Query about omicron

[Liz2468]

Hi all I would appreciate if anyone can help me information as I’ve had two vaccines and a top up I don’t get my booster vaccine until the end of January and the beginning of February will I be safe enough I hope everyone is doing well

[PMRpro]

When did you have your thrid primary vaccine - it wasn't a top up, it was part of the course for immunosuppressed people.

It should have boosted your immunity well - but they don't know how well the current vaccines will work for anyone against the Omicron variation. That means that really, nothing has changed. Hospitals are already manic and if the cases rise as is now expected, even if Omicron is milder for people who are vaccinated or fit, there will be very large numbers of patients and that will mean there will be increases in inpatients.

Personally, I'm carrying on as I did for the last 18 months: FFP2 mask everywhere, avoiding groups inside and even in the supermarket keeping as well away from people as I can by being picky about when I go shopping. And other shopping - only when I have to. I hate it anyway!

[sarahalice]

Hi Liz and all reading this.

I was going to ask about this ask well.

I have had my 3rd primary in September so was all ready to get my booster as I had letters telling me to do so. I contacted my GP, who said they are running behind so was best to ring 119. When I did I was told I would have my booster 6months after my 3rd which would make in March for me. 😡

I am very angry about this. Our 3rd primary is needed to get us the same protection as the general population with their 2 jabs. But they are getting their booster now.

So we, that needed the 3rd primary are going to be worse off as everyone else. I just don't understand why we are not getting our booster asap, especially as they are saying its the booster that is saving people from this new variate.

X

[PMRpro in reply to sarahalice]

It is for normal healthy people - 3 months after the 3rd primary you should still have fairly good cover if you had a different jab from th first two. But things are changing from day to day and they are now reducing the gap between the primary and booster doses to 3 months

theguardian.com/world/2021/...

Immunocompromised patients were mentioned - but it will take time to sort it out. GPs were at the back of the line knowing about the 3rd primary roll-out and patients were telling them what they should be reading.

They are struggling I think - not enough staff. And NHS hospital staff can't be spared this time.

I haven't changed my behaviour here in Italy - I didn't get a third primary, just a booster after 7 months, I have never assumed the vaccine makes a big difference, I survived last year, no different this year.

[Poshcards in reply to sarahalice]

Surely those now getting a booster is their 3rd type jab, we have already had our three jabs! x

[sarahalice in reply to Poshcards]

My point was that our 3 primary jabs = 2 jabs for someonewith a functioning immunesystem. So now they have the booster as well, they are a jab up with more protection then us. If we have to wait 6 months for the booster we might be left with hardly any protection at all?

X

[PMRpro in reply to sarahalice]

I think you will find that our 3rd vaccine took us up to the same level as their two - so now the spaces to a booster will be the same. One expert says he has always said 3 jabs were required for everyone to achieve a longer lasting immunity.

[sarahalice in reply to PMRpro]

Hi.Yes, That's what I said.

Our 3 is the like as others having 2. But those with 2 are having their boosters now so they be 1 jabs worth of extra top up .

[PMRpro]

The vaccines were never expected to provide 100% protection against infection for anyone - but to provide the best available protection against serious illness and death. Which they definitely do. Not that I want to try them out up close and persnal!

[PMRpro]

I'm not shielding in the UK sense - no opportunity to do so here, no online food shopping so if you don't go out to shop, you starve! But we must all still wear masks indoors except at home and outdoors if close to others. Italy has been far stricter than many other countries - as a result of our baptism by fire with Covid - but life here is pretty well back to normal otherwise and our infection figures in most regions are OK. Deaths are only amongst the unvaccinated.

Three shots of Pfizer provides better protection against Omicron than a flu vaccine provides against flu.

[PMRpro]

It all depends how you define shielding - and if it means remaining at home and having no contact with others as shielding meant in the UK to start with, no, and I haven't ever been able to do so for purely practical reasons. But I always wear an FFP2 mask and distance - which is the law here. My husband has been seriously ill for most of Covid and died at the end of October - not had much opportunity to socialise although we did have drinks outside in the village and had lunch out a couple of times. Saved a lot of money!

[PMRpro]

Really? What about flu? Viruses mutate - that's what they are born to do. And the reason numbers are apparently not rising in Africa is because they don't test as much because they don't have the infrastructure - what you don't know about you can't count.

You obviously haven't worked in a Covid ward recently.

[sarahalice]

Yes, many reports on the news including the BBC that the booster which is topping up your defences, is saving and protecting people from this new variant compared to just having the 2 jabs. The vaccines don't necessarily stop you from getting it.

[sarahalice]

Fingers crossed it doesn't need tweaking too much. Though sure they will constantly updating the covid vaccines for many years to come. X