Covid 19 Spring Booster (4th jab)

[Desanthony]

Hello friends,

My wife, suffers from Asthma, Bronchiectasis, and has an aspergillus growth in her left lung. Here in Wales she has been told that she doesn’t qualify for this jab. I find it really weird that my daughter-in-law who is obviously younger who only has Asthma and my son who suffers from no lung complaint have both had this booster - the only difference is that they live in England.

Apparently my son was given this vaccine so that if he would be less likely to contract Covid 19 and pass it on to his wife.

Really annoyed at this.

[Woolly-gal]

I have had 5 jabs, spring booster being the 5th. I live in Scotland.

[Desanthony in reply to Woolly-gal]

I think we need to emigrate don’t know anyone who has had 5 you are doing well.

[Oshgosh in reply to Desanthony]

I’m in England,have auto immune diseases plus interstitial lung disease.I had my 5th vaccine a month ago

[Maggity in reply to Woolly-gal]

If you don't mind me asking woolly gal - what conditions do you have? I am in Scotland and have only had three! Thank you

Maggie

[Woolly-gal in reply to Maggity]

Hi Maggie. I have severe COPD.

[Maggity in reply to Woolly-gal]

So have I, am in East Ayrshire so it seems it's a bit of a lottery up here as well. All the best to you 😒

[moirarichards in reply to Woolly-gal]

wow doesn't this tell you something!?

[CarolMcl]

That's shocking, it is a respiratory disease after all. I've had 5, I'm in Scotland also

[Maggity in reply to CarolMcl]

Hi Carol, if you don't mind me asking, what conditions do you have? I am also in Scotland and have only had 3.Thanks

Maggie

[CarolMcl in reply to Maggity]

Hi Maggity. I have raynauds, SLE with scleroderma overlap, lung fibrosis, pneumonitis and osteoarthritis . I'm also immunosuppressed due to methotrexate and retuximab

[Maggity in reply to CarolMcl]

Thank you Carol and all the very best to you 😊

[CarolMcl in reply to Maggity]

Thanks. You too, take care 😊

[madonbrew]

I’ve also been offered my 5th although apparently it’s best to wait 6 months from your last booster so I’m waiting a little while longer to get it.

[Hidden]

If she hasn't done so already get her to speak to her respiratory consultant and for them to write a 'to whom it may concern letter' instructing that she have the 4th jab. The JCVI rules say that if a clinician considers that a person's condition means that they are at risk of being more affected by covid or the condition being worsened by covid they should instruct that the patient have the 4th vaccine. Then book it and take the letter. I had to do this because my GP insisted that I was not eligible. My resp con wrote the letter. The vaccination centre never asked to see it. They just wanted to get the vaccine into me.

[Desanthony in reply to Hidden]

Yes that may be a little more difficult than it seems but worth a try - thing is they actually stop giving the booster on June 30th so doubt we could get that done in time.

Not long after my sister got Covid she was given an appointment for the vaccine. We told her a friend of ours had been refused the vaccine because they had had Covid within the previous month. She telephoned and asked would she be able to have it as she had not long had Covid. So, got there, gave them all the details only to be told she couldn’t have it because she had had Covid within the last month - sharp intake of breath.

[Hidden in reply to Desanthony]

🤦‍♀️what can you say!!!!

[CDPO16]

It really is confusing and varying so much around the country. I live in England was surprised to receive a text message and an email from the NHS last Thursday telling me that I was eligible for a spring booster. I booked an appointment at my local vaccination centre for yesterday. When I arrived I was asked by one of the nurses if I had received a letter from my GP to which I said that I hadn't, just had the text and email messages. She said that these seem to be being sent out quite randomly in England.

She took a verbal history of my diagnosis (end stage emphysema) and the multiple courses of prednisolone that I've had over the winter and was satisfied that I qualified for the booster. I accepted having it but the system is very confusing and unfair with no information forthcoming from the government now which doesn't help.

[Hidden in reply to CDPO16]

My consultant describes the whole thing as 'a dog's breakfast'. That sums it up.They are denying it to people with serious lung conditions or making us jump through hoops or like me, embark on a roundabout exercise of idiot avoidance to get it. Yet they are giving it to people whose immune systems don't work and show no reaction to the jab. I despair.

[Patk1 in reply to Hidden]

Most immune suppressed do react to the covid immunisation.it helps to protect them as THEY r the MOST vulnerable to severe covid,hospitalisation and death.they neeed it most often as the protection it gives,,wanes quicker

[Hidden in reply to Patk1]

My friend, who is with the same consultant. He has had 5 vaccines and still showing no reaction. Great for those it does help.

