Further to the advice we issued on 30th September regarding the 3rd dose COVID vaccination for people with MPNs. We are aware that many people are reporting issues with the rollout of the 3rd dose and that some GPs or treating teams haven’t been made aware that they should be giving people with blood cancer, which includes MPNs, a 3rd dose, and that they are struggling. You can contact your GP and your haematology team asking them to book you in for a 3rd dose, showing them the letters issued by MPN Voice and Blood Cancer UK (which includes a letter from NHS England). See links below to download and print these letters.
It is really important that if you are called for booster dose and are offered the Moderna vaccine, you should NOT get that instead of your 3rd dose, this is because the Moderna vaccine is given as a booster dose, there is less of the vaccine in the vial than when it is given as a 3rd dose for the immunocompromised, you should elect to have the Pfizer vaccine. Blood Cancer UK have issued advice which we advise you read, click here. bloodcancer.org.uk/news/wha...
You can download and print the letters using the links below:
Thanks Maz, my local gp has a notice not to contact them for covid vaccinations, contact the NHS. Should I just book one but specify it has to be Pfizer?
Thank you so much Maz for this information I'm in Wales and my GP are not giving anymore Vaccinations and have directed me to the Vaccination call centre so hopefully they will book me in for a third dose. Thanks again for all your help.Claire
Hi Maz, thank you for posting. I am sure that this will help a lot of people on here. I have a question I hope you dont mind answering. Is this third dose just for immunocompromised people or is it for all people who have an MPN. For example, I have ET Jak 2, platelets 586 and am only on asprin and no other meds. Is this third dose for people like me to or only people on immunosuppressant meds? Thanks BX
Apologies if I've missed it but do you know if people who were on the clinically extremely vulnerable list will automatically get sent letters inviting them for their booster jab?
Hi Mark, the advice issued by Blood Cancer UK is :
Not sure if you're eligible for a third dose?
If you’re not sure if you are eligible for a third dose, a good rule of thumb is that if you have blood cancer and were told earlier in the pandemic that you were clinically extremely vulnerable, then you should probably be getting a third dose.
Thanks for that Maz, at the moment my GP are not offering any boosters for Covid.On another question, I had to have the AZ jabs as I have very bad allergies to penicillin and Lots of other drugs unfortunately but was alright with the AZ. And also have antibodies as I am tested for covid and antibodies every month with ONS/Oxford/Government study which is good.
So my question is do I risk the Pfizer as presume the AZ is not going to be offered. But concerned that it was a flat no for me when I went for the first jab. Not sure what to do
Hi Jean - I'm in the exact situation as you. I am allergic to penicillin and other drugs and had the AZ vaccines for that reason. I have no idea of my antibody status though. Kari. 🤔
Hi, I am severely allergic to Penicillin too and I had both my jabs as Pfizer and was totally ok, this still means you need to contact your haem team but just to let you know.
Thanks Maz, the problem with the rollout was highlighted in the BBC radio 2 news this morning. Wales NHS has not a clue, and are denying any such thing as a third dose exist. I spent most of yesterday explaining to a bunch of non interested morons, to absolutely no avail.
Thank you for this information. I, expect along with most others, got a letter from Rt Hon Savid Javid yesterday advising that I no long need to shield!! How late for these letters to be sent. Advise that all who you invite into your home have a lactic flow test beforehand and wear masks. Will be a relief to get the 3rd jab.
Yep got that as well. All a bit late really as I have had family in my house, and as the weather has taken a turn for the worst I am not having windows and doors open. 🥶
Thanks so much for the information and clarification. I rang my surgery and found once again that I'd been missed from their contact list. However,the receptionist was aware of the 3rd dose and I'm booked in!
Hi maz I do find it a up hill struggle and so disheartening when dealing with my gp surgery. I have to constantly remind them I have a clinical need and not because of my age of 68yrs is this normal???? I find your article on the third dose extremely helpful
HI Grizly, I am sorry you are having these problems, it is advisable to discuss any issues you have with the practice manager, or office manager, in the surgery. Maz
So i can understand, what would the difference be with this or waiting for my booster jab which i will be eligible for on the 22nd October (6 months after my last one).
If i have this would i then expect a further booster in 6 months, or is this dose different from the intended dose delivered by the booster program?
Many thanks for that info. I’ve been told by my GP’s practise I have to wait 6 months after having my 2nd jab. This now sounds like it is not the case.
Hi,I took the 2 letters to the GP this morning on behalf of my daughter who has the booster booked for tomorrow afternoon. The doctor told me the vaccine dose and the booster dose are the same so the letter caused a bit of confusion.
Apparently they need to put a different code on her notes so that she gets a recall for a 4 th vaccine/booster.
I'd like to know if that information is correct, and if it is hopefully it might help someone else who continued too confuse their GP!
I'm in the US where the 3rd dose/booster may have different details but maybe helpful info here. Booster is for the general public and 3rd dose is for immune compromised, I think that is the same as UK.
My understanding of the Moderna is 100mcg for a 3rd dose (and 1st-2nd), and 50mcg for the "booster". Moderna 50mcg booster is not yet approved in US, but 100mcg 3rd dose is.
*If* the 50 and 100mcg dosing is same in UK then any Moderna dose will have more juice than the 30mcg Pfizer doses. I tried to get the Moderna 100mcg as 3rd dose but cannot since I had Pfizer before. But I would gladly also take the 50mcg option if I had it.
Interesting info from LLS org (Leukemia society ) posted elsewhere here is that MPN's get a 97% response to the initial vax set. LLS is lately focusing their vax study on other blood cancers. But I'm all for a 3rd dose anyway.
This is extremely confusing - surely the ‘third jab ‘ is the booster which I had yesterday? Or is there yet another jab which I should have had before the booster? Please clarify this if possible. SkipperL
I phoned 119 to book a third dose and they could not help as they are only booking booster doses. I cannot book a booster dose as it is not yet six months.
My GP is no longer doing Covid vaccinations and the receptionist said to book a booster when I have been notified for it, via the NHS number.
I shall try to phone the receptionist on Monday about a third dose. Thank you for the letters.
Wonder if you know about the time frame between second and third shots ?
Is it 6 months or can it be a shorter period ?
As I’m in Australia we are still rolling out second jabs. I had AZ and last one was June and as our lockdown is due to finish I’m very anxious about my immunity. My haematologist told me last week we wouldn’t even be considered until at least 85% of population was vaxxed !!!
I’m sure my own GP will be more willing to accomodate my needs especially when I give her your information.
I hope you are well. Like others on here the whole 3rd jab/booster thing is tricky to navigate between haematology and GP.
However I was able to book what I assumed was a 3rd dose last Friday with my GP practice and showed them the MPN letter and Blood cancer Uk one.
I specifically asked if this was a full dose and not a booster and was told it was. Though looking through the immunisations on patient access I can see it was 0.3 and wondered why i didn't get much reaction to it compared to the 0.5 of AZ x 2.
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 30micrograms/0.3ml dose concentrate for suspension for injection multidose vials (Pfizer Ltd)
Do you think this will be okay of should I try again?
Hi Jon, yes thank you I am very well, I hope all is ok with you. I checked this with Prof Harrison and she has confirmed that 0.3 is a full dose Pfizer.
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