Spring 2024 Covid Vaccine invitation.

[azaelea]

Good evening everyone. I’m enquiring if anyone has been contacted with an invitation to have a Spring Covid vaccination booster and if so, how many are or have taken this up? My G.P’s Surgery messaged me recently and I have an appointment for this on 1st May. I have since heard of three people who have been ill after having the Spring Vax and wonder if anyone knows if they have addded / changed things within the vaccine.. Would appreciate your thoughts.

[Cat1001954]

hi I will defo not be getting vaccinated

[mhos61]

Glad you’ve asked this question.

I’ve been contacted, but I am not taking up the offer this time. This is because I contracted Covid (first time) visiting my Mum in hospital around three/four weeks ago, hoping I’ve got antibodies for a while.

Also, I don’t know if these vaccines have been ‘tweaked’ for new mutations.

[ETket]

I've been invited for one by text (I think it's my 7th?!) and have one booked in for three weeks' time.

[Exeter21]

not been contacted but certainly not having it . Too many close together & no evidence that these are working on new strain ..

[EPguy]

On your question "wonder if anyone knows if they have addded / changed things within the vaccine":

In the US, the all three vaxes are the same as last Fall. I don't think the mfrs make different ones for other areas. So if one got the vax last Sept or later this would be the same.

The vaccines target XBB.1.5, and supposedly are effective on the latest strain.

The current covid vaxes are "monovalent" meaning they are designed with only one strain. Before they always included the original strain in a bivalent vax.

In my area, southern California, waste water levels are near zero, and we aren't hearing of cases personally. If your area has access to wastewater data this is a good way to consider your risk as it rises before increased cases start to show up. I actually go mask-less in some public areas right now. I can't get vaccines now anyway.

[william-Indo]

My doc inform me to not take the shot.

The genome of the covid has change so much.

Vaccine not effective anymore.

Otherwise it is rarely causing death compare to common flu.

Choice is personally 🙏

Cheers

[Lallybroch1]

I am on the list, i was advised to get them as now catching Covid coukd be life threatening where it was not previously. This is due to taking Jakavi.Instead of one vaccination a year it will be 3, i also had to have the shingles vaccination as well

[Ipadlin]

Where do you live? I’ve heard no mention of it here.

[azaelea in reply to Ipadlin]

Hi, I’m in North Yorkshire, U.K.

[Aldebaran25]

I am not planning for any vaccination at this point since I had covid (for the first time) in Jan whilst travelling. It was not a big problem, just felt under the weather for a few days with a slight temperature one evening. I am on Pegasys. BTW, I did have the Sep jab, maybe that protected me to some extent but who can tell. If I were on Jakavi I would take a different decision and get vaccinated.

[AndyT]

I’ve not been invited yet but will still take the vaccination (my 8th) if offered, as I still believe my immunity helped me deal with Covid when I did finally contract it last year.

My understanding from the link below is that in England vaccines for over 75’s outside care homes and other vulnerable people will commence from 22 April, with slightly different dates in the other UK nations.

bloodcancer.org.uk/support-...

[Buddhability]

hi Fran!

I read your letter with interest. Yes, contacted on Sunday. I’m in the UK.

Andy T posted this, bloodcancer.org.uk/support-

(Thank you!)

I read it and read the comments here. I figure I’m immunosuppressed and totally trust my haematology team (enough to inject myself with Inteferon) who have previously encouraged me to get vaccinated for COVID. I’ve had every other vaccine. So I just booked mine in for next week.

Hope you are well.

Yours

John

[lizzziep]

I see some comments saying if on Jakafi to have the vaccination - what difference does it make? I wasn’t planning to have another vaccination as my platelets plummeted after the last one, however I am now on Jakafi! So decisions decisions!

[ainslie]

every one to their own, I’ve had 3 and done with them for Covid, I’m not convinced the benefits out weigh the risks anymore. I just had Shingrix , just 2 doses and that’s it 95% protection against shingles , that sounds like a vaccine that definitely works, just my 2 cents and not advice of course.

[Janis12]

Not heard anything yet but was debating what to do this time, think I have had seven now. My friend (who has MS) and I contracted covid a couple of years ago and the symptoms were very mild so no problems. From that my friend decided not to bother with another vaccination but I went ahead with all that were offered. She developed covid again recently and was absolutely flawed with it, comments were 'I will never make that mistake again'. Good luck.

[Ipadlin]

Thanks Azalea I wondered whether you were in the UK. I'm in Cheshire and have heard nothing about Spring boosters but have an appt with my haematologist next week and will discuss this with him. I've had that have been offered so far!

[azaelea in reply to Ipadlin]

Maybe they haven’t got round to it yet. It was my G.P’s surgery who messaged me this time. All other 7 have been through NHS emailing me and I had to find a suitable place to have appointment. Your Haematologist will hopefully arrange it for you.

[sbs_patient]

I got a Spring 2024 Covid booster and had no reactions. Note: I am 80 years old and was diagnosed with PV in 2015.

[azaelea in reply to sbs_patient]

Thanks for letting me know you were alright after this vaccination. I am 88 and was diagnosed with ET six years ago.

[sbs_patient in reply to azaelea]

Good luck with the booster!

[MWxxxx]

I've not heard anything yet but I think the national booking system opens on the 15th April for those who are eligible. I also think I read somewhere that it is the same vaccine as used in the latter part of the autumn last year. I have just switched to Ruxolitinib so will be taking it.

[Mica11]

I just got my appointment through for the booster. Can't explain it but I was uneasy about taking the last one but was persuaded to get it. I caught covid for the first time a couple of months later, was testing positive for 10 days. I feel I'm putting enough poison into my body as it is and I am feeling a heightened unease this time and have decided to decline.

[azaelea in reply to Mica11]

I can understand your reluctance in taking the vaccine again. I’m still going to refuse if not Pfizer. According to Blood Cancer UK’s reply to my query the two being used are Pfizer or Moderna but mention of two others is made “ for certain people” but don’t know who or why. This was in reply to an email I sent asking if there was a new one.

[MCW22]

I've had an invitation but nowhere close enough to home to get it at the moment. Last one was in my local chemist so I'm just going to bide my time until more places start doing it, and if they don't then that's the decision made for me.

Carol

[AndyT]

I’ve had my invite and am booked in for 24 April. Happy to keep my immunity boosted as I’m sure that helped me to deal fairly well with Covid when I finally caught it last year.