Am I right in thinking that some people do not/will not receive the 3rd primary Covid jab?

[Hildalew]

I am 81, 1 was on 4mg of Pred when vaccines arrived on the scene. I assume I was/am not classed as seriously immunosuppressed because I received no letter - but was simply rung by the surgery to make the appointments for jabs 1 and 2. (January and April)

A week ago I received a text from my GP Practice advising me that I had been invited to make an appointment for a COVID booster shot and giving me a link to make the appointment,

20 minutes later I received a text from 'NHSVaccine' telling me I was now eligible for 'your COVID Vaccine Booster' and giving me an nhs link and, thank heavens, 119 (I have made the appointment with a local pharmacy in two weeks.

Am I right in assuming that I, along with other ancient people who are not considered as severely immunosuppressed (I am now down to 2mg ) will not receive the third jab?

[jinasc]

You will receive the third jab once six months have passed from the date you had the second jab.

At 83 I get my third in November - 6 months after the second in April.

[Kendrew in reply to jinasc]

The 3rd primary jab can be given 8wks after 2nd jab (for those flagged up by GP as clinically vulnerable and meeting the criteria) this would then be followed by a booster 6mths later. See FAQ's for more info.

[Hildalew in reply to Kendrew]

Thanks. I have had a couple of tries t looking in the FAQs but find it impossible, so far, to see the simplest information - lots of complicated stuff - but my concentration span is not brilliant these days. As far as I know, I have not been classified as clinically vulnerable - I don't think my Pred dose is high enough - and I have no other 'conditions', as far as I know, alongside PMR.

My question is, I suppose, if everybody who gets a third jab gets a booster six months later? What happens about the people who get their 'Booster' six months after their second jab and no mention of the third jab?

[Kendrew in reply to Hildalew]

My understanding from my own research is that you will definitely be offered a booster after the 3rd primary vaccination but not sure about the answer to your 2nd question. The vaccines are the same...the difference is in the way it's recorded for the collective data.

[Exflex in reply to Kendrew]

Is this so, I suspect if you’ve had two jabs of AZ you’ll get a 3rd of AZ. The JCVI indicated the booster dose would be different, meaning, for example, if you had first two of AZ, booster would be Pfizer or Moderna, ie mRNA. Heterogeneous vaccination works better apparently.

[Roltuba in reply to Exflex]

The 3rd primary jab is different from the first 2. So is the 6 month Booster. I was AZ for the first 2, 3rd was Pfizer, and so will the booster be in another 6 months.

[Exflex in reply to Roltuba]

They’re running out of options if the booster is different. Maybe back to AZ or Moderna, or Sputnik.

[Kendrew in reply to Exflex]

A different vaccine is given for the 3rd primary or booster as it is thought to work more effectively this way.

[herdysheep in reply to Roltuba]

likewise

[Hildalew in reply to Kendrew]

Thank you Kendrew. Now I know that the 3rd jab is specifically for clinically vulnerable people, I understand the position.

[MamaBeagle in reply to Hildalew]

My OH got the shielding advice late in the pandemic which I reckon means they have him down as clinically vulnerable. He received a booster a couple of weeks ago but it wasn't called a third jab, and it was then 6 months since his second jab.

[mgrogers99 in reply to jinasc]

We don't have a 3rd vaccine in the US...just the booster.....it sounds like the 3rd for you is a booster.....confusing!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to mgrogers99]

For normal healh non-immunosuppressed people, the basic primary vaccination is 2 shots. Then they get a booster 6 months after the second shot. Anyone considered to have been immunosuppressed when they got the 2 primary shots, now is to be given a 3rd primary shot which should produce as good a response in the immunosuppressed as the 2 shots in the healthy, Then there is a booster for these patients 6 months after completing the primary shots.

[Boss302Fan in reply to PMRpro]

I’ve gotten so confused regarding a 3rd Primary and/or a Booster because some articles indicate or infer the 3rd Primary is stronger than the Booster, while others state it’s the same.

I don’t care. I’m getting bilateral upper eyelid surgery Monday and once the swelling has gone down I’m just calling my Pharmacy and making an appointment for the booster. In the USA all I have to do is show it’s been at least 6 months since my 2nd Shot. Booster or 3rd the final outcome going to be about the same anyway.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Boss302Fan]

In Europe the doses are the same - eligibility is the difference. Lots under the FAQs ...

[Exflex in reply to jinasc]

I think we need to differentiate between 3rd and booster. The 3rd is part of the primary vaccination, the booster is what it says, and should be heterogeneous in nature.

[SheffieldJane]

I think it is immaterial because the content of the booster vaccine is identical to the third vaccine, so you will be covered and in 6 m time the next round of vaccines will commence.

[Hildalew in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you. It was, mostly, the prospect of 'missing out' on whenever the next round might be because, in the records, I'd already had the booster. But, now I know not everybody gets the 3rd primary, I'm content.

[Skysey in reply to Hildalew]

Hi Hilda.I had two AZ vaccines and I have just had a booster of Pfizer. It has been six months since my second jab. I have not been told I will have a further jab in another 6 months. Hope it all gets sorted for you.

