CLL Support, the parent charity of this site, has posted very useful information about the difference between a booster and a third dose. There's also a lot of general information about covid vaccine safety in general and, specifically, the risk of having a clot.
The third dose for the immunocompromised is an addition to the primary course (first two doses of the vaccine) to try and raise the level of immunity among the immunocompromised to match the immunity of the rest of the population.
Booster vaccines are likely to then be given on top of this in the New Year, approximately 6 months after the immunocompromised have received their third dose.
Thanks Jackie. I don’t want to be picky but in the “who is eligible for the third dose” section the wording appears to differ and be narrower from the original JCVI wording and also the infamous 2nd September letter. The wording as used by CLL support could be interpreted as excluding many who should be eligible ie. those “on follow up”. Has there been further clarification or is this just an interpretation of the original advice? Thanks
David, my honest answer is 'I don't know". This document was written with reference to experts and the information from JCVI. I'll try to find out but pkguk2 may be able to help here.Jackie
The green book says:individuals under follow up for a chronic lymphoproliferative disorders including haematological malignancies such as indolent lymphoma, chronic lymphoid leukaemia, myeloma, Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia and other plasma cell dyscrasias (Note: this list is not exhaustive)
This is the same wording as the JVCI advice.
The CLL support page says;
The JCVI advice says this should include people with acute and chronic leukaemias, who are undergoing treatment, or who will not achieve a cure within 12 months.
Thank you Jackie for this information. I am relieved to hear the immunocompromised will be receiving a different vaccine from the original AZ as research supports this.I contacted my GP & Haematologist yesterday as this post advises. I did this following a post from someone who was about to receive a Pfizer vaccine. Both said they are awaiting government advice on how to proceed with all vaccine programmes and they would get back to me ASAP. If I don’t hear in the next week I wonder if it is ok to forward them a copy of your post?
Help I rang my specialist nurse (I have had Obinutumazab Feb - June and on venetoclax full dose til March next near) she says that booster and 3rd jab are the same and that I have to wait to be called for booster.. Now what. Should I do??
I don't think it's very joined up at the moment as some have heard and already had it and others like you, not heard anything. I can only say to wait and see if you're called soon.
Thank you Jackie, there is a lot of confusion around the various communications and the Q&A piece made perfect sense. I concur that the health professionals need to get their heads around it to ensure the advice we receive is consistent. Thank you
Thanks so much… perfect timing… and very clearly explained. It’s been an odd morning!I called our GP surgery to ask about the third dose for Paul ( who is in hospital for his 50mg Venetoclax ramp up) because the consultant had said he should get it before starting Rituximab once he’s reached 400mg , and she didn’t really know, but was very helpful and said she would investigate and call me back.
In the meantime, Paul called from the hospital and said he’d just received an NHS text, inviting him to book( which I have done for Monday… so I’m hoping Paul will be released from hospital by then!)
So I called our surgery back and explained. They didn’t understand the difference between a third dose and a booster, but I explained. I have to say we are incredibly lucky with our receptionists!
Jackie, sorry to be a nuisance…I’ve just read the full information from CLL U.K. support and am concerned because it says: “important, if you are eligible for the third vaccine, do not book a booster using on line service, you should be sent a letter”
Is it okay that Paul had a text telling him, as a CEV patient to book a booster on line? That’s what I did for him. Presumably the dose etc., will be the same, regardless of what they call it….hopefully the Pfizer, since he had Oxford AZ for the first two…?
maybe booking on line marks one up as having had the booster and since we should be eligible for a booster after the 3rd jab it might be when you try for the booster later on it will be tricky??
I have just had my invitation for the booster too ! so I'm going to take it and ask the medic on site to register it as the third of the first cycle ...no harm in asking I thought to myself
Fran, as others have said I wouldn't worry for now. Just grab the opportunity to have that third vaccination as it has worked wonders for some people who previously had no antibodies.Jackie
Your husband does meet the criteria for the Third Primary Dose, so he should ask that it be recorded as such, so there's no argument later if and when boosters are on offer for immunosuppressed individuals.
I had my third shot today and the senior nurse at the practice confirmed that the dose (Pfizer) is the same as the booster dose. Both 0.3 ml.
thank you I have written to my practice manager this morning so we shall see where that gets me other than a black star on my record as a founder member of the awkward squad
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