Moderna and third vaccine

[DJK12]

I had the third vaccine at a mass vaccination centre outside Edinburgh yesterday evening. The admin lady who checked my appointment said it was going to be Moderna so I showed her the copy of the Blood Cancer UK letter- she checked with her supervisor who said I must discuss it withe vaccinator. He read it carefully and said it was right but wrong as they recognised (presumably updated advice over the last fortnight) we had to have full doses and therefore were giving third vaccine patients the full Moderna dose. He also checked my drugs and spent time checking ruxolitinib for contra indications. This is just my experience.

They also did my husband as he was only 10 days short of six months and had already been out there for his flu one nearly a fortnight ago, though his second letter hadn't come. ( We were near closing time and I suspect there was an excess of vaccines).

I listened carefully and he definitely got half the dose that I did. We were lucky as it was a very efficient and caring experience, though apparently there had been two hour waits earlier as there was a shortage of vaccinators.

We had both had our flu vaccines earlier, but in the future if we have to have these again and together I would certainly have the flu one in my dominant arm as both our covid vaccine arms are much sorer!

Diana

[ainslie]

I too had my third dose just outside Edinburgh on Friday at Ingliston, went armed with the MPN voice letter and blood cancer UK, I didn’t have to show any of it and on asking was told it was going to be Pfizer, my Haem said it should be Pfizer, I decided to postpone the flu one until a few weeks to avoid double whammy with potential side effects but happy to report no sides so far from Pfizer. It may be that a full dose of Moderna is okay but I hadn’t heard that, it’s a pity it’s so confusing when it doesn’t have to be, in the letter I got inviting me for the third shot it also said if there were supply probs with Pfizer or Moderna AstraZeneca was okay for third shot, even more confusing.....I have PV and on Rux

[DJK12 in reply to ainslie]

Very glad you got yours safely. It looks as if it is a fast moving world as we were at Ingliston 24 hours after you. The vaccinator reassuringly knew all about the difference between third vaccines and boosters - I was all ready to ask for his supervisor having already done it with admin! - and having the full dose as opposed to my husband's half dose I decided was acceptable. I've looked at reputable sites this morning and am quite happy. I have post ET MF at level 3.

Oddly my letter said nothing about which vaccines were available at Ingliston but I'd checked NHS Lothian site beforehand and it said all three were there.

The only problem we had was coming out into pitch darkness with no lighting and the guides had gone home so getting back to the car park was a bit tricky - as you'll know its quite rough going. Together with our phone torches and faint light from the airport control tower we navigated to the car - they must have done their health and safety checks when the days were longer.

[Leonardo]

Hi Diana, I live in Edinburgh and have to reschedule my Booster appointment as I have recently had Covid. If possible, could you give me the link to the Blood Cancer U k letter as I can’t track it down and would like to be able to produce it, as you did, in order to get the correct dose.Many thanks for the helpful information.Rosemary

[DJK12 in reply to Leonardo]

Hi Mary what bad luck to get Covid. I hope you are feeling better.

This is the letter I referred to which Maz put up a post about:

bloodcancer.org.uk/news/what-should-you-do-if-you-have-blood-cancer-and-cannot-get-a-third-covid-vaccine-dose/

I notice it has been updated on 6/10 - my copy was dated 30/9 - but it is still referring to Moderna only being offered as half a dose.

My feeling about it now is that it is actually aimed at NHS England patients as the roll out is being done completely differently in Scotland. It is important you have a letter inviting you for a third vaccine and not a booster - my letter from NHS Scotland was completely clear about that. A leaflet about third vaccines/immunosuppression came with the letter and I was offered another copy yesterday.

I also think the information about which vaccine to have has probably been updated in Scotland. I was anxious not to get offered a Moderna one because as you will see Blood Cancer UK said it would only be a half dose and therefore the full dose Pfizer was essential for us.

However yesterday at Ingliston it seemed clear NHS Scotland had addressed this and I was given a full dose of Moderna as a third vaccine. I was all ready to do battle but the wind was taken out my sails by the coherent explanation. My husband, with no MPN, was given a half dose of Moderna as a booster

It is all very muddling and if you're worried about what to get it would be better to speak to your consultant as I am obviously just a lay person and certainly not an expert.

Diana

[Leonardo in reply to DJK12]

Very many thanks for taking time to explain that. I will try to speak to Alexis - the excellent support nurse at Haematology in Western.Best Wishes, Rosemary

[EPguy in reply to DJK12]

At least in the US, the 3rd dose of Moderna is 100mcg, booster will likely be 50mcg. All adult doses of Pfizer are 30mcg. So if it's the same in UK and you want the max dose you should get either version of Moderna. (with your Dr approval of course)

[Jenny_F]

Did you all get contacted by the NHS? I am more than six months past my second jab and havent heard anything as yet.

[Red64 in reply to Jenny_F]

Hi, I recieved a text message on Thursday to phone to book in for my 3rd primary vaccine. I called my gp's surgery to book the receptionist confirmed it was for my 3rd primary not the booster and as I was about to ask about which vaccine she confirmed it would be the full dose of Pfizer. I am having it this Friday.

I was very impressed as I had just spoken to my specialist nurse who said that some people were struggling to get it from their practice.

I live on the Wirral Merseyside.

[jointpain]

Seems Scotland has got it's NHS working. Here in Wales it's still not being given to my wife. Even after contacting everyone that should be protecting her, that's her GP, her hematologist consultant, the mass vaccination centre, I've even asked the BBC Wales political program if they could find out why.She sees her hematologist consultant tomorrow, questions will be asked face to face, if he shows up.

[DJK12 in reply to jointpain]

Do you have an effective MS who might be able to ask questions for you higher up the health hierarchy? We have an energetic MSP who seems to be able to get answers when all else has failed.

[ET500]

Not all of Scotland has these things working.. Apparently my village is having a vaccine bus next week ( only stating 1day) but surgery has no information as to when, who should go or what vaccine given .. but both flu and boosters given together, is all they have been told. We had original vaccines ( 50+ )AZ through the surgery and was done very very well. As we have a large number,in the hundreds , how a bus will cope is another matter. NHS taking out of surgery hands.

[DJK12 in reply to ET500]

Yes the Scottish GPs - at least here - seem to have negotiated out of doing flu and covid vaccines. Messages to that effect on our surgery's website and the telephone message before you can get through.

My brother and brother-in-law both in the west of Scotland, in a village and town respectively, have heard nothing about either vaccines. I think NHS Lothian seem to have been quicker but the placing of that particular mass vaccination centre on the outskirts of the city was clearly a problem for some of the very frail people we saw on Saturday night - I'm not complaining as I'm relieved to have had it but we have a car and capable of getting ourselves to it without help. I know another has opened on the east of Edinburgh as a drive through so somewhat easier.

I booked a flu vaccine at our local pharmacy before NHS Scotland's letter appeared as I know my immune system is very poor - simple colds turn nasty quickly - and I was keen to get at least one vaccine as soon as possible. It was free as as I was entitled to one under the NHS. That worked well but it would have been done on Saturday if I hadn't had it.

I hope your bus turns up and you get some communication about it. It is the the lack of information about who to contact that makes it all so stressful.

[Adlon57]

Looks like something is happening in my favourite city of Edinburgh, good to hear, third vaccines are on the menu! I had my second jab, in April, and on the early waiting list for booster, but I'm in Norn Irelan [Northern Ireland], we are still waiting......🥱😴💤