone heard anything or made a booking for their booster yet?

Wondering who they will class as CEV this time around. Last year they decided certain people were CEV and then around April they changed their minds and added a whole load of extra people.

The moral and ethical thing to do would be to go by who is most at risk of hospitalisation and death. (Increased risk of infection is not necessarily the same thing). That would mean including people with heart conditions and diabetes. 1 in 5 diabetics hospitalised with Covid are dying within 28 days.

@Lagirl20 I don't know but assume it should be soon if it's meant to start in September.

Hope there won't be a postcode lottery this time...although there is an argument for vulnerable Londoners to be prioritised - since they're at higher risk due to London having the lowest vaccine take-up in the UK (particularly an issue with 18-24 age men).

Another question is, will the government leave 40s age group at increased risk? Other countries acknowledge the risk of serious illness and death starts from 40/45. Israel, UAE, India, USA. Particularly late 40s will be vulnerable. Recent studies demonstrated 1/3 of late 40s have underlying conditions - many were undiagnosed.