Spring Covid booster

[Wraysbury]

If you’re going for your spring booster because you’re immuno suppressed, remember to take all letters from GP/ Government you have received to prove this. A text and email advising u to book is not enough. A very efficient sister at Kidderminster Medical Centre greeted me with a brisk “ you’re not over 75” then queried the text was actually to me as it could have been anyones phone!! I spent 5 mins being called a liar basically. After consulting a doctor however she agreed to give it to me! According to her taking high doses of steroids for the past 4 yrs, being informed by GP and government to shield for nearly 2 yrs wasn’t necessary! She was obviously on a mission to turn away as many people as possible. It was the last thing I needed.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I have booster booked for this week - just turned 75, but no longer have GCA - this is what NHS letter says re weakened immune system -

“If you booked a dose for people with a weakened immune system

If you booked a dose for people with a weakened immune system, someone at the site will talk to you and check your evidence to make sure you’re eligible.

You’ll need to bring one of these things with you to show that you’re eligible to receive an additional dose:

a letter from a GP or hospital specialist asking you to get a dose for people with a severely weakened immune system

a hospital letter that describes the condition or treatment causing you to have a weakened immune system

a prescription or a medicine box with your name and the date showing when the medicine was prescribed – this must be for the condition or treatment causing you to have a weakened immune system

If you think you’re eligible but do not have a suitable letter, prescription or medicine box, you may still be able to receive your vaccination.”

[Charlie1boy in reply to DorsetLady]

Sounds like a post code lottery to me. I had absolutely no problems getting a fifth dose!Paddy

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Charlie1boy]

National information seem clear enough, but maybe interpreted differently locally.

[Wraysbury in reply to DorsetLady]

It Would have been helpful for me to receive the info I n what to take before my appt!! I’ve never been questioned like that

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Wraysbury]

Mine came through by email when I booked online -and a reminder today!

It’s a bit hit and miss, but have to say I haven’t had any issue with booking any of mine..

[PMRpro Ambassador]

And there I was thinking Italy was nuts on paperwork!!!! I just turned up and said please nicely. No-one other than a doctor made the decision - the female soldier handed me the form to complete, the doctor went through it in detail and found the relevant coding numbers and sent me through.

[Temeraire]

It seems very arbitrary. I had the email and booked - I wasn’t asked a thing when I went. Just name and date of birth. (am 65) I half expected to be rejected as on 7.5mg but no problem. Wasn’t asked. Very surprising.

[HeronNS]

Yikes. The right attitude of course would have been for the gatekeeper to be accepting as many people as possible. Maybe she thought you looked much too young, a sort of compliment I suppose.

[Wraysbury in reply to HeronNS]

I’m 65 so I hope I do look younger than 75!!!!! Mind you I don’t always feel it 😞

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Wraysbury]

Not quite sure how to take that remark 😳

[Daffodilia]

I got mine with just letter from nhs saying to book - was in Newmarket - GP didn’t do letter - said not supposed to be involved

[Oboes22]

I had my 4th vaccination in February and am surprised you haven’t had yours yet. I’m not even hearing about about a spring booster any where now.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Oboes22]

If you had one in February, doubt you will be contacted….need to leave 6months gap between vaccines.

[Exflex]

Being only 70 (but not looking any older 😉) I can’t be bothered with the hassle of ‘begging‘ for a shot. Where would I start... was on about 9mg and then about 8 1/2 for 1st two jabs, then about 7 for the 3rd. I’ve received the NHS text message about sending in a PCR result if I contract the virus, but from all accounts you almost need to beg for the antivirals. Meanwhile unused vaccines (and antivirals possibly) are being destroyed as they reach their ‘sell-by’ date. To say I’m furious is a gross understatement.

[Groovykindoflove1992]

I'm 53 and had several NHS letters advising that I should have the spring booster. I took my last steroids 7 weeks ago so thought I wouldn't be eligible. It was on my 'list' to call the Dr to talk through whether I should book a jab. Then I received a call from the NHS asking why I hadn't booked. I explained and she said that if I was immunocompromised when I had my first 3 jabs, then I should have the spring booster. She booked me an appt for the following evening and told me to take my last letter from my consultant. Spoke to a Dr when I arrived who said that even though I'm not taking steroids now, I was on them for 2 years and had only recently stopped, and that if I needed the first three jabs, then I should have the booster. They typed in lots of notes (like they have to justify why they are allowing you to have the jab), then gave me the jab, no problem. Weekend then duly wiped out as I felt dreadful! No problems after the previous 3 jabs. Maybe the Pred was helping me then!

[Wraysbury in reply to Groovykindoflove1992]

I Have had 4 jabs and now the booster. I must say I have got a flare up today😞 after the booster. But I am prepared and hopefully it won’t last too long.

