Booster or 3rd Primary - if only!

[Gilliancheche]

Booster/ 3rd Primary vaccination

Asked for help from GP as still no luck since getting the text to book my next vaccination. I received this response!

[lawra]

My GP told me to call 119. They can't book third prmary vaccines. So I waited. I got a text message this morning to book a booster. So I went online to book - says I'm not eligible. Phoned 119, their system says same. They said maybe because of the third primary, they don't know. Maybe it'll change in a few days, keep an eye on it. They also said that they are taking details of GPs who are saying it's not their responsibility and passing them onto local health authorities.... it is rather ridiculous - keep getting told I'm at increased risk and need a vaccine, been over 6 months since second - and can't book

[vonniesims in reply to lawra]

,me too. Online and 119 said I wasn't eligible. 119 told me to ring again next week! Rang GP for advise and asked if they sent a list somewhere of those eligible . She said they did and checked and said i am now on it.! so far am months and 2 weeks since last one

[Oshgosh]

What a discouraging text that sent you,hoping you have more luck.

[Runrig01]

I’m on 5 immunosuppressants, and my daughter was getting married, so was keen to get my 3rd dose. Got fed up with both specialists and GP denying it had anything to do with them. Got in touch with my MP and asked her to intervene as it had been announced 3 weeks ago, yet nothing happening. Yet boosters announced 1 week ago already started. She contacted the CCG who contacted my specialist and 48hrs later had my letter. Unfortunately not in time for the wedding with 60Guests. Thankfully no one got covid at the wedding

[rabbits65]

That’s typical of today isn’t it. A very cold unfeeling and uncaring badly written text message or email.

[Mmrr]

"We are having nothing to do with the boosters/3rd vaccines "

Sounds like your GP practice has made a choice not to be involved.

(I'm not playing with her, type comment).

Or do they mean...NHS England is taking forward vaccination for all GP practices ?

I'm being pedantic, I know.

[Fruitandnutcase]

Well, according to some guy talking on R4 yesterday morning - think he was Sajid Javid’s assistant - anyway, he said ‘there was no shortage of vaccine, or vaccinators, all they are waiting for is for ‘arms’ to come forward’. If you haven’t heard six months and one week after your second to call 119 or go online and book your own! I thought of everyone on here who has been trying to get 3rd / boosters for the last few weeks and thought ‘@#!?*#’

Husband and I are old enough to qualify now and we both got a text and an email telling us to go online and book which we did.

I’d say that notification from your surgery kind of smacks of ‘ we don’t give a toss’ doesn’t it.

[lawra]

So, I just got a text message from my GP telling me to take my letter to the local walk-in centre to get the third vaccination. So, definitely the way to go for those still waiting I reckon …

[Moomin8 in reply to lawra]

This is what I did, on advice from 119. I took proof of all my meds/infusions and injections, along with a copy of the jvci letter which I downloaded from the Internet - it states that I should have my 3rd vaccine due to everything I take. Although it had to be recorded as a booster vaccine, due to the system not recognising 3rd vaccines, I still had my 3rd vaccine at a walk-in centre 30th September.

[GinnyE in reply to Moomin8]

Same here.

[Pulfs]

My GP surgery is organising the booster vaccine, had mine 2wks ago and hubby is next week. Although it’s recorded as booster was just glad to have it and will see what happens in 6 mths when should be due for another. 1st 2 we’re Astra Zeneca this 1 was Pfizer. Felt better this time than last time. Got my flu jab next week. Had work timings out as got my Retuximab infusion on 19th November. Seems it depends on what part of country you live in and the GP surgery you’re with. Friends of mine live near Kingston upon Thames and have had to book all their vaccines even the flu themselves. As I’ve mentioned in other posts I live near Reading Berkshire and all seems ok here. Hope everyone is taking care x

[chunkypie]

How i understand it is you have to wait 6 months after your 2nd jab and currently its Health and Social workers first. So unless your in that category you have to wait for an invite. Although tbh i don't think GP's want anything to do with anything at the moment.

[Garnacha]

Had similar response, managed to find an email address for public health Wales vaccinations, listed all medications that I take & the advice from JCVI & had a reply that I have to have a letter from consultant, sent email to consultant secretary who's out of the office till Monday.

I have copies of repeat meds & "mysurgery" app which also shows the medications I'm on, am thinking of emailing the vaccine people again if I don't get a reply from consultant or he can't give me a referral letter (he's private but that should not be a reason for him not giving one) to say I can bring evidence if needed. The whole thing is an absolute joke, noone seems to know what their left hand from their right is doing 😳 x

[Clare-NRAS Partner NRAS]

All GPs will have received or should have received information from secondary care about who should be getting 3rd dose. It does vary around the country as to where you will be offered your 3rd jab - some have walkin centres and you just need to have your details with you of your previous jab or the invitation text to book. So far you're unable to book using the NHS app I believe but this is being looked at. There is NO DIFFERENCE between booster and 3rd primary jab....it's just terminology. so if you're offered a booster because you're over 50 and you had your last jab at least 6 months ago then TAKE it. We've heard of people saying no to booster as they have been advised they should get 3rd primary dose ...THE DOSAGE IS THE SAME. Hope this helps and we are working with many other charities to get a meeting with the vaccine minister to get more clarity as to communications. As soon as we know we will post updates on the NRAS website.

[Nordywalker in reply to Clare-NRAS]

Thank you Clare! This is really helpful👍!

[Briefencounter in reply to Clare-NRAS]

I had AstraZenica for my first two jabs . I spoke to my rheumatologist about a third jab and she said that she would look into this . As I hadn't heard from her I went for my booster jab after 6 months , which was the Pfizer jab and written on my card as "booster" . A few days later I received a copy of the letter that the rheumatologist sent to my doctor . In this she said that I qualified for a third jab which SHOULD BE THE SAME as the first two jabs , followed by a booster 6 months later .

Can I still count this Pfizer jab as my third and have another Pfizer in 6 months time ? I did have a strong reaction from the Pfizer after two AstraZenicas but no reaction after the first two AstraZenicas .

[stella100 in reply to Clare-NRAS]

Thank you for this information. Very confusing letters, text messages and emails from various places within 2 days!

[Clare-NRAS Partner NRAS]

That is a tricky one. Ideally they are saying that for the immunocompromised population they should get the same 3rd dose as previous two doses however in my FB live session with Prof Stefan Siebert, it was discussed that far better to get 3rd jab as soon as was possible and you were eligible and that there was 'some line of thought' that having a different 3rd jab could be more beneficial but the OCTAVE DUO study is still ongoing so we haven't the evidence yet to say for sure either way. I will attempt to get a more definitive answer for you regarding your next booster and which it should be but we may not yet have that data.