Struggling to get a bivalent booster

[DrLecter]

After years of avoiding Covid (CEV) I finally tested positive on the same day I was due to have my bivalent booster. 28 days on, and I'm trying to book it again, but there is no availability where I live. I'm working in London next week and wondered if there were any walk-ins I could access.

I was reading a thread on Twitter earlier by Deepti Gurdasani where people were reporting being given doses of the original vaccine, rather than the Omicron-specific ones, so I'm wondering if there is a shortage? It is, in my view and on the basis of the reading I've done, not worth taking a non-bivalent booster at present.

Thanks in advance if anyone can help.

No shortage where I am. Only using the bivalent vaccines for autumn boosters, mainly the comirnaty bivalent.

No shortage where I am. Only using the bivalent vaccines for autumn boosters, mainly the comirnaty bivalent.

Same here, but I didn’t think you could pick and choose which booster you get? I had my booster at my gp surgery today, I just rolled up my sleeve and I got (along with everyone else I’ve asked in my area) the comirnaty bivalent.

I had the moderna biavelent

I had the bivalent booster today.

If you're in SW London, Centre Court in Wimbledon is doing walk-ins. (Just check that you're allowed, given where you live, as well as the opening times)

It is likely bivalent, so I would just go and get it - better you have a booster than none. My leaflet said Cominarty and was for the original vaccine so I thought I had the original Pfizer, but when I checked my GP record I had been given the bivalent version of Pfizer.

I was booked for my booster but got covid. I had wondered what the supplies were like. I'm reluctant to rush getting it because it might be another year before we get another and the covid (together with my 5 previous vaccines) should give me some immunity. I was thinking of waiting 3 months from positive test.

In the USA, I believe they are recommending waiting three months rather than 28 days after an infection. I’m also a five times jabbed person. I’ve also wondered whether it’s too soon to boost. But none of the existing vaccines are particularly effective against omicron and there are new subvariants about that my September infection (likely BA.5) may not provide much immunity against…

Here’s the Deepti Twitter thread where people were reporting being boosted with non-bivalent jabs. (Some seemed a bit confused, though, to be fair!) twitter.com/dgurdasani1/status/1582731172496703488?s=61&t=heHf3jSq2Lc_uik7vJrsrw

none of the existing vaccines are particularly effective against omicron

This was my second covid infection. First time was after 2x Astra zeneka and I was very ill in hospital. This time it was mild. Unscientific but my experience tells me the existing vaccines did help prevent serious illness in my case.
The US advice is interesting.
I'm with you though on insisting on the bivalent booster. If offered the original one I will decline and try a different vaccine center.

In the MVC that I work we’re only offering the Moderna spikevax vaccine, we’ve had to the the Pfizer bivalent training though so I assume that supplies of that one are in their way.

i wasn’t planning on having a 4th dose until they announced that the bivalents had been approved,

At my centre we’ve been giving the Moderna bivalent for a month and now also have the Pfizer bivalent. We’re mainly using that for under 18s though at present.

Who's eligible at the moment? Just the over 50s and CEV? I have various circs which mean I'd be keen to get it if there are open walk ins but I'm not in either category.

It’s over 50s and those likely to be badly affected by covid. The CEV / CV categories have changed a bit, though, as has antivirals eligibility and there is a lot of confusion within the system. (The NHS central number said I wasn’t eligible for antivirals after asking me lots of questions, but my GP called the local Covid clinic at Warwick hospital and they couriered over Paxlovid next morning.)

So if you are under 50 and were in Group 6 (CV) but not Group 2 (CEV), it’s worth asking your GP if you’re eligible for a booster.

Thank you. It's complicated as I am not on the serious medication for my condition that makes you eligible (but have the underlying condition, it's just well controlled).

I'm travelling abroad on holiday in 2 weeks (half term where we are) and it's a country where the bivalent is available (for a fee) at pharmacies, I'm considering trying to get one.

Best of luck to everyone navigating their boosters and still feeling vulnerable about covid. It's been a tough few years and the CV remain in my thoughts.