[Groovykindoflove1992 in reply to Wraysbury]

I know things are bad when I'm in agony when just sitting still! I'm phoning the docs today as I haven't felt right since lowering my dose and finally stopping Pred (on the instructions of my rheumy - "Come off them and I'll see you in six months" 🙈 ) and I think it might be something to do with my adrenal function 🤷

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Groovykindoflove1992]

Or the PMR inflammation has drip drip dripped and built up enough to cause symptoms. That steadily gets worse - adrenal function problems gradually improve.

[Groovykindoflove1992 in reply to PMRpro]

That's what I was wondering. I was just giving things a chance to improve, but I don't think they are. Just waiting till I have the energy to explain to my Dr that I'd like to have a blood test to check my adrenal function, just in case. I need to make a hole in the bottom of this bloomin' bucket so it doesn't have the chance to fill up 😁 I ended up in A&E recently as I had a chest infection and my heart rate was mega fast. It was something mild that hubby and son had, but I was really poorly. I phoned 111 just to ask for advice on whether I should take some Pred, as I hadn't been off it for very long and I was thinking about sick day rules, but she sent me to the out-of-hours doc who sent me off to hospital. I kept hearing the nurses/docs saying, "This lady's been on steroids an awfully long time!" I don't think they realise that people have to take them long term! I think I'm just fooling myself and I might have to go back on to a 'hopefully' low dose 🙈🤷

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Groovykindoflove1992]

No holes - just beer mugs or coffee cups of pred to scoop it out! When you get that low without problems but zero is too little then often 1mg does the trick.

The new steroid card was developed because they realised HCPs weren't as au fait with long term pred use as they should be! Yes - most rheumy patients are on a "proper" drug and only need pred for flares or transitions. We are unusual in needing "just pred" for years.

[Groovykindoflove1992 in reply to PMRpro]

I'll contact my surgery tomorrow to arrange a blood test, then I can speak to the rheumy nurse fully armed with info 👍

[DancingBonny]

Hi, I thought I would let you have my experience of the Spring Booster. Having been shielding for 2 years and still being ultra careful I had the Pfizer Spring Booster on 22nd April. I was completely wiped out the following day so stayed in bed and when I got up I could not stand up or walk and would have fallen over if my husband had not grabbed me. I have never had this symptom before. My husband rang 111 and they advised him to take me to hospital to get checked. After a 12 hour wait in A&E I was finally taken to the Cardiology Department where I had been a patient twice before. They checked me over thoroughly and let me home. The doctor agreed that it was probably the booster which had caused this reaction. We have heard from other sources of the booster causing heart attacks and people going into shock and having to have their heart re-started.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DancingBonny]

It is very very rare though - not that you would guess from the MSM coverage ...

[Hildalew]

I hope my vaccination history may be helpful: When the first 'booster (after the initial 2 shots) was being given , I hadn't had a letter about being a 'special' category of patient so didn't expect to get one for the 'booster' (I hadn't ever had a letter about being vulnerable etc and assumed that the call from the GP practice to make an appointment (at a vaccination centre) I assumed that was the usual practice. Much later, when I heard all about the booster shots happening, and learned that the actual dose was no different from the one being given as a 3rd dose to non-vulnerable people. I found I could make an appointment on line without having had the letter, so I had my third shot/booster at a local pharmacy.

A couple of days later I got the NHS letter urging me to get my booster!

When the letter for the second booster came, (my fourth dose) I panicked a little because it said I would need the record of my previous vaccinations etc etc. (I haven't ever logged into the NHS App or whatever it is that I could have used for that purpose)

Then I saw the correspondence on here about people being rejected for the 'booster' because they didn't meet the vulnerability criteria. Re-reading the letter I realised it was full of 'may' and 'might' - so breathed a sigh of relief and, just recently went on line and booked a slot and had my 'booster'/4th vaccination. It helped, of course that I was over the minimum age.

[Doraflora]

I am totally confused by the immune suppressed label. I am currently on 5mg of Pred, having just started a slow taper to 4.5. I keep getting NHS letters saying because of my condition I’m entitled to the spring booster.

I’m 70 years old and have never thought of myself to be immune suppressed.

However: Research I’ve carried out says I’m not entitled to this 4th jab if I’m on steroids. Am I right or wrong thinking I’m not entitled to it?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Doraflora]

It depends on the dose - high current dose is required UNLESS you were on a high dose at the time of the primary course of vaccines (the first 3). And then it depends on who you see - the well informed say yes ...

[Seacat30 in reply to Doraflora]

I was only on a high enough dose of pred to count on jab 3. I had to show a letter from my rheumatologist to get jab 4. They looked at it carefully and studied my NHS files on their computer.