[Patk1 in reply to Hidden]

They only test for antibodies.but the protection can be in other Tcells etc. They obvs think its offered protection frm severe covid.i hope se protects herself with mask etc

[Hidden in reply to Patk1]

It’s a man with bronch whom I work with. He has been unable to come since the outbreak of covid and like me was shielded and of course is taking all precautions.. Whilst our consultant says that I can return to guiding ( although I am feeling iffy about a 48 student group I had this week) she is adamant that he should not as he has no protection at all. His immune system seems to be totally shot poor guy and it is worse, because his wife is extremely ill and he is always in hospitals with her.My actual point was that as covid is a respiratory condition, all those with serious lung conditions are in danger from it and should not have been excluded from the spring booster. Many consultants such as mine and that of someone who posted yesterday have acknowledged this and written letters which have over ridden the wrong interpretation of the eligibility conditions and enabled their patients to have the 2nd booster. When I wrote to the JCVI they replied, pointing me to the paragraph in the eligibity which states that if a clinician considers that a patient is at more risk of a serious result of having covid or of an existing condition being worsened by covid ( I paraphrase) they should recommend that the patient have the 2nd booster. Thank goodness that many consultants, often prompted by patients, have found this paragraph and acted on it.

[moirarichards in reply to Patk1]

I'm 68 asthmatic had None. Not one

And I will not have flu either.

[peege]

I've read of people in your wife's situation just turning up at a vaccination centre with some form of medical ID and getting the booster on the spot. Worth a try both in Wales and over the border in England- if its not too far.

[B0xermad]

That's unfair ,I took my diagnosis paperwork to the centre and they gave it to me,I did book an online appointment saying that I am eligible. I have bronchiectasis asthma and copd

[MoyB]

I'm not technically eligible as am only 71, but I went in with my husband and they agreed to do it when I explained that I was on the original shielding lists due to having COPD, asthma and bronchiectasis. There was no hesitation! Is it worth your wife just turning up and asking? I suspect that if they are having a slow day with not so many people coming for the jab, they will do it rather than waste the vaccine. xx MoyPS I live in England.

[Holby01]

Hi. I am in Wales and have all the same as your wife. I wasn’t called for the 4th jab, so I phoned up to enquire. I am 62. They asked me why I thought I was entitled and who my consultant was. They checked and phoned me back with an appointment.

[Patk1]

Perhaps yr son has needed steroids and reduced his imunityy

[Desanthony in reply to Patk1]

No, neither on oral steroids just his wife has asthma - only on inhaled steroids like my wife and they gave both the booster about 2 months ago. Even though younger than both of us - obviously they have had all vaccinations before we did here. I think we probably started off slower here in Wales.

[Alberta56]

Your poor wife. She has been very badly treated. I hope she can get her jab soon.

[Desanthony]

Now don't tell anyone but when the health board rang my wife back she told them she was on oral steroids (don't know why being on inhaled steroids doesn't count?) - not a total fib as she has been recently because of a chest infection they agreed to booster after checking with a pharmacist - she goes to a walk in this morning as the computers were down so couldn't make an appointment. She should now be called for all future boosters. I am amazed she did that because she is normally such a stickler and just wouldn't fib even to help herself.

[Annscottie in reply to Desanthony]

Well done to your wife. I hope all goes well this morning. I was told I wasn't eligible and I had a reply letter from the JCVI that didn't explain why a person who was previously on CEV shielding list with severe COPD and bronchiectasis couldn't have the Spring Booster. Despite the 'clinician paragraph' that Littlepom has already mentioned my GP said not eligible.My husband is 77 and so was eligible. He went to a walk in. He told the vaccinator about me and he said get her in we'll do it now. And they did!

I'm glad your wife is getting her jab. I feel so much safer having had it.

And to anybody else who should be eligible but isn't, keep on trying.

[Desanthony in reply to Annscottie]

All done. Also a nicer vaccination centre than our usual one. They weren’t supposed to open until ten but we got there at 9.30 and they just said come on in - out by 9.36. Had to wait at other centre we usually go to as they wouldn’t open until 10 even though they were there ready. Consequences were that the small car park was full and a dozen people waiting.

[Sandyj26]

I Have had my 5th last year and my husband. I have COPD and very low immune becouse I am on Biological drugs for RA