Anyone had their 3rd jab?

[Lochnessgiraffe]

Has anyone has their 3rd jab yet? I've been invited to mine next week. I had terrible side effects after the 1st but none after the 2nd. I was just wondering if anyone had any side effects after it?

Had mine last week. Two AZ previously, Pfizer this time. About an hour after I felt like I'd had a couple of drinks, ie a bit sleepy/relaxed - I continued with gardening and soon wore off. I had a slight headache next morning for 2-3 hours, didn't take anything for it.

garlictwist the boosters are for anyone aged 50+ and anyone who comes under frontline health and social care, as long as six months have passed. Mind up GP called me and my Mum at 25 weeks, I hung on as I knew I'd be able to get an appointment at a more convenient location under Frontline Health.

Had booster covid and flu jabs together. No reaction or side effects - same with previous 2 covid jabs! All Pfizer jabs.

@Silvercatowner

The 3rd jab is a 3rd full dose for immunosuppressed people whereas the booster is just a booster. The thinking is that immunosuppressed people will not have had as much immunity built up from jabs 1 and 2. So immunosuppressed people could end up with 4 jabs if they are also entitled to a booster

A doctor friend has just told me this is wrong. A 'booster' is simply a 3rd dose.

The booster is for everyone, 6 months after their primary course, which for most people is 2 jabs. The booster is a single shot of Pfizer it a half dose of Moderna.

The third primary is for the 500,000 most vulnerable immune suppressed (not even all the CEV, and unrelated to either age or occupations). This, is a third primary a single shot Pfizer of a full dose Moderna. The third primary can be given any time once 8 weeks have passed since the second primary. This group's booster will be their fourth shot, and falls due six months after their 3-shot primary course is completed.

That so many in that group were group 4 first time round, their at the sixth month point has probably added to the confusion. And it doesn't help that the admin system for recording shots doesn't seem to have caught up and created a category for 'third primary'

Exactly what neither said
The third primary vaccine isn't 6 months after either, I have booked mine (5 months) and we may also be offered a booster
Pfizer is the main one and same dose, but if they use moderna they must give a full dose

See my text

Whatever the difference, we are incredibly grateful to be receiving our “booster” soon

I had my covid booster and flu jab on Friday, about 4 hours after was hit by overwhelming tiredness. Have had a very lazy weekend and plenty of naps. Both arms were uncomfortable. Felt much better by last night, would be fine by now but have got a runny nose, presumably the cold that everyone else has rather than anything to do with my vaccines.

@NotMyCat

Exactly what neither said The third primary vaccine isn't 6 months after either, I have booked mine (5 months) and we may also be offered a booster Pfizer is the main one and same dose, but if they use moderna they must give a full dose

See my text

My GP surgery has seemingly fucked this up completely by wilfully misunderstanding the JCVI statement and the fact I am on a soluble TNF blocker, to the extent of denying that there is such a thing as a 3rd primary vaccination for severely immune suppressed people.

Apparently I have to 'wait my turn for the booster'. (This was in an email from an admin person - they refuse to discuss covid vaccines over the phone and no I can't talk to a doctor or HCP.)

I read on another thread that someone else was having the same problem.

@SpindelWhorl same - I emailed the GP and copied my consultant in, quoting the JCVI guidelines

GPs don't seem to know about the 3rd primary dose.
@SpindelWhorl what are you going to do?

If you have no joy with your GP, then you need to get on to your hospital unit.

If no joy there either, then CCG (charity for your condition might have a template email you could use - it shows the extent of the problem that several charities now have these)

[quote NotMyCat]@SpindelWhorl same - I emailed the GP and copied my consultant in, quoting the JCVI guidelines[/quote]
I think I'll do this. Email back quoting the JCVI text, and copy in my hospital team and the local CCG.

There's also the 119 helpline but I've never used it. Are they any use for stuff like this?

Thanks for all this advice btw!

Just to add - my adult DS has been on the coronavirus uk thread of reddit today and loads of auto-immune people and their carers are saying that it's as if the NHS is conspiring to deny to existence of the 3rd primary jab and the JCVI's recommendations, both in primary and secondary care.

(That's the 3rd primary jab for approx 500,000 immune suppressed patients, that the JCVI wrote to GPs about on the 2nd September 2021.)

