Any other HCPs thinking of not having the booster?

[AndThenInTheEnd]

I had two Pfizer doses last Christmas/March.

I’m 40, overweight but healthy otherwise. I just don’t think I want the booster. There are potential side effects or even potential vaccine injury possible after any vaccine. I have a monthly blood test for antibodies and I have them.

I’ve no particular reason to say no. It’s just I’ve worn a sweaty mask, not seen anyone, worked overtime in a chronically understaffed environment, not seen the people I loved, not celebrated, not holidayed, and I’m just a bit fed up of being pushed around and told what to do. I just want to say fuck off. That’s enough.

Can anyone help me pick through this?

You’ve said yourself that you have no reason to say no. It’s just seems like you are cutting off your nose to spite yourself tbh! Who do you feel is pushing you around. The government? Your workplace?

It’s completely voluntary so don’t have it?

@CiderWithLizzie

It’s completely voluntary so don’t have it?

It's mandatory for care home staff to be fully vaccinated. We can lose our jobs if not. At the moment we all have to have two vaccines by November or we have to find alternative employment. It's only a matter of time until the 3rd vaccine is added to the legislation.

I've not even had the second. Many countries are calling you fully vaxed if you've had covid and one shot as a booster. Recent research is beginning to show that natural immunity is stronger than the immunity conferred by vaccinations. Nearly everybody in NHS has had covid, well in my team they have and my two adult children who work in the hospital too. I feel they should be sending them to countries that need them more, apart from immunosurpressed clinically vulnerable people who need them of course.

I wish that the immunosuppressed could have them first. Surely it is a no brainer that they need them most. Rather than healthy fit staff that are double vaccinated.

@Karmakamelion

I wish that the immunosuppressed could have them first. Surely it is a no brainer that they need them most. Rather than healthy fit staff that are double vaccinated.

They are being vaccinated with their 3rd dose before health and social care staff. I know several who were invited as soon as the government announced the policy for the immunocompromised. I'm frontline (and not healthy and in a high risk job) and can't book yet. If immunocompromised people can't book yet that's a failure in their local NHS Trust/Primary Care because they should have a headstart on boosters for healthcare workers, given the timings of the announcements.

I mean immunocompromised patients should have a headstart on care staff, officially their announcement came before ours.

They are being vaccinated with their 3rd dose before health and social care staff.

Maybe in an ideal world. I'm NHS and could book myself a covid booster for this Saturday if I wanted, but my immunosuppressed daughter is still waiting to be able to arrange her 3rd dose. She's off to uni next week so would have been really good to have had it. I'm finding it very frustrating.

@AtiaoftheJulii

They are being vaccinated with their 3rd dose before health and social care staff.

Maybe in an ideal world. I'm NHS and could book myself a covid booster for this Saturday if I wanted, but my immunosuppressed daughter is still waiting to be able to arrange her 3rd dose. She's off to uni next week so would have been really good to have had it. I'm finding it very frustrating.

Yes, I've noticed anecdotally on here that (as was the case with the first few weeks of vaccination), the NHS staff are being prioritised in certain areas over the immunocompromised, the elderly and most vulnerable groups over 6 months post vaccine and non NHS health and social care staff.

It's not actually the official policy though, and it's wrong. I hope your daughter gets her invite soon.