For those of you who are interested in a spring booster, I have managed to book one for Monday 17th April. I think the booking system has just updated itself.
JCVI advises vaccine top-up for over-75s, immunosuppressed and residents in care homes for older adults.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has confirmed its advice for a 2023 spring coronavirus (COVID-19) booster programme.
In January 2023, the committee advised preparations should begin for potential booster programmes in spring and autumn this year, with further details to be announced at a later date.
The committee has since advised that a spring booster dose should be offered to:
adults aged 75 years and over
residents in a care home for older adults
individuals aged 5 years and over who are immunosuppressed
Eligible individuals will be offered the vaccine around 6 months after their previous dose and NHS England will confirm operational details for the programme in due course.
The JCVI has advised the following vaccines may be used in the 2023 spring programme:
Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent
Moderna bivalent
Sanofi/GSK monovalent (beta variant)
Novavax monovalent (wild-type variant) – only for use when alternative products are not considered clinically suitable
The vaccine offered will depend on a person’s age and local supply considerations. Children aged under 12 years will be offered a children’s formulation of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, Chair of the JCVI’s COVID-19 Committee, said:
Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 and the spring booster programme provides an opportunity for those who are at highest risk of severe illness to keep their immunity topped up.
This year’s spring programme will bridge the gap to the planned booster programme in the autumn, enabling those who are most vulnerable to be well protected throughout the summer.
Same here. I cringed when I heard about the next Covid vaccine roll out. I’ve had so many health problems - nothing major but debilitating and annoying - since I had my fourth bivalent vaccine(Pfizer Cormidity?) in October. Within two weeks I had diverticulitis and that was just for starters.
I think between people feeling ill following their last vaccination and with all the Matt Hancock lockdown emails that are come out now it will be incredibly difficult to ever have another lock down should one ever be necessary which is a bit of a worry really.
Ive been the same. Last jab Moderna at the end of August and had numerous probs since then. Not had the winter one but been housebound anyway except for hospital appointments. I'll ask for Pfizer not Moderna if I have another. Can't go back to where I was again.ay just be a coincidence but may not...
The lack of publicity about the continuing risk of Covid in the community makes people feel that it won't be important to have a booster vaccination. But I've just read that the levels recorded by Zoe (who are continuing to monitor the disease from their thousands of volunteers) have gone up again in my area.
We are always looking for patterns to make sense of an illogical world but it isn't logical to blame diverticulitis or general ill-health feelings onto a booster vaccination with Covid.
For me the balance of protection against the infection is greater than a feeling of being fed up with having injections - but I can sympathise with the feeling! I wish that I didn't have to take so many pills every day, that I didn't have to remember to have my injection of adalumimab every fortnight, but it's kept me alive and able to do things.
I saw on another reputable patient site that there have been questions asked re a Spring booster for household members etc., who live with high risk/immunocompromised people. If they get enough weight behind it with medics supporting it then it might be revised by the JCVI. You never know. Let’s hope so.
I think those who are high up the list for being immunosuppressed and with comorbidities might want to carry on with boosters at least for this year as although not much being said on the news etc my senior rheumy said two weeks ago that Covid is very much still here and it’s still a big risk for the seniors and immunosuppressed. My hospital have posters/banners all round the site and the leaflets which accompany your appointment letter are about safety for attending, etc. . I’ve had two boosters so far . Second one just done as I’m a year behind on my vaccination path, so I’m carrying on. If you have had some horrendous reaction to a vaccine then you’ll think (more than) twice about repeating it. All depends on the comorbidities too how you feel about your level of immunosuppression and your risk. I’ve seen too much unpleasantness about vaccinations so I don’t discuss it. People do what they feel is right for them. 💗
As I understand it the effects of the vaccines last longer on people who are not immunocompromised, hence the thinking that they will still have good protection for at least 12 months. There were several clinical trials showing this but I can’t lay my hands on them now.
I read the same, re healthy individuals having a good response. I think it’s unlikely that family members will be offered. It is being targeted at people who are unlikely to mount a good response to the vaccine due to the immunosuppressants they take. It would be useful to check response in the immunosuppressed, so that it’s targeted appropriately.
I agree that it’s unlikely household contacts will be offered it and probably rightly so. There’s no point wasting money vaccinating people who already have good protection.
It would also be good to check the response in immunocompromised people but I guess they’ve decided to err on the side of caution.
