What is primary dose vs booster for COVID Vaccine?

[Jenny_F]

I am confused about third primary covid vaccine dose vs a booster. I have had a Pfizer booster vaccine - does primary dose mean I need another in 12 weeks? The MPN Voice letter didn’t seem to make any difference when I sent it.

[MCW22]

The vaccine is the same, it's what gets written on your records that is different. It needs to be logged on your records as 3rd primary dose so that in 6 months you can get a booster. Hope this helps.

Carol

[mhos61]

Hi Jenny_F.

The actual vaccine shot is the same regardless of the terminology used.

To differentiate the terminology.

The severely immunocompromised (including all blood cancers) have been advised to have a ‘Third Primary Dose’ Vaccine as part of their initial course of treatment.

This is to hopefully ensure a better antibody response. We will then be called for a ‘Booster’ in six months. So, unlike the general public we will actually receive four doses overall.

There has been a lot of confusion over the terminology, even amongst some healthcare professionals, which hasn’t helped the situation.

To make matters worse. It would also seem there is some difficulty in recording the correct ‘Third Primary Dose’ terminology on some systems, and ‘Booster’ has been recorded instead. This was the case for me, the GPs Practice system could only record my ‘Third Primary Dose’ as a ‘Booster,’ but at my insistence a note has been left on my medical records (I’ve checked this out).

This confusion may create issues in six months time for some.

Hope this helps!

[moo196]

It should be recorded on your records as third primary dose and when decisions have been made to offer another booster to immuno suppressed it should be possible to see that and get another booster.

[HazeBlue]

I was told the booster is the same dose (Pfizer) it’s called third primary dose for people immunosuppressed I was told my booster will be in six months. It’s likely everyone will have a yearly one in future like the Flu injection. .

[Jean24]

My husband saw his consultant yesterday, I asked him if my husband needed a 3rd vaccination, or the booster. This is booked for Friday. He needs the 3rd vaccine. So once at home rang up vaccination center to inform them. So Friday he's got his 3rd vaccine and will be recalled in 6 months for his booster. Hopefully a little bit closer for him to get back to a near normal life. Not just hospital, doctors or dentist. This as been his life since March last year.

[EPguy]

In the US, there are three categories: Primary, which is the two shot series of Pf or Mod, or one shot of JJ.

Next there is an "additional dose" which is for us, considered immune compromised. This is the same dose as primary for all vaxes. 100mcg for Mod, 30 mcg for Pf. JJ is not well defined by dose size but it is the same for all.

The third option is "booster" for over 65 and many others. Booster is 50mcg for Mod, and Pf is the same at 30mcg. There is some suggestion that JJ patients get an mRNA vax as a booster, I've not seen re "third dose". But if you can get Mod, it does have more vax than Pf for any dose.