Covid Booster. Yes/No? *** The Covid Thread ***

[[XAP]Bob]

One doesn't need to be in tune or time to be singing...
"Make a joyful noise" is the Psalmist's cry.

[ANTONISH]

One doesn't need to be in tune or time to be singing...
"Make a joyful noise" is the Psalmist's cry.

But is it a joyful noise in the ear of the listener?

[Jdsk]

I've found their press release:
https://medium.com/macmillan-press-rele ... cef3#_edn1

And today's NAO report: "NHS backlogs and waiting times in England":
https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploa ... ngland.pdf

"This report looks in detail at backlogs and waiting times for elective and cancer care in the NHS in England. It explains how the current increased backlogs and waiting times have arisen, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic."

And from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine:

"RCEM Winter Flow Project Analysis of the data so far: 26 November 2021":
https://rcem.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2 ... 021221.pdf

includes:

And the new waiting list figures:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/202 ... in-england

Jonathan

[mjr]

50 people were turned away from booster appointments at King's Lynn Shakespeare Barn this morning, including me, because Norfolk and Waveney CCG are still sticking to 180 days since the second dose and the first you know of it is the volunteer on the door checking vaccination cards and turning you away... and now I can't rebook for another operator's centre because I already have a past booster appointment. I guess eventually it will timeout, but who knows when and whether it'll be before the system lets all adults book.

Someone has goofed, opening appointments at NWCCG sites for 90+ days.

[Jdsk]

... but who knows when and whether it'll be before the system lets all adults book.

The NHS is working on plans to offer:
a booster dose to everyone aged 18 years old and over
a booster dose to people aged 16 years old and over with a severely weakened immune system
a 2nd dose to all children aged 12 to 15 years old who are not already eligible
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavir ... ccination/

In England bookings are going to be allowed from three months after the second dose. That's literally when you can book the appointment, not a change to the interval between the second and third doses or when the third dose will actually be administered. But the web sites haven't been updated yet.

Jonathan

[mjr]

... but who knows when and whether it'll be before the system lets all adults book.

The NHS is working on plans to offer:
a booster dose to everyone aged 18 years old and over
a booster dose to people aged 16 years old and over with a severely weakened immune system
a 2nd dose to all children aged 12 to 15 years old who are not already eligible
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavir ... ccination/

In England bookings are going to be allowed from three months after the second dose. That's literally when you can book the appointment, not a change to the interval between the second and third doses or when the third dose will actually be administered. But the web sites haven't been updated yet.

What has that to do with anything I wrote?

[Psamathe]

... but who knows when and whether it'll be before the system lets all adults book.

The NHS is working on plans to offer:
a booster dose to everyone aged 18 years old and over
a booster dose to people aged 16 years old and over with a severely weakened immune system
a 2nd dose to all children aged 12 to 15 years old who are not already eligible
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavir ... ccination/

In England bookings are going to be allowed from three months after the second dose. That's literally when you can book the appointment, not a change to the interval between the second and third doses or when the third dose will actually be administered. But the web sites haven't been updated yet.

What has that to do with anything I wrote?

I assume it's when you can book and when you can receive i.e. you can book 3 months after the 2nd dose booking an appointment 3 months into the future (i.e. 3+3=6 months).

Gov. website updated 2 Dec

Timing of booster
The booster is being offered at least 6 months after your last dose. Like your previous doses, the vaccine will be given in your upper arm.

Until you posted I'd assumed the interval between 2nd dose and booster had been reduced to 3 months, but sounds like maybe politic speak and I remember being told at 5 months "you can now book" except you can book for 1 months ahead (5+1=6).

NHS website (reviewed 8 Dec 2021)

If you're eligible, you'll be offered a booster dose at least 6 months after you had your 2nd dose.

except paragraph below

Book your vaccination appointment online

You can pre-book your COVID-19 booster dose online if it's been 2 months (61 days) since you had your 2nd dose....

You'll be offered appointment dates from 3 months after the date of your 2nd dose.

then

Find a walk-in vaccination site

You can get your booster dose at a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site if you had your 2nd dose at least 6 months ago

So maybe it's different if you're booking or walking-in (which seems totally daft.

And I thought I understood the situation before mjr posted and after a couple of Google searches I'm totally confused!

Ian

[Psamathe]

And to confuse the situation even more

GPs offer Covid boosters to under-40s against NHS guidance
GPs have begun offering booster vaccines to patients under 40 against official NHS guidance.

People in their 30s who are not in high-risk groups in England are being sent text messages and emails by family doctors inviting them to book their top-up jab. Some have secured slots for appointments just 36 hours later. This contrasts sharply with the current policy of the NHS, which has not yet asked those under 40 to come forward and book their booster jabs.
...

