Spring Booster 3 or 6 months?

[Jonnymitts]

Hi team, So I got a letter inviting me for a spring booster which was nice.

When you go to book it you get this info below,

You may be offered appointment dates from 3 months (91 days) after your last dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. But try to book an appointment around 6 months after your last dose to get the best protection from your spring booster.

So which one would you go for 3 months or 6 months bearing in mind infections are going through the roof at the moment?

Thanks in advance!

[Helpatlast]

I think the 3 month provision is there for those that particularly need a booster sooner rather than later, as I believe we all fall into that but as always its wise to check with your own consultant. I know i am booked in for the second booster 3 months on from my 4th vaccine in January.

[AndyT]

My understanding is that anyone who is classified as clinically extremely vulnerable, which includes MPN patients, should have their 2nd booster/5th dose three months after their 4th dose.For me that’s mid-April, so I’ll start chasing it then if no invitation comes through

[Trocken]

I’ve opted for the 3 month gap and get mine on Monday! I think we’ve been clustered with the over 75’s who may be better leaving it the 6 months. The guidance is just so confusing, I received a booster invite for my daughter who’s 15 she’s had two injections already, the info booklet that comes with it does provide an clarity on just how many injections she’s suppose to have and the governement wonder why the uptake on the vaccines is waining!

[MWxxxx]

Hi. I've also booked mine for 3 months which will be April. I agree the information was a bit wooly, seemingly leaving us to make the decision. I've based it on the fact that we should be due for a 6th vaccine 6 months after the 5th, so I wanted to time that in line with the autumn boosters. It also seems sensible to have my 5th now while numbers are higher in my area than they have ever been before, rather than wait until July, when hopefully things will have stabalised.

[Jonnymitts in reply to MWxxxx]

I will go for 3 months,

[AnBee in reply to MWxxxx]

6 jabs and you still classify it as a vaccine? It in no way is a definition of a vaccine. It more closely resembles a medication albeit provisional that doesn’t stop transmission

[MWxxxx in reply to AnBee]

I'm not sure what you mean? The definition of a vaccine is "a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies". I must have had about 10 flu vaccines and about 4 tetnus vaccines. Children get 3 x MMR; 2 x HPV and possibly 3 diphtheria and polio. There are not many vaccines that are one-offs.

[EPguy in reply to AnBee]

You're right it doesn't stop all transmission. Neither does any other vax. The covid vax's most essential function is greatly reducing the odds of the worst outcomes. I've posted elsewhere the clear and graphic effect on deaths that acquired immunity had comparing HK and UK in the Omicron age.

There is a trial of vaxes for MPN, see post here. I think all of us would gladly take this vax, even regularly, if it proves to greatly reduce the odds of worst MPN outcomes as Covid vaxes do for Covid.

healthunlocked.com/mpnvoice...

Further, if it reduced transmission only 20% for example, and the R factor (reproduction rate) were 1.1 that could take the R factor to ~0.9, meaning it could make the difference that infections are declining vs increasing. Of course this is over simplified but shows the varied utility of the vaxes.

[Lifam]

I had my 3rd vaccine (booster) before Xmas, and am having the 4th one end of this month

[ChillyAsh34 in reply to Lifam]

I have not had an invite for my booster and my 3rd Jab was in nov who do I contact

[NewBloom in reply to ChillyAsh34]

Hi, I had the same problem as yourself. I contact my Heamotologist who sent me an invite letter. Had my 4th (Booster) mid March, my 3rd was end of Nov. Good luck. X

[ChillyAsh34 in reply to NewBloom]

Seeing my hemotolgist on Thursday next week will mention it thank you

[Dream23 in reply to ChillyAsh34]

Hi was the same. Had my 3rd in October and wasn't contacted for a 4th or 5th. I asked my mpn nurse to email me a letter and went to a local mobile walk in a couple of days ago. I don't think they needed the letter.

[Oscarsboy in reply to Dream23]

Still have'nt been offered a 4th yet. Have a haemo follow up next week so will raise this too and see if it is possible to email a letter out. Thanks for the info. May have to wait a few weeks now though as just receovering from covid.

[kiwitraveller in reply to Oscarsboy]

I am in NZ just had my 4th - we are behind UK -!was asked if I had recently had COVID as if I had would then be covered for 3 months before I would need the jab -!if you get COVID you get the antibodies - maybe pay to check

[Lifam in reply to ChillyAsh34]

I had letter from haematology dept in hospital for 4th jab the my dr write me a referral. Anyway our government is now give 4th Jab to anyone over 65 anyway. I live in Australia

[Inclement]

I booked my 5th jab on the NHS site for 22 April which is exactly 3 months after 4th in Jan. I mentioned it to my MPN consultant during routine phone call last Tuesday, and she said she wasn't aware of a 5th jab being offered (!), but if I could it did no harm to have as many as offered, although my vulnerability was much more because of my age (74 in June) than my condition (PRV on 1000mg Hydrea daily). So I',m now wondering whether 2 years of almost complete isolation for myself and hubby were really so necessary!!

[Inclement]

PS Apart from receiving initial Vulnerable status letters I had no info from consultant or GP at all or NHS about 3rd, 4th or 5th booster so had to be proactive and took myself to walk-in centre at correct time period and received with no query, just showing random letters, and as I say the date for the 5th at Boots appeared when I tried booking on NHS site.

[AnBee in reply to Inclement]

There is no precedent or even research for these continual jabs except coming from the mouths of company executives. There is a complete breakdown going on of normal rprecautionary procedures for something that is novel and doesn’t stop transmission or deaths. What is going on here?

[AnBee]

I truly fail to understand why it is a booster is required. It either works or doesn’t. Giving more more often has no logic behind it. If it works why does it wear off 3-6 mths later. If it doesn’t work why keep getting boosters? What about all those people who have had the third booster and got the viral infection within a few wks as 2 of my family members. It obviously is not working and giving more of the same will do nothing for your health. There just appears to be a logical black hole here somewhere. It’s like the emperor’s new clothes.

[Aquinas in reply to AnBee]

I very much admire your bravery in being prepared to say things which are not part of the prevailing mindset. Personally I have given up even attempting to raise this issue with friends; relatives. The wrath of anyone challenged about the prevailing opinion is something to behold, isn't it ?. As I say, you are braver than I and I genuinely admire you for it, Anbee 🙂

[MWxxxx in reply to AnBee]

I think it works for a while and then wears off - our bodies are producing new cells all the time, old ones die. I think it is perfectly logical that a vaccine would wear off after a time. Yes, there are people who get the virus after having a booster - hopefully they didn't suffer as badly as they could have done without it. And at the moment there is little else better available. Personally I would rather have a booster than let the protection wear off completely and then catch covid. I fear I would not fair very well in that circumstance. If people choose not to take the booster that is fine and everyone is entitled to their opinion but for me, I am very happy to be getting mine in April.