Question about boosters for under 50s and waning immunity

[Blankspace4]

DH and I are both under 40 with no pre existing conditions that would class us as CEV.

Our local authority were ahead of the game with the first round of jabs meaning we were both fully vaxxed by mid May

Is it the plan to offer everyone a booster, or just those who are over 50/CEV?

What is the research on immunity post 6 months….presume this doesn’t just fall off a cliff?

I’m feeling a tad anxious about going into Christmas season with waning immunity and cases sky high (if we don’t get a booster)

No doubt this will apply to many others too - anyone got any insight to share?

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-booster-vaccine/

No plans as of yet for boosters if you have no underlying conditions and are under 50

Unless you work in health or social care or have a vulnerable person you care for.

Thanks both. But doesn’t this effectively mean that by the start of 2022 a whole heap of ‘fully vaccinated’ people won’t really class as that?

Maybe
Not sure really

From what I’ve read, immunity is just reduced 6 months post vax, but protection against hospitalisation is still very good. I know all the media about this can be quite alarming, but I wouldn’t worry overly about the risks of waning immunity in the under 50’s. The important thing is that you’re doubled vaxxed, you still have far far less risk than unvaxxed, even after 6 months. The immunity doesn’t fall off a cliff, it’s just reduced a bit.

Same position as you OP, apart from a bit older, late 40s. DH and many of my friends are 50+ so will get a booster eventually. I won't.
Had AZ (last dose five months ago) so protection against infection won't be great by now but I believe the protection against serious illness doesn't wane half as much, so still protected in that sense. Do have a half vaccinated teenager though, and her friends are dropping like flies so it feels only a matter of time til it comes home!

Don't forget that you get a boost from being exposed to the virus in the community. It's not only vaccines that give a boost.

You say you are not vulnerable, so there's no reason to hide from it.

Better for all if you get the boost sooner no matter whether via vaccine or exposure.

This is why the current strategy is actually right, despite people being spooked by case numbers.

Will also be interesting to see what happens with boosters for non-vulnerable under-50s and travel as most countries class you as fully vaccinated for a year after the second dose. I can see quite a few countries who do not need British tourists for their economies denying entry to anyone who is over 12 months from their second dose.

I've just been listening to an interview on R4's Today programme interviewing a Scottish expert (Professor Jason Leach)

He has observed that all the countries (and research) with waning immunity are those who administered both doses of Pfizer within 3 weeks, not the UK's 8-12. He seems to reckon that the UK jabbed's immunity is better (and there aren't too many AZ double vaccinated + 6 months).

I am in a couple of antibody studies and they really won't be able to know for sure until November/December/January.

Do you really get a boost from being exposed to the virus in the community, I haven’t heard that before?

So you can be ‘exposed’ but not catch it?

I’m certainly not hiding away, just living life as normal with sensible precautions, masks and avoiding mega crowded indoor places but otherwise living as normal

So you can be ‘exposed’ but not catch it?

That's right. Being vaccinated doesn't provide you with 100% protection against infection unfortunately, but two doses of AZ provides 60-70% protection, which isn't bad (see table on p.7 of attachment).

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1025358/Vaccine-surveillance-report-week-41.pdf

Sorry - you didn't say which vaccine you'd had - maybe not AZ. If Pfizer then protection against infection is 75-85%, so even better.

Yes it’s AZ I have had. Believe any booster would be Pfizer

I had az, second dose was early May so 6 months will be early November. I hope I'm offered a booster. I was done as part of group 6 cohort but had to rely on my gp putting me on the list.

FWIW I share your concern about waning protection in >50s OP. It's not that our age group is particularly vulnerable to serious disease and death, but I do think that as middle aged people's wanes this winter it could lead to the pandemic dragging on and on ... In Israel, they've insisted that EVERYONE gets a booster dose six months after their first and it's really quashed their infection numbers. I'd like to see the UK govt doing the same, just to get us all out of this mess. Two doses for teenagers too, rather than leaving them half-vaccinated.

I thought about this too. Maybe that's why govt wanted to get as many kids infected as possible as risk in their parents increases over time due to waning?

@Blankspace4

Yes it’s AZ I have had. Believe any booster would be Pfizer

My MIL (80) just got her booster and she got Moderna.

I suspect when the government have got through the majority of those aged 50+/CEV, they'll be concerns about waning immunity in those aged 50- and alongside pressure on the NHS, the government will be desperate to offer you your vaccine.

If we want to get a handle on it - properly - then surely we need to offer everyone a booster eventually.

But the government will probably drag its feet on this and do too little, too late. Again.

@dollywoodlooksgood yes this is my point - there seems to be no talk whatsoever on this - is it that we haven’t ordered enough stocks?

People under 50 are starting to get to the 6 month mark now and whilst I appreciate there is no cliff edge, it’s unusual there isn’t any plan (like with the initial jabs when we knew our turn would come)

I wondered about this. I have asthma (mild) and had AZ (second dose was in April - had it early due to being an unpaid carer to my disabled children) and am in my 40's. I really was hoping they would give boosters to other age groups once they had done the over 50s/CEV.

[quote Blankspace4]@dollywoodlooksgood yes this is my point - there seems to be no talk whatsoever on this - is it that we haven’t ordered enough stocks?

People under 50 are starting to get to the 6 month mark now and whilst I appreciate there is no cliff edge, it’s unusual there isn’t any plan (like with the initial jabs when we knew our turn would come)[/quote]
Yeah, it's weird there has been no mention of the booster strategy beyond the first priority groups at all.

Some of my friends aged 45+ got their vaccinations quite early (in March and then end of May) because their area was a bit ahead. So they'll be approaching the 6 month mark too. I wonder how much difference there is between someone who is 50 and my friends who will be 47 and 48 next year.

I'm 45 and had a booster in September because I am in a vaccine trial. So I feel somewhat lucky but I would also be keen to get a booster, assuming I get an invite (I would try to wait until the end of the trial next spring, I think, but that may depend on case numbers and so on).

The immune system of the elderly and those with cev is not remotely equivalent. Is there a particular reason why you think you need a booster? Is there any evidence of waning immunity in the under 50s?

Remotely equivalent ...to the under 50s without a serious chronic illness...