I’m new here

[666s]

I’ve read lots about the immunosuppressed receiving a additional Covid jab in the UK but my GP says that they are not yet available. Has anyone had the third jab yet?

[SheffieldJane]

My husband had a message from our GP to say that he would be getting a third vaccine but they weren’t available yet so don’t ring the surgery. He’s healthy, so I don’t know if that means I will get one before him.

[piglette]

This is the government report

gov.uk/government/news/most...

[2534]

On Monday Addenbrooke’s told me there were just waiting for the NHS guidelines then they wd send a letter to the GP. They said it wd be end Sept/early Oct. Yesterday the scientist briefing said a third jab wd be given no earlier than six months after the second dose. Given that we have less protection than others I don’t know if that will be different for the immunosuppressed. Take care.

[Tobythemartian]

I’ve been on micophenylate after an ANCA positive test last year. My GP surgery did not think this relevant in the timing of the first two Pfizer jabs, indeed, both were scheduled and taken after my younger wife.

Yesterday, however, I was called in the afternoon and asked to attend the surgery that evening for a “Third Primary Dose”. It was stressed that this was not the booster and that I was specifically called owing to my medication.

I attended, amid the chaos of confused teenagers who had been called in error, and got my third dose.

This was most welcome as I had paid for an antibody test a few week’s ago and got a result of 13 U/ml. On a scale of nought to 2,500.

I am told to expect the booster in 10 weeks.

[666s in reply to Tobythemartian]

Thank you for sharing that - so much misinformation around, even on this forum. Let’s hope your 3rd vaccine helps ward off Covid and that more of us who are eligible are contacted in the same way

[vivdunstan Volunteer in reply to Tobythemartian]

If you are in the UK and got a 3rd vaccine as severely immunosuppressed then you should be getting a booster 6 months after that date. Not at the time related to your second vaccine. So 3 primary vaccines + 1 booster 6 months after the 3rd one.

I'm in Scotland where people are in many cases still waiting to hear re our 3rd vaccines. The health boards are organising it centrally. I'm currently on the phone trying to arrange my flu vaccine, scheduling it at a time to allow for my (hopefully soon!) 3rd Covid vaccine.

[Mooka]

I was also told at addenbrookes yesterday that they were just waiting for the nod and they would write to my GP to say I should have it. Government guidelines released yesterday say it will be the same order as the initial jabs and must be at least six months after the last.

[AndrewT]

NO these are NOT yet available, here in the UK. Also (Never, I mean NOT ever, start a sentence with 'Also')There may, very well, need to be about a Six Month 'Gap', from your Second 'Jab'. There is Still a 'lot' to be still Decided.

I'm sure that we all Will get a 'Booster', I'm just not too sure 'when'.

Most importantly '666s' WELCOME, to our 'Friendly' Forum, we are a Varied Group, all connected by having Vasculitis- itself a Complex Disease. (I'm Not going to Elaborate more, on that now though!) Once again

Welcome 666s

AndrewT

[Tobythemartian in reply to AndrewT]

I am in the UK, specifically England. The point of my (first ever post) was to alert people to the fact that this was more than a proposal of intent to give 3rd doses.

I have had my 3rd Primary dose of Pfizer, along with at least six other people in the ‘thirds queue’ in Tewkesbury on the 14th September.

I note the Zoe app does not yet allow one to register a third dose.

[vivdunstan Volunteer]

There is some confusion in the replies here between the 3rd primary vaccine for severely immunosuppressed and the booster vaccines being offered more generally.

Severely immunosuppressed people are due a 3rd primary vaccine + a booster 6 months after that 3rd vaccine. So potentially 4 vaccines altogether. See:

gov.uk/government/publicati...

The general UK population over 50 and younger people who are vulnerable are being offered a booster 6 months after their 2nd vaccine. So 3 vaccines altogether. That was announced some time after the severely immunosuppressed plans.

I think the health organisations are also in many cases confused about this. But if you are due a severely immunosuppressed 3rd primary vaccine make sure that is what you are getting (with a jab 4 booster to follow 6 months later). Not the general booster.

Ideally there wouldn't be this confusion, but it is taking time for health bodies to sort out the severely immunosuppressed vaccines. Especially outside England, where many people are still waiting to be contacted. Including me.

[vivdunstan Volunteer in reply to vivdunstan]

Also welcome to the board 666s

😁

[Tobythemartian in reply to vivdunstan]

Erratum: Zoe app allowed me to enter 3rd dose this morning.

[666s in reply to vivdunstan]

Thank you for helping to clarify what is clearly a confusing situation. So the immunosuppressed are amongst those eligible for a 3rd vaccine which is different to the booster jab that has just been announced. Unfortunately my GP practice in Surrey is still yet to action it despite my calls. Thank you for your welcomes - it is helpful to feel slightly less isolated

[vivdunstan Volunteer in reply to 666s]

The 3rd primary dose is _only_ for the severely immunosuppressed. Which isn't even all immunosuppressed, but if you click on the link I gave it clarifies who and what drugs/doses qualify.

[ZiggyDiego]

In the original guidance it was also very clear that the specialists need to advise GPs about the timing of the third primary dose. With rituximab it should be ideally a month before the next dose to get maximum benefit, as it interferes with how the vaccine works. My Addenbrookes consultant has advised me to wait till December as I’m due my next rituximab in January and had my last one in August.