Having had covid just over a month ago, how long should I leave it before getting my 2nd booster (5th jab)? I booked on line and immediately got an appointment for this week but am now rethinking I may have antibodies for several months and so jab would be better in the Autumn .
I know I should seek professional advice but haematologist says talk to my GP and GP appointments impossible to get.
Any thoughts please?
Sorry, should have said, am 70, have PV, and currently taking Rux and aspirin.
Hi JPI have always believed that better immunity can be achieved by contracting a virus naturally.
In your situation, I would certainly not be rushing to get another booster.
I had covid 2 years ago, so have felt no need to take any of the shots. I did get some sudden, very strong symptoms last month but I tested negative and it was over within a couple of days anyway. Other than that, I continue to be well.
I'm 80, taking Peg.
Thank you for your response, am leaning towards deferring .
Does your GP offer e-consultations? My surgery sometimes answers simple questions by email and they are much better qualified to advise you than we are.
Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately, my surgery has never got involved with vaccinations, the receptionist advises you contact the vaccination centre, neither do they give out the email. I think I'll try to find a telephone number for a vaccination centre, I actually spoke to somebody who new about MPNs at one of my previous appointments.
Per the CDC recommendation.
Early in the pandemic, the CDC recommended waiting 90 days after a COVID-19 infection to get a vaccination. Now that there’s a better understanding of the COVID-19 virus, the guidelines have changed. According to the CDC, after a COVID-19 infection, you can get a booster if:
Your symptoms have resolved.
You’ve isolated for the recommended period of time.
It has been 3 months (90 days) since you received monoclonal antibodies.
goodrx.com/conditions/covid...
Thank you Hunter,Clear, accurate information as always. Much appreciated.
Both my letter and the leaflet from NHS Scotland which accompanied my appointment for my 5th (spring booster) said under the heading 'Is there any reason I should not get my booster dose?":" If you have recently tested positive for COVID'19 - even if you have no symptoms - you should wait until four weeks after the date you were tested to get the vaccine".
As your haematologist won't engage nor GP your idea of checking this with the vaccination centre seems the best idea.
However before that as you are entitled to a duty of care from your GP, you're being fobbed off by them and emails (like my surgery) aren't available perhaps an old fashioned snailmail letter to your GP explaining your concerns, saying your haematologist says you must consult them and asking for an urgent reply might do the trick? The receptionist must pass that on to them.
The fact that NHS Scotland is recommending leaving 4 weeks and then having the booster would imply to me that the experts don't think immunity from having had covid lasts that long if you're on an immunosuppresant. You need this clarified though.
Thank you for your reply and the information. From that I would be OK to get jabbed timewise. I'll try to ring the vac centre tomorrow.I totally agree with you that GPs have a duty of care but I haven't got the energy or inclination to do battle.
I hope you manage to get some advice. I can't say I blame you not wanting to do battle - it is just sad that the system is so creaky and difficult to access at a particularly vulnerable time.
Have you had a negative Covid test since the infection? After a month it's very unlikely you're still positive but in rare cases it can happen.
Rux does affect your immune system so keeping up to date on vaxes is a good idea.
I think UK policy is more aggressive than US on boosters, we don't hear much about 5th doses here so far. My mid 90's parents got their 4th recently.
The May 24 update from CDC, link here, loosely keeps the option of waiting 3 months. But with your age and Rux therapy, the "sooner" part of CDC guidance Hunter notes makes sense. I'm 8 months since my booster, on the fence about #4, sort of waiting for an updated vax and relying on the "hybrid" immunity from my infection in early 2020- but this is not the advice our gov'ts are providing and probably not the best way to go.
The good news is you also have "Hybrid" immunity, with both infection and vaccinations. This is good quality type of protection since your body has reacted to two different types of immune challenge including the current Omicron variant.
In this forum, several UK members have had strong reactions to the Moderna doses as a 4th or 5th, with the Pfizer seeming to be less likely to cause that. Moderna has a larger sized dose.
I see you're in the MITHRIDATE trial. That is among the best MPN trials happening, look fwd to your good results.
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cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nc....
Hi EPguy,Thank you for your comprehensive response. I shall try to speak with a professional today but I think you and Hunter have given me enough information and I think I am going to cancel my appointment.
You are right I am participating in the Mithridate trial and as such I informed my haematologist when I tested positive. Given my mild symptoms I didn't take antivirals and I believe Rux has been trialed as a covid medicine, however, I tested positive for 16 days and have been like a wet blanket since - taking a long time to get over it.
My 3 primary jabs were Pfizer and my 4th booster moderna, I had no reaction to any of them, but my concern was is the vaccination at this point necessary ? I would say the guidance and common sense is saying no.
I'll post my decision and also give an update on the trial at 36 weeks which is in mid June.
Thanks for your help. It's good to discuss it with people in the same position.
Hi. As mentioned above you get asked by the vaccinator whether you’ve tested positive for Covid in the preceding four weeks or if you are experiencing any symptoms.
In terms of length between jabs (and I haven’t had Covid) I waited the full six months before my 5th jab. In hindsight that was a mistake. I should have got jabbed after four / five months as told immunity likely to have waned by months four to six leaving me potentially exposed. (Despite numbers decreasing nationally lots of people around me seem to be getting Covid and some are quite poorly.)
With regards to after effects. I was really wary given what other MPNers were saying. I too had Moderna for my fifth (that seems to be the only vaccine the NHS are issuing). I felt pretty ‘meh’ for 48 hours but I’m fine now.
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