covid booster 2024

[Evie3]

Feeling miffed! Seems being CEV has gone out the window as far as inviting me for the booster this year. My hubby, who is 75, keeps getting reminders to book his. I know I can book it myself but…..🤬

[Blackwitch]

People around here have just had them done at the local chemist. It might be worth ringing them first.

[AgedCrone in reply to Blackwitch]

I have had three reminders…minor problem…the closest place to get the jab is 14 miles away.

Good job I don’t want it…as it.s too close to my Rtx infusion

[Blackwitch in reply to AgedCrone]

14 miles! That’s ridiculous. Hope you’re doing well. xx

[Boxerlady]

Must be the postcode lottery yet again - I was contacted and booked through the NHS App....

[MadBunny]

I was contacted by NHS for mine .

[Runrig01]

Are you on immunosuppressants, the boosters are only to those 75+, and those on certain immunosuppressants. You need to take either your medication box showing your doses, or a hospital letter showing your on immunosuppressants. It’s not available to those who were CEV, for things like diabetes, asthma etc. As long as you can show evidence of being immunosuppressed then book online. On this table it’s the immunosuppression section, which tells you which meds qualify

Eligibility

[Evie3 in reply to Runrig01]

I am…..however hubby was given SPikevax XBB.1.5 which it says, on the sheet, speak to your Dr if you have a weakened immune system. So not sure I want it!

[Neonkittie17]

Hi Evie, could be something as simple as your GP practice’s electronic system not aware of a biologic med if it’s not prescribed by the practice/you have an hospital infusion? So hasn’t triggered a booster invite message to you. Worth a check and to speak to the GP via the admin manager etc., to say that you’ve not become any less immunocompromised (if you haven’t changed to different med not deemed in the higher categories.)

Spikevax is the newer name for Moderna. Moderna was given to me summer 2022 and elicited a much more noticeable response than any of the others which were Pfizer’s but that didn’t mean Pfizer’s didn’t work enough - it’s just how Moderna manifests itself more obviously in your system. The head/lead Sister at the vaccine centre back then looked up online and checked I was ok to have Moderna whilst on Rtx (obviously I had to do the booster/Rtx timing correctly to not be close to Rtx.) She said it was fine, but it’s worth an ask when you get there. We are all different re our meds and additional health conditions.

I hope you get an appointment very soon and all goes well. 🩷

[Evie3 in reply to Neonkittie17]

Thanku. Not had Ritux since last year. In fact going to change to Tocilizumab 🤔

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Evie3]

Maybe if the GP knows you’re off Rtx and not on another biologic as yet, that’s why you haven’t been called for your booster by the GP system? I had my final Rtx in April 2021. That lasted until September 2022 whether I started having Abatacept injections. Hope Tociliz works well. 🩷

[Evie3 in reply to Neonkittie17]

I still feel great…scarey how toxic Ritux is.

The Dr would have no idea

[Neonkittie17]

Rtx continued to work for me for 18-24 months after the last infusion I had. I never went downhill after my final Rtx and before I started the new biologic, and I’d not have started it and waited longer knowing Rtx was still holding back RA, but my rheumy was worried I’d suddenly go downhill. Rtx was so very good at controlling my RA, but my side effects re hypogamma after several years were not tolerable and I wasn’t allowed to do so as igG went <6 too many times.

[Evie3 in reply to Neonkittie17]

My problem was repeated chest infections. They want to get me on Tocilizumab as soon as I am well enough chestwise. I would b quite happy to wait a bit longer.

Booked my covid booster but read the blurb my hubby bought back and it says Speak to Dr if have a weakened or compromised immune system…the booster is Spikevax . Not sure if I will bother….just fed up with it all 😷

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Evie3]

Yes, I understand. I had 28 chest infections in 4 years 😑 and why I came off Rtx. Good luck with the Tociliz and the booster. 🩷

[Evie3 in reply to Neonkittie17]

I remember you said. I had two days at Ambulatory care recently on a nebuliser….uncontrolled asthma. I wish they would leave me be for a while as Ritux is still working well and I want it on the way out before I start the next one….but they r pushing me. As I have been on 4 now I would hate them to pull the rug 😓

Are you doing well on your present drug?

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Evie3]

Yes thank you, Evie, Abatacept holding back the RA well 🙏 I was the same as you and said I want to wait longer as I’m doing so well apart from the hypogamma. (My CRP was zero since 2014. ) I kept liaising with the rheumy and nurse and checking bloods and no flaring or pain, and started on Abatacept early September 2022 which was 18 months after my last Rtx.

How long since your last Rtx? I know what you’re saying though re not wanting to be seen as refusing a med. I hope your asthma has settled now. 🙏Is your rheumy aware of that Evie as it may be what’s making her want to get you settled on a new biologic? I hope you can find a way to compromise. 🩷

PS : Can you ask on the Asthma message board on HU?

