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Original poster

What is the difference between a 3rd covid jab and a booster??

23 replies

donutqueen11 · 19/10/2021 18:44

Anyone know the difference between a 3rd covid jab and a covid booster? My dad had a letter asking him to book an appointment for his 3rd covid jab which he did. He turned up to his appointment and they said there is no such thing as a 3rd covid jab and gave him the booster although he showed them the letter from the NHS they said it was wrong. Because he was confused he then phoned the GP and they said he should have had the 3rd covid vaccination because he has cancer and is immunosuppressed and then they would call him for his booster in 3 months time. So anyone on here experienced similar problems and can explain which info is correct because the NHS and GP seem to say different things.

OP posts:
Marmite27 · 19/10/2021 18:45

I thought the ‘booster’ was exactly the same as the first two injections.

AlexaShutUp · 19/10/2021 18:49

I thought they were the same thing. Confused

PheasantsNest · 19/10/2021 18:52

It's 6 months after he will be called for his booster not 3. I read the third primary was a full dose and the booster a lower dose but not sure if that's correct.

TinaWeymouthsBass · 19/10/2021 18:54

The 3rd dose is exactly the same as the first two where the booster is a lower strength version to re-kick start the immune response. If your dad is immunosuppressed he should definitely have a third full dose followed by a booster.
Can't believe that actual health care professionals don't know this!

nether · 19/10/2021 18:54

There are useful list NHS in this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4378316-Still-no-3rd-jab-CV

If you are in the (estimated) 500,000 most immune suppressed people in the country, then you should receive a third primary, and then your booster (which will be your 4th jab) six months after that.

Did your DDad have Pfizer? If so, then it's a full single shot whether it is third primary or booster, so it is just the paper trail which needs to be checked.

If Moderna, then the third primary should be a full dose, but the booster is half.

It does sound like the GP is getting it right.

Robin233 · 19/10/2021 18:55

Just googled this as I thought a third covid jab was was super vulnerable people

What is the difference between a 3rd covid jab and a booster??
nether · 19/10/2021 18:57

The third primary is not a synonym for the booster, those who qualify for a third primary (1 shot Pfizer or full shot Moderna) will also qualify for a booster as well (1 shot Pfizer if 1/2 shit Moderna) and it will be their fourth shot.

Someone like OP's DDad who is immune suppressed because of the nature of his cancer or the effects of the treatment for that cancer is highly likely to qualify fir third primary and idc booster shot as well

Florabella · 19/10/2021 19:00

Some hospital trust have been told to call in a third jab rather than a booster as they feel that there will be a better take up using that terminology

backformoreagain · 19/10/2021 19:00

They are the same thing if it's Pfizer.

There is only one dose of Pfizer - same for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and booster.

The difference is the timing. A booster cannot be done before 6 months since the 2nd dose.

A 3rd dose can be done sooner (it might be 8 weeks? - you need to check this) because it is not a booster. It is counted as a 'primary' dose along with the 1st and 2nd. People who get a 3rd 'primary' dose are still going to get a booster as well (so they get 4, so far).

backformoreagain · 19/10/2021 19:01

The main thing is to ensure that the 3rd primary dose is recorded as such, and not as a booster, or else your Ddad won't be eligible for a booster automatically as the system will say he's had it. If this 3rd dose is correctly recorded, he will still get a booster as well.

Original poster
donutqueen11 · 19/10/2021 19:05

@nether

There are useful list NHS in this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4378316-Still-no-3rd-jab-CV

If you are in the (estimated) 500,000 most immune suppressed people in the country, then you should receive a third primary, and then your booster (which will be your 4th jab) six months after that.

Did your DDad have Pfizer? If so, then it's a full single shot whether it is third primary or booster, so it is just the paper trail which needs to be checked.

If Moderna, then the third primary should be a full dose, but the booster is half.

It does sound like the GP is getting it right.

Thank you. So he should have had a 3rd primary jab and he has only had the booster - he is so cross with himself because he thought he should have been having 3rd primary dose like the letter said rather than the booster but they basically told him his letter was wrong. He had pfizer.
OP posts:
Somuddled · 19/10/2021 19:08

He is fine then. Pfizer is the same either way.

nether · 19/10/2021 19:17

Thank you. So he should have had a 3rd primary jab and he has only had the booster - he is so cross with himself because he thought he should have been having 3rd primary dose like the letter said rather than the booster but they basically told him his letter was wrong. He had pfizer

The number of HCPs who are getting thus wrong is really quite alarming. And the admin for the third primary for the most vulnerable 500,000 has been utterly shambolic.

However, your DDad has had the correct injection. He needs to check that the GP is arranging for it to be recorded as third primary, and that he gets called for his 4th jab (booster) at the correct interval - which is 6 months after primary course (2 jabs for most people, 3 for the most severely vulnerable).

By which time it may all have changed again!!

PheasantsNest · 19/10/2021 19:17

It's not just Pfizer and Moderna for the third primary. I had AstraZeneca for all three of mine.

gogohm · 19/10/2021 19:19

It's exactly the same vaccine but it is for those with compromised immune systems. They will be offered a booster as well

nether · 19/10/2021 19:24

@PheasantsNest

It's not just Pfizer and Moderna for the third primary. I had AstraZeneca for all three of mine.
AZ isn't banned for third jab, though it should be an mRNA vaccine whenever possible.

The NHS policy does however any ' for the third primary dose ..... with the option of the AstraZeneca Vaxzevria vaccine for individuals who have received this vaccine previously where this would facilitate delivery"

Wellbythebloodyhell · 19/10/2021 19:29

In terms of dosage and vaccine given absolutely nothing, however those who are deemed immuno suppressed are allowed a 3rd dose 8+ weeks after the 2nd and would then also be eligible a booster vaccine later down the line should it be required, the booster vaccine is given to all over 50s, anyone CEV (CEV and immuno suppressed are not the same thing) or anyone who is a front line health/care worker who had their 2nd dose a minimum of 6 months ago

MidtoLon · 19/10/2021 19:30

People who are very high risk eg transplant patients cancer patients having treatment at the time of their previous doses or are immunosuppressed for any other reason should have a 3rd primary dose and will probably have been advised of this by their hospital consultant. They can have this anytime from 8 weeks following 2nd dose and is designed to top up antibodies as they may not have had such a high immune response They will then have a further booster in another 6 months.
Anyone else over 50 nhs stafff carers or at risk should have a booster 6 month’s after the 2nd dose. This is designed to give prolonged immunity

Wellbythebloodyhell · 19/10/2021 19:31

Why they don't call it a 3rd and 4th dose is beyond me Confused

dg93 · 19/10/2021 19:47

My mum had her 3rd vaccine last week, they said it's because her second vaccine she didn't get the right dose so everyone that went the same day as her got a 3rd vaccine.... she's booked in for her booster in 8 weeks as she's currently undergoing chemo

Frazzled2207 · 19/10/2021 19:51

in essence it will be the same dose of the same stuff so if he's had it that's good.
However if he counts as one of the half a million immunosuppressed it should be recorded as his third dose which means he gets his booster in 6 months. If he's had it he needs to check with the GP that it is registered correctly.

3asAbird · 20/10/2021 03:42

My understanding is its all the same vaccine just 4rd dose 6months after 2nd.

nether · 20/10/2021 07:38

@3asAbird

My understanding is its all the same vaccine just 4rd dose 6months after 2nd.
It's the same if it's Pfizer.

If Moderna, then a third primary is a full,shot (like the other two ordinaries) but the booster is a half.

There are already reports coming in to charities that some people who needed third primaries have been given half/booster Moderna shots. That is appalling if true

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