And the same report confirms mjr's experience

At the same time, some people over 40 who are eligible for a booster vaccine have reported being turned away because it is not six months since their second dose – even though the NHS has cut the qualifying time from six months after a second dose to three.
.....
However, since then the NHS national booking system has only been amended to allow people aged 40 and over and those in high-risk groups to book a booster jab appointment for three months after their second dose, instead of the original six months. Healthy adults aged between 18 and 39 cannot yet book their booster via the NHS national booking system.

Ian

[mjr]

So maybe it's different if you're booking or walking-in (which seems totally daft.

Yes, I think it's different if you're booking or walking-in. Yes it's daft... and for me, it means I can't simply go to a walk-in centre like 119 suggested. I am now forced either to wait until Norfolk cancel my booking so I can rebook in Cambs or West Suffolk, or to wait 9 days and go to a walk-in centre.

Ah but now I search and it seems West Suffolk walk-in centres are doing 3 month boosters, contrary to what's on www.nhs.uk, but there's not currently one in Newmarket. It might be amusing to have three doses from different providers (1st was Cambs, 2nd was Norfolk...)

I don't know. I try and get vaccinated when they say I should, so that immunity should be pretty full before any gatherings at Christmas/New Year, and all I get is a wasted hour off work and a round-trip.

[Psamathe]

So maybe it's different if you're booking or walking-in (which seems totally daft.

Yes, I think it's different if you're booking or walking-in. Yes it's daft... and for me, it means I can't simply go to a walk-in centre like 119 suggested. I am now forced either to wait until Norfolk cancel my booking so I can rebook in Cambs or West Suffolk, or to wait 9 days and go to a walk-in centre.

Ah but now I search and it seems West Suffolk walk-in centres are doing 3 month boosters, contrary to what's on www.nhs.uk, but there's not currently one in Newmarket. It might be amusing to have three doses from different providers (1st was Cambs, 2nd was Norfolk...)

I don't know. I try and get vaccinated when they say I should, so that immunity should be pretty full before any gatherings at Christmas/New Year, and all I get is a wasted hour off work and a round-trip.

FYI Cambridge Community Services NHS Trust run a number of the mass vaccination centres in Norfolk (on behalf of the Waveney & Norfolk CCG). I incl. the Kings Lyn (Shakespeare Barn), Norwich Castle Mall, Great Yarmouth & Gorleston. But not all (round me they are not running the smaller ones, not running Norwich Community Hospital Covid vaccinations, unsure of others)

I spoke to Waveney & Norfolk CCG trying to sort one out for myself and they suggested one that might be OK but said run by Cambridge, give them a call which I did and they e-mailed me a list of centres they are running in Norfolk incl. what vaccines are being used. Reason for my research was travel, queue waits and a diabolical rural bus service.

Ian

[gbnz]

Until you posted I'd assumed the interval between 2nd dose and booster had been reduced to 3 months, but sounds like maybe politic speak

[/quote]

+ 1. Have to admit that I too was under the impression that the interval between 2nd dose and booster had been reduced to 3 months. Quite pleased, as I'd only just had my six monthly booster, within an hour or so of being eligible

[Jdsk]

And I thought I understood the situation before mjr posted and after a couple of Google searches I'm totally confused!

As above... we know what's going to change but the websites haven't been updated.

I'll post in this thread when they are.

Jonathan

[mjr]

And I thought I understood the situation before mjr posted and after a couple of Google searches I'm totally confused!

As above... we know what's going to change but the websites haven't been updated.

I'll post in this thread when they are.

Norfolk and Waveney CCG website has been updated. Basically, I was a few hours too early. But I still cannot rebook.

[colin54]

An interesting 'Inside Science' programme about the latest Omicron data from South Africa, and potential efficacy of current inoculation and previous infections relating to it's potential effects. With a handy primer about how vaccines work.
At the start of the programme, for about 12 minutes.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001283q

[horizon]

I do feel uncomfortable using vaccine for minimal immunity increase when so much of the world is not getting vaccinated due to not having enough vaccine ... I'm questioning if others in the world should have higher priority.

Am I completely mistaken?

Ian

Well according to these* figures, yes:

Ghana:
Population: 32 million
Percentage vaccinated: 5.7%
Deaths from covid: 1,228
Deaths per million of population: 38

UK:
Population: 65 million
Percentage vaccinated: 80%
Deaths from covid: 147,000
Deaths per million of population: 2,261

I was reading the Guardian and came across news about Ghana (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/ ... chief-says) This country has always had a special place in my heart as I worked there on a voluntary project in my early twenties; it was, and hopefully still is, a wonderful place.


* I am sure there are plenty of other figures available and everyone is welcome to go over these figures with a fine-tooth comb. The Ghanaian figures are from the Guardian article and the UK from
the usual sources. And by the way, I acknowledge that the UK deaths occurred largely before the vaccination roll-out so the situations in the two countries may not be comparable - do make of the figures what you wish.