[Joanbill13 in reply to SheffieldJane]

That is a very straight forward reply thank you. I’m confused now with all the information..I am low dose pred 5mg. Have had 2 jabs Astra and now booster Phyza which I had before being informed by Nhs I should have third jab . Presumably this is considered ok

[MrsNails]

Hi HildaYou will get your Booster as arranged & that’s it (at this time)

The 3rd Vaccine is for CEV (Clinically Extremely Vulnerable) who will get their Booster 6months after their 3rd Vaccine.

I’m currently queuing outside for my 3rd Vaccine 💉

[Hildalew in reply to MrsNails]

Thank you for a perfect answer to my question.

[MrsNails in reply to Hildalew]

No Probs - just had my 3rd Primary Dose 💉

[Shiba64 in reply to MrsNails]

I'm so glad you explained it so simply - I was getting rather confused reading all these posts about 3rd vaccine and booster 🤔 and who has what? Now I understand 😁 I've just had my request to book by booster so will be getting that sorted xx

[MrsNails in reply to Shiba64]

No Problem 😉 Happy to help….

[Kendrew in reply to MrsNails]

Had mine today too.

[Nextoneplease in reply to Kendrew]

Me too 😊 A long queue of mainly oldies queuing around the block outside village surgery a 20 minute drive from us. All felt a bit low key compared to the first vaccine roll out.

Still, all done now and I’m pleased 😊x

PS Managed to get the nurse to change the computer record from booster to third primary - but not sure it’ll make any difference….

[jaycee444]

Not sure that the system is working is working well in all cases. I am over 6 months and 1 week since 2nd jab and have heard nothing about booster. 911 tells me that Im showing up as not being eligible even though I am 76. I have also has a letter saying that I probably need a 3rd vaccination and to contact GP or consultant. GP says nothing to do with them and I have left a message on Rheumatology helpline but nobody got back so going round in circles. They want us to have this extra protection but its not always easy to find how to get it.

[MrsNails in reply to jaycee444]

I spent a week back n to-ing with GP/Rheumy Team - I just cut through the Red Tape yesterday & went to a Drop In Centre…..‘3rd Primary Vaccine? No Problem!’ - they knew exactly what l was talking about! Done n dusted now! Though l do feel like l’ve been run over by a bus 😉

[Portobello in reply to jaycee444]

I was in exactly this position but today-6 months +1 week since my 2nd jab- I walked into my local vaccination centre without an appointment and had the booster without any problems 😁

[jaycee444 in reply to Portobello]

Our local mass centre is appointment only for all vaccinations☹️ There seems to be a real variation across the country with both booster and 3rd vaccinations. I finally managed to get through to Rheumatologists’s secretary yesterday who said they were in the dark as to 3rd vaccinations and would get back to me when they know more. We seem to be living in the dark ages down here in the south west. Stressful when you are trying to get further protection but cant.

[Longtimer]

I am just home from having my booster, a lady near me asked, what's the difference between a booster and a third jab..reply from doctor, nothing, they are the same,and you will probably be back here in 6 months time for another one....hope that helps.When I got home the NHS had invited me to have one, GP had got there first!....

[Chia123]

I talked to the rheumatology nurse yesterday and it seems that you are classed as immune suppressed and needing a third primary vaccine if you are on 20mg of steroids a day or have been on 10 mg of steroids for for 4 weeks or more in the last 3 months. It seems this is why the text and letter says you “may” need a 3rd primary vaccine and to discuss with GP or consultant. Just want to say thank you to those that have produced the FAQs on the third primary vaccine. Really clarified things.

[MrsNails in reply to Chia123]

Glad it helped 😉

[borednow]

In my case, NHS said yes I do need a 3rd Jab. GP (via Receptionist, of course) said No but I could have the booster.

I have retired, defeated!

[Sharitone in reply to borednow]

But then you might not get the booster 6 months later! Or maybe you will, who knows. I was in the same position as you, so I emailed images of the NHSVaccine text and letter to the surgery, and then they rang to book the third vaccine.

[borednow in reply to Sharitone]

We are told (by our GP's ) that we must not email the surgery. I took the letter and showed the NHSVaccine text to Receptionist. Told to ring back later. Message from GP - No. However they have arranged for me to have the booster - at another surgery!! I think this might be a warning!!

[Sharitone in reply to borednow]

Oh, the meanies! What do they have an email address for, if not for administrative matters? I also emailed the link that someone posted (and I cannot find now) to the letter from NHS to all surgeries, saying that third dose should be given to people who were imminosuppressed at time of second dose

[borednow in reply to Sharitone]

I'd change to the other surgery, but their reputation is worse then my current one!

[Sharitone in reply to borednow]

Oh no, any chance of moving house?🤣

[borednow in reply to Sharitone]

Not an option - it's lovely here (apart from the GP's of course).

[Hollyseden in reply to Sharitone]

😄

[Loopy65]

Hi, yes, you’re correct. I was on the phone with my health board this week to find out about it as the information available isn’t much use!

I’m down to 2.5mg at present but was as high as 10mg when I had my 2nd jab.

Apparently I’d have needed to be at 20mg or higher to be considered for the 3rd jab.

I go for my booster 6 months (or 24 weeks which is a bit shorter!) after my 2nd.

It’s complicated enough for us without the health professionals being fairly clueless to add to our confusion!!

[Dambusters]

I am 77, on 10 mg of Pred and have been given the Booster jab.

[MrsNails]

Hildalew Now Added To Covid-19 Vaccination Questions