New guidance issued Christmas eve:

[AutumnJ]

gov.uk/government/publicati...

[mrsjsmith]

Thank you,

Just when I think I can’t get anymore depressed. Just seen online the area of London I live in has the 5th highest rates in the country.

And to anyone who does online shopping check delivery dates. Even though I am on their priority list next Sunday was the first delivery I could get with Waitrose, obviously New Year won’t help.

Colette ☹️

[Shooey in reply to mrsjsmith]

Doesn’t surprise me Colette, apparently, according to my Waitrose delivery guy last week they’re dropping like flies so I guess we have to expect some disruption. Must admit I am getting a bit bored of turkey now!Take care

Shooey

[mrsjsmith in reply to Shooey]

Yes I did wonder if they were allowing for less drivers.It’s only once a year so today is the last cold Turkey 🦃

Colette

[Shooey in reply to mrsjsmith]

Haha, risotto tonight to use the last of the gammon then all I have to do is wade through two Christmas cakes, difficult job but someone has to do it!

[mrsjsmith in reply to Shooey]

I am very jealous I didn’t have any Christmas cake this year, but I do love risotto.

Colette

[cllady01 Former Volunteer]

While I am not in UK, the statement regarding not being in close contact for 14 days with another who has just received a COVID vaccination is something I have not seen before.

[mrsjsmith in reply to cllady01]

Nor me. I always thought it was live vaccines that could shed

Colette

[MickUK in reply to mrsjsmith]

I suspect that advice is because the vaccine does not become effective until 10-14 days after vaccination.

[cllady01 Former Volunteer in reply to MickUK]

That is most likely the reason, and that explanation stated would be most helpful.

[Annie1920 in reply to cllady01]

I didn't know that either.. Maybe it's new advice??

[MickUK]

Thank you for posting that - I have just printed it for future reference.

It is good to have all the rules and advice in one official document.

[Annie1920 in reply to MickUK]

I have done that too. The Bristol commissioning group pathway doc is excellent plus this one plus the government advice sheet to GPs which mine hasn't seemed to have read yet!

[bennevisplace]

Thanks for posting.

The main problem with this guidance is that it leaves room for doubt as to whom it applies. The eligibility categories are vague e.g. "certain types of cancer" and reference to the more specific government and JCVI guidance is missing.

The statement that individuals to whom this guidance relates have been identified by their eligibility for either the third primary vaccination or the new treatments is hilarious, in a deadly serious way.

How many of us have been individually informed of our eligibility for new treatments? I certainly have not.

How many of us had to fight to establish our right to a third primary vaccination? I certainly did.

[mrsjsmith in reply to bennevisplace]

Sorry so far I have had no problems 🤞

[MickUK in reply to mrsjsmith]

That's brilliant, I'm really pleased for you.

It just goes to show that if the correct message is sent, received, read and understood things can actually happen as they are supposed to happen.

Left and right hand coordination please NHS.......

[mrsjsmith in reply to MickUK]

Agreed I was lucky with my local health authority ( now called a federation ) so vaccines no problem. But we always need to be aware sadly of what is expected.

Colette

[Annie1920 in reply to bennevisplace]

Me too.. Gp was not v pleased to be asked for a letter to take for 4th jab and the unit on 119 for wrongly labeled vaccine 3 will take til end of Jan to actually do it!

[Mtk1 in reply to bennevisplace]

Spot on, and if you read Newdawn’s latest post you see that not everywhere is up to speed sadly. Ps I too have not received any communication.

[Indoorbowlers in reply to Mtk1]

My husband is still waiting for his letter too. I’ll be in that phone on 10th Jan if nothing received!

[stevebran in reply to bennevisplace]

My experience also but I make allowances for the NHS as I’m sure that they do not get the go ahead from the government until the last minute so they are already on the back foot. I am just so glad that we have our NHS. A completely different story with other health systems where only the relatively wealthy can afford the costs or insurance. We must all defend our “free at the point of delivery” NHS and guard against creeping privatisation. Be vocal, write to your MP (especially if you are represented by Conservative) and leave them in no doubt how important it is to us as individuals and as a community.

[bennevisplace in reply to stevebran]

I agree with the sentiment. By most international comparisons our healthcare system is egalitarian and good value. But how can you defend "free at the point of non-delivery"?

[newyork8 in reply to stevebran]

Free Regeneron (ronapreve), Evusheld, vaccines, tests, etc in the US. Drive through free testing. Free insurance for low income. Most insurance you can change doctors at will with little wait time. Do I want government bureaucrats deciding my health care? Appointments within days for many doctors. I'm not sure which system is better. Is NHS free or your higher tax rates pay for it? Our average blended overall tax rate in 20 to 25%. So the money we save can be used to pay for insurance. I think the different systems have pros and cons. Shingrix and Ibrutinib was approved years before the UK did. They really need to analyze which system is better.

[Psmithuk]

Thanks for posting this. I thought it was very helpful until I got to the last sentence. I pressed Wales, and found nothing at all about the new treatment arrangements, only outdated information about 'how to shield'. Cx

[Provence]

Thank you for posting this AutumnJ. What to me is not clear in this guidance is their advice to members of the same household. I live with my husband who is hesitant about putting too many vaccines in his body and has therefore been waiting until it is 6 months after his second vaccine before he gets his booster. That will be in January, which to me feels quite unsafe in the present surge of Omicron. I would have liked clearer statements in this guidance about what partners to immunosuppressed people should be doing.

[ViPOR]

Thanks for this site!

[janvog]

Interesting that a 4th vaccination three month' after the 3rd is now authorized for those with listed conditions. Some day.... this will also be authorized in the USA.....

[newyork8 in reply to janvog]

Anyone in US can go get vaccines when they want. Just go and ask for it. I had 4 with no problems...except they did not work!