People who were vaccinated early but not eligible for booster

[Facespook]

We were lucky enough to get the vaccine early through work (SEN school) and I was double jabbed by April whereas if I’d waited for my age group it would have been August.

But now boosters are only being offered to frontline care staff so we won’t get one.

Assuming vaccine immunity lasts around 6 months that leaves us a lot less protected than the rest of the population over winter.

I’m not overly bothered as I’m not vulnerable but would like the same level of protection as people my age, especially as the reason for getting the vaccine early in the first place (working with vulnerable children) still applies.

I work in an SEN school and also had the second vaccine in April. We've been given a link through our LA to get our boosters now. We are classed as social healthcare workers in terms of booking vaccines.

I would agree that since you are working with vulnerable people that you should be eligible for a booster. I don’t think many under 50’s are ever going to be eligible though are they?

@SGChome20

I would agree that since you are working with vulnerable people that you should be eligible for a booster. I don’t think many under 50’s are ever going to be eligible though are they?

No, and that wouldn’t bother me if I’d had jab in august but going through winter with no/less immunity does worry me a bit.

@mrshoho

I work in an SEN school and also had the second vaccine in April. We've been given a link through our LA to get our boosters now. We are classed as social healthcare workers in terms of booking vaccines.

That’s what we were classed as first time but the criteria has changed in our LA. I’ll see if I can keep pushing

It's not going to be no immunity though - while there has been some evidence of waning immunity, lots of scientists involved in vaccine research have been saying most of us won't need a booster because waning from a high level still leaves you with a very high level of protection against serious illness and death.

I'm in this position too as a SEN ta in mainstream. I've asked my head teacher to look into where I stand with it. Interesting to see that some local authorities are sorting the boosters for staff like us. Will have to wait and see what comes back from head's enquiries. It feels wrong that they hurried us through in the first lot and now we're left in this grey area. The children are no less vulnerable now than they were then.

@mrshoho would you be prepared to say which local authority you fall under?

Sen teacher here too. Our LA are "considering' if we will once again be counted as health and social care....

My school is in Hillingdon, NW London. I'm booked for Wenesday and the only requirement is that we are in close contact roles. So all TAs and teachers are included. Our students are vulnerable. I'd keep pushing for you to be included. We've also had the local pharmacy in to do flu vaccines for all staff who want it.

I have booked a booster. I’m 47 and was double vaccinated by early April.
I am a counsellor working face to face for an organisation.
I am
Going to try my luck. I have to take proof of my role.
I’m an asthmatic that takes daily steroid medication but haven’t been hospitalised since I was a teen.

This is interesting. Dd was vaccinated early as a carer. However she has now moved away for Uni and is no longer a carer.

@nordica

It's not going to be no immunity though - while there has been some evidence of waning immunity, lots of scientists involved in vaccine research have been saying most of us won't need a booster because waning from a high level still leaves you with a very high level of protection against serious illness and death.

Some research evidence is showing that a third vaccine or booster is going to be important for all age groups. Israel has become the first country to insist on proof of it in their vaccine passport.

@SGChome20

I would agree that since you are working with vulnerable people that you should be eligible for a booster. I don’t think many under 50’s are ever going to be eligible though are they?

They will be once enough of them start getting seriously ill and the nhs is swamped. Boris will soon realise he’s made another serious error of judgement.

It’s really too early to say Israel has evidence a third booster is going to be important for all ages. We might find in six months time that the immunity from the third booster wanes against symptomatic delta infection within six months of the booster and so will need a fourth booster. Three doses may be better than two but we won’t know it is longer lasting immunity than two until a sufficient period of time has past.

I had a word with my gp, they have told me to call once I'm 6 months on from my second dose if I don't get automatically called and they will fit me in. I work with elderly people but not in the right boxes to be considered health or social care but we have 3 clinically vulnerable DD's

I heard a virologist on the radio one day say that regular exposure to the virus helps maintain immunity, as it 'reminds' your immune system how to respond to it. If you are highly exposed in work, then your immunity is likely better than you seem to think.

@JS87

It’s really too early to say Israel has evidence a third booster is going to be important for all ages. We might find in six months time that the immunity from the third booster wanes against symptomatic delta infection within six months of the booster and so will need a fourth booster. Three doses may be better than two but we won’t know it is longer lasting immunity than two until a sufficient period of time has past.

Well no of course they won't know how long immunity will last after the third one or if a fourth or fifth or ongoing indefinite boosters will be needed. But based on research evidence Israel are saying this third vaccine is required now.

I had my vaccines as part of a trial. First in January, second at the start of March, so I’m now 7 plus months since the second. I’m 49 so not eligible for a booster.

@PrivateHall

I heard a virologist on the radio one day say that regular exposure to the virus helps maintain immunity, as it 'reminds' your immune system how to respond to it. If you are highly exposed in work, then your immunity is likely better than you seem to think.

I do feel like I’ve dodged the bullet several times-worked throughout, several incidences of close contacts and I use the tube so I reckon my immune system must be fairly well primed!

Depends which vaccine you have as to antibodies FWIW I've been fully vaccinated since Nov , ( trial). 11 months now. Feel fine. Never had Covid, no booster for me either.

I was wondering this. I had my second vaccine in May. School staff were offered ‘spares’ by local clinic. I’m 42 so won’t be eligible for any boosters.

I’m in this position, I got Double vac in may because when I was volunteering in the vac centre there were spares so had one, otherwise it’d have been July.
Mind you my husband was Double vaccinated in may cuz he’s middle 40 so we’re similar .. wonder what they’ll do for those of us that won’t get a third booster.

I had mine in January and March and have my booster booked for next week.

Have you tried just booking? Surely when your 6 months are up, it will think you are eligible, based on the fact you had it earlier than most.

I'm in a similar position, had mine early as an unpaid carer and will reach my 6 months past second jab in early November. I don't get carers allowance so no way of 'proving' my position, but unpaid carers are no longer on the list anyway.

@Oblomov21 are you over 50? That would let you as soon as you're at 6 months.