The Elusive Third Primary Vaccine - not the Booster

I’m a front line nhs worker with direct patient contact. I had my booster at work 2 weeks ago. My First doses were in January and March this year.

My trust were initially asking staff to book, but then switched to accepting walk ins so I popped across to the vaccination hub on a Friday afternoon and got the last available dose that day. It’s been very straight forward with regular emails to staff letting them know when and how to access the third dose.

My 86 year old father got his booster via his gp about 6 months after his second dose. He wouldn’t be able to access any online booking systems. Thankfully he was contacted directly by phone to make an appointment.

I self inject methotrexate weekly. I should therefore be classed as immunosuppressive, but apparently not. I had the greatest of difficulty obtaining a booster, which was Pfizer, when my first two shots were AstraZeneca. It took me 10 phone calls and 4 sessions online before I found a kind Tesco pharmacist who rang me up at short notice to say someone who had booked in hadn’t turned up so I could take their place. I had to drive several miles to a different town. Even then it was weeks after the recommended time I should have had the jab. My own doctor’s surgery was most unhelpful; online I would have had to travel about 50 miles or more to an unfamiliar town to be jabbed; the help line hopeless: only recorded messages saying they couldn’t answer the phone owing to staff shortages. I live alone, am 78 and wracked with arthritis. What if I were yet older and frailer and couldn’t push and shove the way I had to to get the booster? I can guarantee that members of this Tory government didn’t have to jump through similar hoops to be dealt with. Hypocrites, the lot of them.

Hi I git a text from GP re 3rd vaccine but its not until 20th at earliest I checked Derby walk in no 3rd doses available but checked today they have some! Will go tomorrow if they have any left ( Got mil coming for lunch )

Our eldest who was born without 2 parts of his immune system has his this week. He is 36.

My husband got a text to book his third jab he rang on the Thursday and was in for it Saturday morning. No problem at all

Olive, I find your views unsettling. If you have read the whole thread, you would be aware that we are talking about a certain category of society, who are immunocompromised. The vaccines have been found to be only 40% effective for some of us, who have been advised we wont survive Covid.
Having done extensive reading, rather than believe conspiracy theories, I would rather take the risk with the vaccines, than die of Covid.
How much research have you done?

I got a letter from the NHS telling me I was due for the booster and I booked it online for 2 days later. If you’re over 50 you will be able to book a month ahead from tomorrow so go online and do it. I’m more worried about the youngsters who haven’t taken up the vaccine because they can get COVID more than once so it will keep circulating.

I got a letter from my consultant on 30Sept telling me I was entitled to the 3rd primary dose (I'm immune suppressed), I went to a local centre 1 Oct which doing both drop in and appointments, showed my letter and was told I could have the vaccine straight away.
The nurse booking in told me that I would need to have my booster in 6months and told me to keep hold of the letter as the nhs covid app was still being updated for the 3rd primary and my vaccine might show incorrectly as a booster. Never got any communication from my GP - it was my Gastroenterologist who apparently determined I was eligible?

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On Sept 22nd my husband took a phone call at home and told me that it was my Rheumatology Consultant saying I had to go immediately to the local vaccination centre and have a Covid jab. As I am classed as extremely clinically vulnerable I had my 1st & 2nd doses in Feb and April. I was puzzled as I knew they weren’t starting the Boosters till the following day. I went along, told the man at the centre I was here for my booster as I had not heard anything about a 3rd jab at the time and he said “You mean you’re one of the 257 who are having their 3rd jab today. We don’t call them boosters.” Didn’t really mind what they were calling it so had it. Some 2 weeks later I heard by chance about 3rd jabs but couldn’t find any definitive info. Last week I received a text from the NHS asking me to book a booster jab and yesterday a letter from Rheumatology arrived telling me to go and get a 3rd jab. Fortunately I rang them to ask how long I should wait between the 3rd jab and booster and they told me to ignore the letter and text and wait to be told. Just as well I didn’t immediately act the text message and have my booster last week. The nurse admitted that the letter was very confusing and they had had many calls about it. What a waste of NHS staff time sending unnecessary letters and then having to answer all these phone calls. I have since paid for a private antibody test and found I have produced 18000 antibodies and the range is between 50 and 800000. Now all I need to know is what is the average antibody level for a healthy person! Haven’t managed to find the answer to that question. Anybody know?

