Hello can anyone tell me if after having the 3 Covid vaccines do we then get notified to have a booster? Or should we speak to our GP about this?
Is the general advice to do 'shielding' again. I wonder if we will be sent a Gov letter about this. I am now generally taking more precautions.
The news today is that in general having two vaccines and a booster will give you 75% protection against the new variant. I am aware that those on Biologics and other immunosuppressants may have a reduced effectiveness from the vaccines. I hope having the 3 vaccines and then a booster may give some increased protection.
Best wishes to everyone coping with the uncertainty and effects of the Pandemic. Wishing you all a peaceful and happy Christmas.
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I think this is the link rounder mentioned Potatoes nhs.uk/conditions/coronavir... I tried to book my booster (3 months after third primary) but it wouldn’t let me.
I rang my GP surgery today, they haven't had official notification yet! So I tried rheumatology, the lead clinician isn't planning on sending out letters unless they get further instructions from the NHS! I also rang 119, the woman thought I should be but the system wouldn't let her book it. I haven't a clue what to do next. I hope that you have better luck than me. It's already 3 months since my last dose.
I’ve been on this merry go round too. GP not interested, 119 can’t book it as third dose was recorded as a booster. (I’ve asked the to amend my records to third vaccine status, takes three weeks, then hopefully system will let them book me a booster). I also rang RA and they are having a meeting next week and I’m to ring back. I got my third vaccine because RA gave me a letter for my walk in centre. I’m hoping they will do the same again for the booster. All this Omicron business is unnerving when they keep saying it’s the booster that increases your protection. The third primary vaccine was supposed to give you the same protection as everyone else I think so it follows our protection will be weaker if not given the booster. Mine is now due end of this month. I’m so fed up with having to chase this. Just wish they could get the system working and not just saying what ought to happen.
I rang 119 and they just said they would log me for the data resolution Team to call me to see if the booster can be amended to 3rd primary 🤷🏼♀️ No idea whether they will call or be able to change anything. So you are a step further ahead!! I hope it works out x
The NHS website says the VDRS should call you within 3 weeks. How do you find out your vac data? For his 3rd my husband requested and got a full dose Moderna from the pharmacist, on a booster day and without the magic letter. ( The letter arrived this week).
It's all such a mess. I spoke to a Rheumatology nurse to ask whether I should have a booster or I think it's called a Primary dose for my 3rd vaccine. She said she didn't think there was a difference between a booster 3rd dose or Primary 3rd dose. When I went to have it I explained to the nurse I had RA and, was on immunosupressant medication she said she was going to give me a 3rd Primary Vaccine. I mentioned what the RA nurse said and she replied that their is a difference between the booster and Primary vac cine! It isn't reassuring knowing the confusion around all this between health care professionals.
The third primary dose should be given after 8 weeks and before six months from when you had your second vaccination. If your given a Pfizer vaccine it's exactly the same dose as a booster. If your having moderna vaccine it's a full dose, the booster is half a dose. It has to be recorded as a third primary and not a booster so you will be called for a booster in three months (91 days) time.
It’s a minefield of lack of knowledge and pass the buck. I was supposed to have mine end of September. GP says see Rheumatology and rheumatology say see GP for letter confirming being on immunotherapy. It’s took me 3 weeks so far and still not received a letter and now with the new variant left in limbo as I’m supposed to not have Pfizer so had 2 doses of Astra Zeneca. Now I’m not sure whether it will be a third dose of Astra Zeneca or a full dose of moderna or a half dose like the booster 119 covid information line couldn’t answer my questions either good luck
Already been asked by text to book my booster, and not due till first week in January but going to pre book to avoid delay in the new year! COVID the gift that keeps on giving.
Keep yourself safe and remind your go that you fit into this category, they are very busy but you should just point them at this webpage. Do not be fobbed off, smile sweetly and tell them you are taking responsibility for your health 😁
Whilst I've had a 'booster' jab, it concerns me that although the Rheumatology Nurse messaged saying I would get a third 'primary' dose, I never received any letter and GP was not interested.
I'm on 17.5mg Methotexate (Metoject) and according to JCVI that dose doesn't qualify for third primary, has to be 20mg or above, but surely those taking any dose of MTX will be immunosuppressed to some degree, on top of having RA. It's as if those with RA and taking lower doses are judged to be 'normal' along with the general population, how can that be?
With the jabs being less effective (75%) against Omicron variant, surely everyone with RA and immunosuppressed should be having a fourth dose?