Its as though GPs have taken a wilful decision to conflate and confuse it with the mass booster jab for over-50s and frontline workers, carers, etc.

Had flu and 3rd Pfizer last week. Felt a bit tired and washed out the next day but fine overall.

I've just re-emailed my GP attaching the NHS/JCVI advice about the 3rd primary jab being separate from the booster programme.

My consultant team did send a letter but it just says 'find a local vaccination hub'. Helpful ... not.

Yep had it last week. Less side effects from last time.

@WakeMeUpin22

Can anyone get the third jab? Do you just get invited to it?

Not anyone but if you think you are eligible you can use the book now link and it will let you book if you are and as long as it has been 6 months since your last dose. It wouldn’t let relative book at 5 months and 3 weeks since their last dose but let them book in the following week.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/book-or-manage-a-booster-dose-of-the-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine/

I’ve just tried that link Hazel but it won’t let me book sadly.

My first two were AZ and because I'm immune compromised I need Pfizer or Moderna (in the right amount) for the 3rd jab. Every 'local vaccinations centre' is saying they do AZ only, even for standard over-50s etc boosters.

Its a bit of a nightmare tbh.

Have you tried ringing 119?
I think vaccine boosters are slow some areas and shortage vaccination centres.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10107623/A-mass-Covid-vaccine-hubs-England-closed-amid-fears-sluggish-booster-rollout.html

The GP is wrong. Lots of them are not understanding what is happening with 3rd jabs and boosters. It’s the same dose in the syringe with 1st 2nd 3rd doses and boosters.
But the way someone is assessed and the way it’s recorded is different and the gap between doses.
3rd (and later 4th doses) are being offered to people on certain immunosuppressant medication. At a vaccination centre they are assessed by both a nurse and doctor and a psd form is done (so the dose is prescribed for them). At the moment the system doesn’t allow for recording it as 3rd dose so it’s recorded as a booster but because it’s also recorded as a psd a system sweep will be done to flag these as 3rd doses. 3rd doses can be given after 56 days from 2nd dose.
Boosters are being offered after 6 months (180 days) to those in 3 categories. Frontline health and social care workers, over 50s and those classed as ‘high risk’. This is usually Pfizer and sometimes moderna. No psd form is needed for these people and they are usually assessed by nurses. Some exceptions to this eg pregnant women would be assessed by doctor.

@PineappleVision

The GP is wrong. Lots of them are not understanding what is happening with 3rd jabs and boosters. It’s the same dose in the syringe with 1st 2nd 3rd doses and boosters. But the way someone is assessed and the way it’s recorded is different and the gap between doses. 3rd (and later 4th doses) are being offered to people on certain immunosuppressant medication. At a vaccination centre they are assessed by both a nurse and doctor and a psd form is done (so the dose is prescribed for them). At the moment the system doesn’t allow for recording it as 3rd dose so it’s recorded as a booster but because it’s also recorded as a psd a system sweep will be done to flag these as 3rd doses. 3rd doses can be given after 56 days from 2nd dose. Boosters are being offered after 6 months (180 days) to those in 3 categories. Frontline health and social care workers, over 50s and those classed as ‘high risk’. This is usually Pfizer and sometimes moderna. No psd form is needed for these people and they are usually assessed by nurses. Some exceptions to this eg pregnant women would be assessed by doctor.

Thanks thats really informative. I think they announced boosters with very little detail. So some are being passed piller to post

For those who are on the relevant immunosuppressant medication if you have a letter stating you are entitled to 3rd dose take it to a vaccination centre. To those on it without a letter take your medication and any other evidence you are on it to a vac centre. It’s down to the discretion of the doctors on duty there that day whether they authorise your 3rd dose on that basis. My DH had his this way. Hadn’t had letter but had evidence he is on relevant dose of methotrexate.

It’s the same dose in the syringe with 1st 2nd 3rd doses and boosters

Not if it's Moderna, where third primary is a full dose and booster is a half dose. And AZ should be avoided for third primaries (but is not banned, if there are over-riding reasons).

Lumping them all together isn't helping the most vulnerable

So one can go to vaccine centre with no booking and present the letter?