Vocal Voices

I had my two COVID vaccinations along with most people and then I got the call for the the third booster dose. I have now been sent a reminder for vaccination No 4. But I am feeling less certain about this. I have seen on television on more than one occasion that the booster injections only give protection for 90 days. Assuming this is true, what is the next step. Booster No. 5 and then ad infinitum. This is something that I don't relish, having to be vaccinated every three months. I am pondering about it all at the minute and I am not as sure as I was before.

I've had a number of issues since my mnra vaccine last November.
As it stands now I won't be having any more.

The antibodies created by the booster give about 90% protection from serious illness for about four to six months and then start to decrease. That's enough for an autumn and winter. B and T cells, the memory cells, that hold the code to produce antigens to build more antibodies following reinfection can last up to six years. That's good enough for me to take part. I would like mine in late September.

There is not really such a thing as total immunity so if we need a jab every year, as we do for flu, then so be it.

I'm slightly puzzled by who are being invited for this current round of second booster jabs.

Here, it seems to be over-75's (we don't qualify) or immuno-suppressed under 75's. These boosters are being co-ordinated by local surgeries and held in local surgeries.
Yet the main regional vaccination centre at Haynes Motor Museum in nearby Sparkford is still open, and I'm not sure if it isn't offering a free-for-all.
And my S in Birmingham has said she's just been offered a second booster, and she's under 70!

Is it very regional, then?

Also, we had the Covid last month. How long will those anti-bodies last for? I understand you shouldn't get a jab within 4 weeks of having Covid, but does actually getting the virus give you the same immunity as a jab - or better?

Being over 75 I was offered and had my 4th jab in April. I read today that everyone over 65 will be offered one in the autumn and I'll be quite happy to have that one too.

I’m happy to have a booster with my annual flu jab but that’s it for me I’ve had 3 and recently had Covid. I got away lightly and for that I thank the vaccine programme

We have had 3 and also we are pretty sure that at least Mrs S had an unvaccinated nasty go with Covid and I may have had it too.

When Omicron came around and everyone locally started to get it, including people we socialised with, one evening meal followed all the participants going down with it, we were unaffected.

This is consistent with the recorded (but only if you look for it), facts that healthy triple vaccinated who have had covid are essentially invulnerable to the disease. A very high proportion of them simply do not become symptomatic.

So boosters are off our schedule.

Well we are not compelled to have the booster-booster so each to their own.

I will be having mine about September.

I had my last Covid booster in October so a booster with my flu vaccine would,be fine

That's my thinking as well. The surgery is pretty accommodating with dates so I will try for the booster some time near to the flu jab - late Sept to mid October. The flu jab is a walk-in clinic - just book the day and pick a slot.