I agree that we should continue to take stringent precautions as the new variant circulates readily and I’m on rituximab which reduces the effectiveness of the vaccine by a lot. I try to get out most days but don’t meet people except by zoom although daughter and grandson test before they come. I’m expecting a 4th jag in about February but still won’t change much. Have plenty of things I can do in my wee world
I seem to be fortunate that my 3rd vaccine was recorded as a 2nd 2nd primary dose, which I had 5/10. Just before boosters were changed to 3 months, I received a call from the booster phone line asking why I hadn’t had my booster yet. I explained about the 3rd dose just 2 months ago, which she didn’t seem to understand. She was getting frustrated with me, saying so your refusing to let me book your booster, I reiterated it wasn’t due till April as I had in October. Obviously since that call I can now have it in January. Over the next few days I received letters and texts re my booster. I decided now that it’s 3 monthly to see if I could book, and was surprised to find it allowed me. I’m booked to have mine 7th January
I'll just take my letter from my rheumatoligist again, the booster has been put down as 3rd primary in brackets, they told me I'll get my 4th (booster jab) in February.
That's what I would have done if I hadn't handed my letter to the vaccination nurse to show I qualified for the 3rd primary vaccine, but forgot to ask for it back....typical! Fortunately a copy was also sent to my health board but after my experience getting the 3rd vaccine I would much prefer to have the letter in my possesion, especially as my 3rd vaccine was logged as a booster. My GP doesn't want to know about covid vaccinations.
I, too, have been trying to research the possibility of a booster (having had a 3rd Primary dose/2nd 2nd...) and yesterday I noted that the period of time between receiving the 3rd Primary dose and the booster has been reduced to 69 days by the Govt. and that I should book via NHS website which I duly undertook. NHS, once I had typed in my number and dob, replied that there was no information regarding my 'booster' and to telephone my GP! There is so much confusion and no definitive advice to be had on this subject and the poor GPs seem to be the last to be informed of any new directives or information. Please keep posting your experiences on this and other subjects - to know a problem is shared is a relief ....
Yes the GP's are under such pressure. As I said to someone else my RA nurse said there wasn't a difference between a Primary dose and a booster! I have no letter from my RA team. When I went for my 3rd dose at the local hospitol, it was the nurse there who said I must have a 3rd Primary vaccine. She also said there is a difference between a booster and Primary. I think the Gov health should be sending out info on all this to all Clinically Vulnerable people to clear up all this confusion. Also new advice on precautions (shielding etc) for people. Take care of yourself. 😊
Chris Whitty announced during thursday's televised briefing I think it was, that the severely immunosuppressed will get a booster 3 months after their 3rd primary vaccine. Not that government listen to everything Chris Whitty says but we can hope.
With the current rush to get much of the UK population boostered and reducing the gap between the 2nd vaccine and booster from 6 to 3 months, I just hope we don't have similar problems like we had, and still have in my experience, with the previous 3rd primary and booster mix-up. Living in Wales, and granted it may be a bit early in the day, but I've yet to hear anything about this planned booster in the main Welsh news channels and media, or by any government bodies.
I am on mtx 20mg plus biologic (tocilizumab) I was never offered a 3rd vaccine? I have had a booster 3 weeks ago. So I need another in 3 months time? Or is it too late now?
Given that you are taking immunesuppressing medication you should have had your 3rd vaccine well before now...lots of healthy people have had their boosters after all! I'm in Wales hence not sure of the procedure in other parts of the UK, but I'd be contacting my vaccination centre to explain the situation first thing tomorrow. That said, it might be possible to book a 3rd vaccine via your GP where you live.
Ah right, got you now. Apparently a lot of people are in the same boat as you, including myself. What should have been my 3rd primary vaccine was very probably logged as a booster. I'll be phoning my GP to check my medical records. If it is logged as a booster and my GP can't, or won't, change it to a 3rd primary vaccine then I'll be contacting the vaccination centre for them to do so. According to Chris Whitty the plan is for the immunosuppressed to have a booster 3 months after the 3rd primary vaccine.
Tried to book my booster on Friday and was told I had all 3 of my jabs I explain the all 3 were my primary course due to imumosupression she went to ask some and came back saying that I still couldnt have t and to speak to my doctor, it was in the evening so too late to phone Doc. But on my health records my 3rd dose is recorded as my booster dose.
Saw on this evening's BBC news that Boris is presenting another Downing St briefing at 8.00 p.m. tonight (BBC 1) re. response to the pandemic so maybe there'll be something more said then?
I'vehad3vaccines, then recently a letter plus a text prompting me to book a booster. Am v confused. So was GP's Reception, said they'd phone back. I suspect that they're not yet sure of next steps.
When I had my 3rd primary two weeks ago, I was told that I would be informed as to when to get a booster by the nurse doing the vaccination. Hope that helps.
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Fortunately a copy was also sent to my health board but after my experience getting the 3rd vaccine I would much prefer to have the letter in my possesion, especially as my 3rd vaccine was logged as a booster. My GP doesn't want to know about covid vaccinations. 
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