Under 40 vaccinated with AZ not eligible for booster

[Rainbowsandstorms]

Is anyone else double vaccinated with AZ, under 40 and not eligible for a booster? I had my vaccination early as an informal carer and I am not not eligible for a booster but will be at the six month mark shortly. Most people of my age were given Pfizer where the protection remains higher for longer or had AZ but qualify for the boosters. I’m aware that many EU countries have boosted anyone regardless of age who had AZ. I feel like I fall into a bit of a forgotten group and that there is no real information regarding how AZ performs post six months against more serious illness. Is anyone else in this situation or does anyone have any information regarding when we can expect late 30s to be boosted or any reassuring data regarding AZ post six months. I’ve been trying to put it to the back of my mind but now I’m post five months and there is no sign of being boosted I’m starting to feel nervous about what level of protection I’ll have.

Are you sure you’re not eligible as an unpaid carer?

My guess is that what with one thing and another they will roll out boosters to the under forties soonish. Don't panic, because as a healthy (?) woman (?) in your thirties the odds are that you're not at significant risk even with waning vaccine immunity, but do pounce on the booster asap because all the data demonstrates it can reduce your small risk to a tiny risk.

If you are an unpaid carer you should be eligible regardless of age.

Which nation are you in? In Scotland you can book a booster appointment online if you are an unpaid carer, but I'm not sure about elsewhere in the UK.

Silly question possibly but have you tried going online and seeing if you are able to book? I was coming up to 6 months from mine but had heard nothing so I thought I'd give it a try - I had my first two early due to medical conditions - the system let me book it in although at the time my age-group wasn't eligible.

^I'm in England.

All adult unpaid carers are eligible in England.

I thought they thought that AZ with the longer gap between jabs lasted longer than Pfizer with a 3 week gap. Isn't that part of the reason why we can still function as a country even with such a high infection rate? You are low risk in your 30s but as a PP said you might be offered a booster early next year anyway.

It's in the jcvi booster statement.

Do you have a letter or anything to show you are an unpaid carer? If so could you just rock up to a walk in and see if they will accept it?

A lot of people under 40 got vaccinated early if there was spare vaccine, DS(29) was one of these and had his 2nd jab in early May, there will be many others like this who got early spare jabs who are probably near 40 so it will be a very long gap for them and difficult if they want to travel, fortunately DS doesn't at the moment and is low risk anyway having had Covid and under 30

Unpaid carers are still eligible in group 6, so I think should be eligible for a booster.

carers.org/guidance-on-coronavirus/coronavirus-vaccine-faqs-for-unpaid-carers

If you're in England - a quick google found this.

Have a look at this list:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-care-home-and-healthcare-settings-posters/covid-19-vaccination-first-phase-priority-groups

As an informal carer, you are in Cohort 6 (this is stated at the bottom of the page). The boosters have already gone down below Cohort 9. In terms of priority groups, you could get your booster now.

The issue is the 6 months. At 6 months you can book online through the National booking portal. At 5 months + 1 day you can be vaccinated at the clinician’s discretion at a walk in clinic. You could try a community pharmacy, or a walk in near you. If you are in England, your local CCG should have a list on their website. There’s no guarantee though that the clinician will agree, and some are sticking to 6 months.

If you have to wait to 6 months, don’t worry. You are nearly there.

Even healthcare staff have had to wait until the 6 month mark.

You just need to wait until you are at 6 months and in the right group.

I’m guessing they are rolling out through the age groups, the way they did with the vaccines. Generally most people seemed to have them in age group order. Over 50s we’re getting them in May, so having the booster now. I was in the 40s group in June, so I’m having mine next month.

There were some people who jumped the age queue, so it’s creating this kind of issue. My guess is they’ll announce the 30s in a few more weeks.

are you sure you're not just not eligible because it hasn't been 6 months?

im 39, carer for DS and had my booster last week, had my second AZ jab in May.

Thank you for all your replies. Sorry I should have also said my circumstances have changed so I no longer qualify under group 6. I’ve had a look at the booking system and although now I’m past five months and I’m able to access the booking system rather than being told I’m not eligible I’d have to tick a box to say I’m immune compromised or a health and social care worker in order to book so I don’t qualify. I’m
just concerned if it goes much beyond the six months, as I know AZ wanes much faster than Pfizer and there doesn’t seem to be much data as the vast majority of people who had AZ are being boosted. I though it was worth posting to see if anyone knows any more that I do. I’ll sit tight and hopefully they’ll roll out boosters to my age group soon. I’m aware I’m relatively low risk but the stories of unvaccinated people of my age dying from Delta worried me so waning protection from AZ which is known to be less effective than Pfizer is also starting to worry me a bit too. I am of course grateful to be vaccinated and know that it’ll still provide some protection post 6 months but feel less concerned about my DH who had Pfizer as the data is much clearer.

@SleepingStandingUp that’s great news that you’ve had yours. I’m at the five month mark and as you’ll see in my post above I can now access the booking system but don’t meet the criteria to book. I wonder if that will change at the six month mark? Hopefully they’ll lower the age bracket over the next month.

My 2 DDs are both in their 20s and and AZ due to being in group 6 for asthma. Now no longer appear to be in group 6 and cannot book their boosters. 1 reaches 6 months next week and 1 in 2 weeks time. I am worried about them both. Both had bad chest infections in August and had antibiotics and steroid tablets, but that’s only 1 lot of steroids this year. Both were quite poorly and that was in the summer.

You won't be able to book yet anyway. Try again at the 6 month mark.

@hellsbells99 sorry to hear this. I hope you can get their boosters sorted. If only they’d allow boosters as people hit the six month mark. It seems crazy to have allowed more vulnerable people to be waiting way over the six months due to changes in criteria. I wonder if your doctor would be able to authorise boosters for them.

Thanks for your comments. Apparently boosters are nothing to do with GPs. I think everyone should be eligible for their booster once they get to 6 months - it should not matter what age they are.

[quote Rainbowsandstorms]@SleepingStandingUp that’s great news that you’ve had yours. I’m at the five month mark and as you’ll see in my post above I can now access the booking system but don’t meet the criteria to book. I wonder if that will change at the six month mark? Hopefully they’ll lower the age bracket over the next month.[/quote]
Ah I see your post under mine. When I went, they did qn me as I'm 39 but implied under 40s would be soon so hopefully you'll be eligible very soon

Once you are past the six month date I would go to a walk in centre and see if they will give you the booster.

Yes, im 36 (got mine early as there were spares at the surgery at the time) and got mine on a walk-in basis yesterday, 6 months and a day after my second dose