[Evie3 in reply to Neonkittie17]

I was having single infusions in the end….last one August. Only ever see/speak to RA nurse who reports back to Rheumatologist. She knew I was struggling with back to back chest infections. And was waiting for me to do my pre treatment BT which I havent been able to do yet. My BT was all out of kilter with last infection. Seeing asthma nurse Friday. Thanks for advice

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Evie3]

Good luck for Friday, and with your last Rtx being August 23 and the way you feel it is still holding back RA for you, then I’d say too it’s still working for you! Presume they are checking your B cells to see if Rtx is still depleting them? Mine were showing nothing or very low for 18 months. Still just under threshold but it’s a big jump up from where they were and in time this should happen for you. It’s slow for many to recover the B cells . Let us know how you get on. 🙏🩷

[Evie3 in reply to Neonkittie17]

Thanks. I don’t understand the bloods can just see if out of range. I will try and get a call back from RA nurse to discuss it. It helps to chat with someone who has gone thro the same. Take care

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Evie3]

The Bs results are more complex, but the rheumy should explain where they are. Take care too.

[Rusticgarden]

You can book online that's what I did had mine 2 weeks ago at chemist only given to over 75s, or care home residents or on certain immunosuppressants

[Peacox]

Hi Evie3, if you book online you should be able to get it done. All you need to do is say you have a weakened immune system & your options of where & when you can book will come up. I hope you can get it sorted.

[Evie3 in reply to Peacox]

Need to check i am ok to have it they are giving Spikevax …and there is a warning for Immunosuppressed

[Peacox in reply to Evie3]

I had the spike vax — I’m 53 & immunosuppressed.

[Zip1 in reply to Peacox]

Me too

[Boxerlady in reply to Zip1]

And me

[pippin_fort in reply to Evie3]

I had Moderna a couple of weeks ago,

[Tillie20]

hi same with me bad abroad for 3 months now GP knew this and no reminder’s saw nurse twice so will miss out now

[Bookworm55]

I had a text from the NHS - not from the gp as friends over 75 did. Booked at one of the listed nearby pharmacists. Despite the text saying I would need some proof of being immunosuppressed (prescription eg) the vaccinator didn't ask me for any when I had the jab.

[Evie3 in reply to Bookworm55]

Any side effects? Did u have Spikevax?

[Bookworm55 in reply to Evie3]

Yes and no apart from a sore arm that I must admit I hardly noticed among my other sore bits!

[Bookworm55 in reply to Bookworm55]

Sorry answered that the wrong way round! Yes I had Spikevax and no side effects!

[Doodlereggie in reply to Evie3]

Hi I had spikevax a few days ago,just sore arm next day ,no proplem.I am on JAK meds and just took my daily tablet as usual.Vaccine is not live so no interference with ra meds good luck x

[Evie3 in reply to Doodlereggie]

Thanku

[CagneysMum]

I didn’t wait for a reminder but just booked it through the NHS website at the nearest chemist available which happened to be 5 miles away. Touchwood chemists seem to have the contract local to me but don’t know if that’s the same nationally or not.

[Haz58]

I got a text from NHS not GP but i I had already booked in at my local chemist on the NHS site. Mine was moderna which knocked me for 6 the first time I had it so wasn't keen but just a sore arm yesterday and fine today. 🤗

[Gigi71]

I am both and not a ‘dickey bird’ I can of course book myself for one, but not sure why I haven’t heard. X

[greynot]

I booked online thru the NHS website. My invitation came through afterwards!

[Neonkittie17 in reply to greynot]

It took my GP practice 2.5 weeks to message me and I was just about to book in with a local pharmacy then I got a text saying appointments available for Friday. Just 2 days’ notice. Said they didn’t know when the next appointment day would be. Fortunately, I stopped my biologic the week before, anticipating going to the pharmacy as either a walk in or booking via nhs online.

[Evie3]

I have a severely weakened immune system ….I have booked it but not sure if I can have the one they r giving here

[Otto11]

I havnt had an invite either 🤷🏻‍♀️

[katieoxo60]

Hi Evie3, the powers that be are not as streamline as we would like them to be so take care and ask about your injection before June. Good Luck

[Green230461]

I was invited for mine last week in Essex.

[pippin_fort]

I had to book it myself but was done in local chemist. They didn’t ask me for any proof of anything, although I was invited.

[virtualreality]

As others have said, this is probably just the postcode lottery at work - I got an invitation to book a booster from the NHS and my GP surgery. You'll surely be eligible for it.

I was given Spikevax (new name for the Moderna jab) this time too. I asked the nurse about the point on the form that says 'discuss with your practitioner if you are immunosuppressed' and she just said "that's why you've been called in". End of discussion! I did get minor side effects afterwards (as I did with the original Moderna jab) but they were milder this time. Mostly cleared up within 24 hours and completely gone within 48.

[Evie3 in reply to virtualreality]

Thanks for that

Are u on Rituximab?

[Evie3]

No but being asthmatic too I have to balance the odds 😭

[Vixen2]

I have RA. I’m 52. I have an infusion every 6 weeks. I live in Central London. (Covent Garden). No one’s sent me a booster reminder. I’m a bit annoyed too. It’s not good at all, to forget about this awful virus. I might take myself off to a chemist on Drury Lane. They’ve advertised they do walk ins. Maybe i’ll have a chat with the muffin man who apparently lives on Drury Lane. 🤣

[Evie3 in reply to Vixen2]

😃😃