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Original poster

Why 28 day wait for booster after mild covid?

36 replies

Clarkey86 · 16/12/2021 17:58

I had covid a week or so ago, very very mildly, and am testing negative on lateral flows already. I’m 37 weeks pregnant and would really like to get my booster ASAP amongst all the omicron chaos…but I have to wait 28 days.

Does anyone have any information on why? Would I be turned away if I went earlier?

All I can find is it’s so that they don’t confuse covid symptoms but I haven’t got any covid symptoms and barely had any when I had it…

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Delatron · 16/12/2021 18:04

I understood (after asking vaccinator friend) that it gives your body time to recover after the illness. There must be plenty of people with asymptomatic Covid having boosters though with no issues. Or people unaware they have Covid when they have the booster.

She’s not a doctor though so someone more knowledgeable may come along. You will have some protection from your recent Covid infection though. I have Covid now so I’m going to maybe even wait 3 months to spread out the antibodies. I’m not pregnant though so understand your hurry

Original poster
Clarkey86 · 16/12/2021 18:15

Thanks!

I think it’s the fact that omicron has caused a huge surge and I’m 5 months post-vaccine whilst very pregnant. I’m just worried I’m going to now catch Omicron with little protection and no chance to boost it.

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Original poster
Clarkey86 · 17/12/2021 17:36

Bump. Anyone?

I’m tempted to just book it earlier and hope they give it me…

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Nellodee · 17/12/2021 17:41

My reasoning is,they ideally don't want you to have them close together so they can differentiate between any side effects from the jab versus effects from the virus - but thousands of people will actually have covid when they get their booster, and that can't be helped. Personally, I want my booster asap.

Campfirewood · 17/12/2021 17:45

I recently had covid and am keen to get my booster! So following this thread. I think I’m 19 days now post first positive PCR. Again mild symptoms here.

DivorcedAndDelighted · 17/12/2021 18:19

You've just had a natural booster so your antibody levels will almost certainly be very high right now. In terms of your immunity, it's not clear what benefit a booster would offer you at this point. You'll get more benefit from waiting a few months so that your natural antibody levels have subsided.

You will already be amongst the best - protected group as those who have had vaccinations plus Covid infection have "hybrid immunity " and this appears to give the best protection of all.

Bubblty · 17/12/2021 18:20

Isn't having covid meant to be like having a booster anyway? In terms of protection?

SickAndTiredAgain · 17/12/2021 18:23

I understand your reasoning but the fact you’ve just had it and recovered will have boosted your immunity. Even to a different strain - and you may well have actually had omicron.

BluebellsGreenbells · 17/12/2021 18:34

I wanted to wait 4 months post Covid for the booster - why do you suddenly need it now?

Original poster
Clarkey86 · 17/12/2021 19:18

But apparently two vaccinations and natural immunity to delta only offer 19% protection against omicron.

Whereas a booster bumps it up to 85%

I’d be perfectly happy waiting if it weren’t for the risk of being reinfected with omicron again at any point I think.

I think I just don’t understand the reasoning, unless you’re someone who had covid quite badly and still isn’t recovered.

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Awakened22 · 17/12/2021 19:25

I think it’s because your immune system will already be active from having fought off Covid and a booster could then over stimulate it causing more side effects from the jab. Letting the body and immune system recover first makes sense rather then over tax it.

SickAndTiredAgain · 17/12/2021 19:38

@Clarkey86

But apparently two vaccinations and natural immunity to delta only offer 19% protection against omicron.

Whereas a booster bumps it up to 85%

I’d be perfectly happy waiting if it weren’t for the risk of being reinfected with omicron again at any point I think.

I think I just don’t understand the reasoning, unless you’re someone who had covid quite badly and still isn’t recovered.

Which two doses did you have?

Two doses of Pfizer is something like 70% effective against hospitalisation for omicron.

FannyFifer · 17/12/2021 19:43

Increased risk of myocarditis. 28 days post positive test for over 18s, 12 weeks for under 18s.

CouldThisReallyBe · 17/12/2021 20:01

I went for my booster on day 28 post Covid positive test (the earliest they would allow). The woman who was asking me the questions was unsure whether I should be having it (or whether it should be 28 days post isolation) so she went to ask the medical expert. She came back and told me that I was correct (ie it's min 28 days post positive PCR) and the only reason for that is so that you don't confuse Covid symptoms with vaccine side effects.

mrsdolittle · 17/12/2021 20:03

Following this. Currently have covid (day 13 here and still rough as a badgers arse) and concerned that I can't have a booster until early January.

But the replies on here are helpful and reassuring. So thanks all. 🙏

Emerald5hamrock · 17/12/2021 20:06

The advice in Ireland is no booster required if you had a positive prc within 6 months.
It's very confusing the different rules.

Original poster
Clarkey86 · 18/12/2021 06:30

Thanks all.

Yes I had 2 x Pfizer but couldn’t find anywhere online the information regarding effectiveness about Omicron, and I hadn’t seen the myocarditis link either. That sits better with me than the “we might muddle the symptoms that you don’t have” line.

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HelloDulling · 18/12/2021 06:34

Slightly different, but my teen DD had her jab 28 days after she tested positive and she was incredibly ill for 48 hours. It knocked her back to the worst Covid days. I wouldn’t wish that on a very pregnant woman.

Egghead68 · 18/12/2021 06:39

The delay between having Covid and having the vaccine is because of the increased risk of side-effects from the vaccine if they are close together I believe

Original poster
Clarkey86 · 18/12/2021 06:43

Again “increased risk of side effects” makes more logical sense than “risk of confusing the side effects”

Thanks Smile

It’s annoying that it’s really hard to find any of this actually mentioned anywhere reputable though! I think I was just wondering whether in light of Omicron and the booster research there needed to be a bit more consideration. It’s obviously not been an issue before as people would happily wait a bit longer knowing they’d just had a big natural immunity boost.

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Egghead68 · 18/12/2021 06:51

@Clarkey86 the balance of risks has probably changed now with the wave we are in. In your shoes I’d be trying to get the booster ASAP (natural infection with delta doesn’t seem to help much against omicron and pregnant women are at very high risk).

Original poster
Clarkey86 · 18/12/2021 07:33

@Egghead68 That’s exactly why I was trying to figure out the reasons. But still, no point turning up at a vaccine centre and being turned away and I didn’t want to lie and take risks that I wasn’t aware of.

I imagine ringing 119 they’ll just read off their script as well.

I’ve only got 12 more days until my section so it’s probably worth just holding out hope and staying away from busy places as best I can now.

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Curiousmum69 · 18/12/2021 07:57

Antibodies spike about 21 days after an infection, so a booster soon after infection won't prompt the immune response as strongly as it should.

HeyDugeesCakeBadge · 18/12/2021 08:22

I'm confused if you've had covid and it was mild, and omicron is apparently prevalent - how do you know you didn't have omicron? And therefore why are you desperate to have booster from something you easily recovered from when youve got natural immunity?

Original poster
Clarkey86 · 18/12/2021 09:55

Because it didn’t tell me I had omicron, so I’m presuming I had delta - and that it was mild fortunately because of the vaccines I’ve had.

But evidence is coming out that prior delta infection gives very little protection against omicron and neither does being double vaccinated.

The evidence is saying a booster is the best chance of protection against omicron, and I couldn’t see any real evidence about the point of waiting 28 days post-infection.

I’m concerned about being heavily pregnant with very little apparent protection against Omicron given recent reports.

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