Yes I’ve read this too and I’d hope too that the vaccines last 12 months for those who are not immunocompromised. Without testing for antibodies though you’d never be sure how soon the vaccines lose efficacy and there will be people who have a longer response than others. Not that I’m suggesting testing people for antibodies .. Hard enough for those who are inmunocompromised to get the antibody tests. As time goes on the scientists will know more and more re efficacy of vaccines and new vaccines will hopefully last longer.
I can't see the point personally. It doesn't stop you catching it, and most people have had covid which gives a much higher level of immunity. Up to each person to weigh up the risks. It's a no from me. Most people I know with autoimmune conditions have just had flares as a result.
I don't mind having yet another Covid vaccine but how on earth can the NHS cope with it all.
Our GP Surgery is closing on 31st March and we don't know where we are being transferred to yet, there's bound to be teething problems with the hand over and requests to change practices, then another Covid jab to sort out on top - it's going to be interesting!
👋 Have you managed to book online? I tried today (5th April) and nothing yet 🙃
I thought I'd also call 119 (the booking line number). I spoke to a really nice lady, who said that they aren't able to book anything yet either. She suggested calling back in a week. To be honest, I think she just wanted a chat - I couldn't get her off the line! Not that I'm complaining - she was lovely. 😊
Really in two minds about it. I got flu-like symptoms from the first five, but that's fine. But the last one made me really ill, potentially dangerously ill, and I had a bad asthma attack the next day - which is rare for me. I had a temp of 39.9 and rigors. I got Covid a week later and the symptoms weren't as severe as the vaccine side effects.
I'm completely pro vaccine generally and hate to sound like the tin foil hat people, but I'm a bit scared of having another.
I'm undecided this time. Like Fruitandnutcase I haven't been 100% since having all the jabs, I've had a few health issues, especially after the last one which was the Pfizer bivalent. I also had covid shortly after my Spring booster last year . My RA has been very unsettled too.
I have decided I'm not having another vaccine till autumn, had 6 already and still got covid last December, but I do realise that the vaccines helped me . I didn't qualify for antivirals then but have since had an email from NHS telling me I now do, guess criteria has changed.
Thanks for the information. I will get any vaccine advised. I remember too well how frightened I was before we had vaccines. And maybe I'm still here because I had them. Can't test that one out can I? Up to the individual of course.
I completely get that and felt the same up until the last one. The last two Covid infections I had were not nice, but they were nothing compared with the pre-vaccine Covid I had back in March 2020. That really was a severe illness and I think I only avoided hospital because I was given a massive dose of steroids.
My only reticence is due to the particular reaction I had to the last vaccine and I'd just like a bit more reassurance. I may feel differently when the invitation comes and just go for it. I'm just not 100% confident right now.
After 5 vaccinations & having long Covid which worsened significantly after the last 2 my Rheumatologist suggested that I didn’t have the winter booster. I won’t be having this one either.
I’m really in two minds whether to have another. I’ve only had 4 but should have had 6. I had covid in January this year and paid for a test to check antibodies and it showed >25,000 i obviously don’t know how long that will last but I want to go on holiday this year as we haven’t been away for 4 years so maybe that will help with going abroad ? If I’m honest I don’t want another as they make me feel rough for quite some time after. It will be yet another pause for meds and I’d like to stabilise myself without having the flare that will result in another vaccine. Tough decision for everyone.
I’ve now had 5 jabs … and three times I’ve been offered a 6th .
I’m now getting very cautious of accepting
I just don’t want to tempt providence anymore
I did test positive for Covid last June after returning from a small boat cruise and I only took a test because a lady I was sitting next to at dinner messaged me to say that she had just tested positive the day she got home from the trip
I was completely asymptomatic apart from a few sneezes - so I was quite surprised when my test showed positive
2 days later my test was negative
As time passes the news reports are coming in on how big pharma companies are behind the drive to promote continuing vaccinating the public
Doctors are offered financial incentives to encourage boosters
It’s a free choice … but for me and as I can see from other group members … I’m now holding back from anymore jabs until I can be convinced it’s absolutely necessary
Yes I spotted that too. Tables 3 & 4 haven’t changed as far as I can see so if you were eligible previously you should be eligible this time (unless there’s been a change to your medication obviously!)
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Latest Spring covid vaccine booster - was yours original or bivalent?
URGENT NEW OCTAVE RESEARCH RELEASED ON ANTIBODIES AND IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT INDIVIDUALS
