No covid jab this year?

[elliejjtiny]

Me, dh and the dc have had the covid jab each winter since 2021. Me, DH and DS1 are in what was originally group 6 so we are considered vulnerable but not extremely vulnerable. Not sure about the other dc as i think children are categorised differently but they are vulnerable rather than extremely vulnerable too.

This year we got invited for our flu jabs as usual. No covid jab invites for any of us. I queried it and was told this year it's only over 75's who get it which makes no sense at all. I'm quite nervous now.

This was said on another thread on MN, posters were comparing the reference number (may not be the right term) of jabs offered in different places. I would imagine it just depends on where you have it. I paid to have it done privately but I wouldn’t think that anyone having it done at the same pharmacy on the NHS would get it from a different batch. I was perfectly well after having it, only a very minor ache in my arm but DH felt quite poorly for around 3 days, so there is that to consider.

I'm not in the eligible group. I asked my GP if I could have one because I have a chronic illness and every time I catch Covid, I have a relapse and become housebound and generally rather unwell for a long period. Tbe GP said I had given a good reasons and was willing to authorise one. As it happened, when so turned up at the surgery to make an appointment, I was told that they'd had several no shows and they were glad I was there because that would be one less dose to throw in the bin at the end of the day.

OP- you could try asking your GP if you could go on a waiting list to use up the doses of no shows. That's if of course it is possible for you to get to the surgery at the drop of a hat. Of you could even try what I did and see if the GP is willing to make an exception.

I meant to say that I got the jab in my arm when I turned up to book an appointment.

I didn't know you could pay for one; I would pay too. Thanks for that info. Neighbour's DH qualifies and she doesn't and guess what? She's had Covid for the last week.

That’s wrong. They will be the same vaccine offered by the NHS. Same as the flu one will be the same whether you go private or not

My mum just told me about this. My 74-year-old stepdad only got a covid jab as he has cancer. Her neighbour had to pay privately as they even though her husband is vulnerable. It seems mad to me, I am in Oz and in WA anyone can get a free covid jab in the chemist, you don't even need an appointment.

I was in the pharmacy the other day and woman in front of me had portable oxygen canister she was using. Despite having only 25%lung capacity apparently she didn't qualify for a free covid jab! Eek!

Because the nhs is underfunded and can’t afford to pay for it. Of course it would be included on the nhs if it had the means to do so

I’m frontline NHS staff and we are not being given it this year.

That's not necessarily correct everywhere. The pharmacy where I've had my last 5 Covid vaccinations offered a choice of two different ones last time (at different prices). As far as I'm aware, there is no choice offered on the NHS.

The pharmacist told me that the private one is different to the NHS one. When I questioned her, she said they cover different strains. She didn’t say one was better than the other.

It’s not only over 75’s, I am 48 and had mine as per usual (I have no spleen), I think if you are personally at risk then you are entitled to it

There’s no great shock in “woman who hasn’t had covid jab gets covid”

In saying you aren’t eligible they aren’t saying they don’t think you’ll catch it 🙄 it’s a reflection of the risk they think there is if you ending up needing significant hospital treatment!

Paid for ours at local pharmacy.

Yes, I think both my neighbour and I realise that, thank you🙄. But we both live with the extremely vulnerable in whom the vaccine may not be as effective as it would be in us two , so immunising us protects the people we live with

Having run this through chatgpt it confirms this.

It's ridiculous, the criteria is far too stringent this year. I have asthma, and even a cold can mean a course of steroids to calm the inflammation in my lungs. I've had 2 courses this year already. I'm 60, but didn't technically qualify for the Covid jab. I booked it online anyway, and went to my pharmacy for it, where I collect my prescription inhalers and steroids. The pharmacist asked if I qualified, I said I have to take steroids for my asthma, which do suppress the immune system, and he gave me the Covid jab. My dad, who is 92, with a heart condition and chronic kidney disease, refuses to have the Covid jab. So I see it as using a dose that would be wasted. I had Covid 2 weeks after having the jab, and I'm convinced I'd have been a lot worse if I hadn't had the jab. I was quite breathless anyway, and it took a while to go. So I'm grateful I managed to get the jab.

Letter with appt came today for next week. Spooky.

Both me (56) and our son (25) are without our spleens and we were able to have the vaccine, we’d just booked in with the local pharmacy and were asked our reason for having it. The pharmacist said that a weakened immune system qualified.

I think this is incorrect (chatgpt sometimes makes things up!)

I used to get it but no longer eligible (T2 diabetes). Paid around £70 for a private one - pharmacist said the private one is more up to date and better coverage than the NHS one they were giving!

No, they're different. We had ours at the same time, same pharmacy. I was private, OH was NHS. The leaflets given to each of us were different and the description on the NHS app as to the jab is different between us.

I think the phrase they use is immunocompromised or immunosuppressed and this is the only category outside of those over 75 or living in a care home which entitles you to the jab on NHS. So many people who were previously deemed vulnerable can no longer get it.

It’s awful really. If someone is deemed at most at risk and thus entitled under NHS, they should get the vaccination which gives most coverage.

The pharmacist told me they are different. I’m pretty sure pharmacists aren’t allowed to make things up. 🙄