Anyone thinking about skipping the latest booster?

[WoolyMammoth55]

I've had 3 jabs in total so far, and the last one made me REALLY poorly - couldn't get out of bed for a few days, crazy fever, hallucinating.

They didn't stop me getting Covid, which I've had 2 positive tests for since the first jab, and which was mild compared to how bad I was after the last booster!

I've been invited for the next booster and just can't see why I'd get it. I've had 3 jabs already so must have some protection, right? And since I keep getting it despite the jabs, I'm fairly likely to get it again in the next 6 months whether I do or don't get jabbed?

I can't see the upside.

I'm studying hard for a career change and have 2 little kids. If I had a reaction like last time I'd really struggle to keep all the balls in the air...

I'm being offered the booster because of my high BMI but don't have any co-morbidities, blood pressure good, not pre-diabetic, generally well.

Curious to know what others are thinking?

Not true, our trust Flu and Covid vaccines went live on Monday for all patient facing staff

Yes I corrected my mistake up thread

I don’t think it’s a valid argument for people who even haven’t had the jabs - I never had any vaccines and I am someone who is considered “vulnerable” and have had covid twice. Nether time was it any worse than any other normal illness that I have had and was easy to manage. Of course you will create your own anti bodies

Is the booster jab being offered in the UK this autumn definitely an updated version for new strains/variants? I'm struggling to find concrete info on this.

GPs only report a possible side effect where they believe there is a connection. If GPs believe there is no connection then even if lots of healthy patients in their 40s develop shingles a week after getting the vaccine, it won't be reported.

In fairness the patients themselves could file a report but I am too lazy!

I’ve had covid once and 3 jabs. Cancelled ongoing. Felt like shit and side effects rough

I'm pregnant, so offered a booster. I had my flu jab no problem, I have it every year. I haven't decided whether to have the covid jab yet. Main reason is the last jab (3rd) made me very unwell. High fever, weak, generally just not well at all. I had covid once that I know of and was not hugely unwell (though that could have been due to vaccination). I'm not sure if I should take something that made me so unwell in the third trimester of a pregnancy that is already high risk, had lots of complications and has made me unwell itself. I'm not sure its right for me. My parents meanwhile I've encouraged to get it as they didn't really have a reaction to the last one. If it didn't make me unwell I'd have accepted it no issue, same as flu.

I won’t be having any more covid jags. Don’t have the flu one either. Just not convinced it’s necessary, or any better/safer to have yet another one.

Friend of mine who worked in an ITU over covid said that by far the most traumatic thing was the large number of babies delivered by emergency section who left hospital without their mothers who had died of covid.........pregnancy is a very good reason to get it.

"Why put yourself at such risk with no protection ?"

My immune system is plenty protection.

I feel the same. I'm 53. The side effects of all the 4 jabs I've had put together were nothing compared to how terrible I felt the one time I had Covid. I wouldn't like to think what my Covid symptoms might have been like if I hadn't been vaccinated. If they become available privately I will pay to have them annually to maintain ongoing immunity.

I'm not having another Covid jab. As far as I know I haven't had Covid and I'm not worried about getting it.

I'm having it, just as I always have the flu jab. It's updated to reflect the circulating strains and I appreciate the opportunity to reduce the risk of serious illness. There appears to be evidence of enhanced immunity after third and fourth doses but the evidence base is still fairly weak and we know immunity wanes from both infection and vaccine.

OP you asked about transmission risk - this study appears to show a reduced transmission risk with vaccination, particularly with boosters.

I have my flu and Covid boosters booked for the first week of October.

I've had all of the boosters I have been offered so far (4 or 5, lost count) and I'll continue yearly now for as long as they are offered to me.

I'm overweight and with type 2 diabetes, plus I have an elderly and vulnerable mother (who will also be getting hers) so I feel it is a good idea.

Interesting. I have an acquaintance in the care sector who is not having a fourth jab because "this doesn't address the latest strain". Anyone medical know otherwise?

I’m having it on 14 October. It may or may not be the reason that despite being in the previous CV group (not ECV) that when I’ve had it it’s presented only like a mild cold. But then I’ve not had more than a mild flu like reaction to vaccines. I’ve had all of them, AZ, Pfizer, moderna, all fine. Getting flu jab too.

We're having ours in a couple of weeks. OH is ECV due to cancer, so it's essential for us to protect him as far as possible. I think we've had about 5 or 6 jabs so far, and none have caused side effects, but even if there were side effects, we'd still continue as OH basically doesn't have an immune system and would really struggle to fight covid if he caught it.

Yes, that's what I wondered, why you didn't report it. If lots of people report the same thing then a pattern might emerge. You could still do it?

I had the Covid booster last week and flu jab today. If you're identified as being at greater risk of comlications from Covid then I just feel it's wise to get it. I am more vulnerable to Covid than some others and I just don't want to risk it. I do know people who've become very ill with Covid or have had long Covid for one or two years. My immune system always seems to be rather feeble (I almost always have a cold) so I'll accept all the help I can get.
I had Pfizer and no side effects.

My understanding is that it includes the XBB1.5 variant but obviously not yet against BA.2.86 given how new it is.

However Moderna have said it appears to work against BA.2.86.

I’m fit and healthy with strong immune system but the vaccine trains your body to react to Covid so the boosters are any extra protection.

My friend died of Covid in December 2020 - just before he was due his first vaccine. He was fit and healthy until Covid destroyed his body and he died two days after a positive test.

Another booster will push up your antibodies for 2-3 months, that's about it. This can be a good thing if you really need that added boost, but since you have had the full course and also had Covid, plus your last booster made you feel dreadful, I would tend towards leaving out this jab. You will have T cell protection of course.

The jabs won't stop you catching the virus but they will reduce the severity for most people. The other thing is, OP are you entitled to get Paxlovid? That's really the key thing if you start getting sick with it again, get a course of Paxlovid.

I had to have the first one as I was having cancer treatment at the time. I had the second one after treatment. However, I'm not having any more. It caused horrendous palpitations and I didn't feel "right" for a long time after. I'm not anti-vax at all, far from it. I will go and have my flu jab but I feel uncomfortable having more Covid jabs.

Just getting over Covid, first time and it's floored me, I'm on day 8 and had 5/6 days in bed with a fever, it was horrendous. I've had the jabs and boosters, hate to think what I'd have been like without them.

I'm not anti vaxx by any means (I've just shelled out for DS to have his chicken pox vaccine) but I am worried about having another Covid jab. The jab messed around with my otherwise very regular cycle and did similar to friends of mine. It obviously hasn't done any lasting damage because I am pregnant again but I'm worried about possible effects on the pregnancy. I was one of the many women who reported side effects to yellow card and I don't feel like our concerns were taken seriously.