My first two jabs were AZ but my booster, which I had a week ago, was the Pfizer. Felt poorly for 3 days after my first vaccination but, other than a sore arm, nothing after the other two.
Am waiting for my annual flu jab but the surgery is waiting for the over 65 vaccine to come in. My daughter has had hers, but that was the 65 and under one. Didn't realise there was age related flu vaccines!

This thread is a timely reminder that those of us who are ECV, should take responsibility for keeping safe and managing our conditions, by keeping up to date with latest developments.
Thank you to all who have made valuable and accurate contributions to the vaccination threads.

I've had the third primary vaccine, because of a history of Crohn's Disease and recent cancer and chemotherapy. Apparently I'll have the booster in around six months. A colleague at work has also been invited due to being diabetic type 1.

Sorry bear I meant Coco! ? Trying to post on my phone.

Having had my third primary vaccine yesterday, with a booster to follow in six months I can confirm, that they are exactly the same. Missedout and Growstuff ( I think) have clearly explained that it is the WAY in which they are used is different. If like me, your first two were AZ, your third must be different.

bear, if you read the Booster thread, you will find that information there
The GP surgery is correct, it is the wording of the letter and information on the NHS sites, which are misleading.

I am classed as immunosuppressed. I have has two phizer jabs and another a few weeks ago. It wasn't until I saw my consultant recently that I was told that I would need another in 6 months time as those who are immunosuppressed need a little extra help as the vaccine is not so efficient.

I like many others would just like some normality without the fear of going into a shop/restaurant/coffee shop seeing many people not wearing masks and praying that I haven't picked anything up.

yes i have had the third (booster) as i have copd alo had the flu jab at the same time and no side effects just very sore arm from the covid jab for almost a week but worth it

growstuff

Summerlove

My understanding is that right now, the third dose, and booster, are the identical vaccine that was given for 1&2. Meaning no formula change.

Eventually the booster will have different formulations like the flu shot.

I feel that a lot of the confusion has come around using third dose and booster interchangeably for a lot of people

There are two major differences:

1 The third shot can (and should) be given earlier.

2 People still need to have a booster.

It needs to be Pfizer.

The confusion has come about because GPs haven't been informed what's happening and, if they did know, haven't always informed their staff. It's a management/communication issue.

I have had a huge row with my GP’s receptionist who insists the ’third primary’ is the same as abooster. It isn’t. I told her I had a letter from the NHS stating that it was different to the booster, whereupon she said the doctors had told her it was the same. She then sneeringly suggested I take my letter to the surgery ’if it was different’ from everybody else’s letter. There is a huge amount of information clearly distinguishing the two, with one charity proclaiming that CEV patients are being ’put in harm’s way’ by surgeries who are confusing the two terms. The clue is in the wording ’Third Primary vaccine’ as opposed to ’Booster’. It alarms me that clear JCIV advice has been sent to all GP surgeries and they are still getting it wrong. I am awaiting a response to my complaint.

A close friend of mine aged 75 received a letter to advise her that she was eligible for the third primary vaccine (due to having only one kidney, she thinks). The letter arrived after she’d been and had her booster vaccine. She called 119 who explained that in fact the third primary and booster are exactly the same dose wise, however as she has had 3 primary ones now, she’ll be advised to have a booster in 6 months. She was unaware of third primary vaccines until she received the letter from the NHS.

Yes I have to have it and I’m due from tomorrow. Just being online thinking it will be same place had other two jabs but oh no it’s only miles away from where I live so will ring my GP tomorrow see if can get it done with them otherwise if can’t I will have to go without as it’s 20miles away

Yes, I’ve had a 3rd vaccine and will have my booster in 6 months’ time. I have a primary immune-deficiency (MBL deficiency).

the person whom i assist is housebound, so she just has to take what is given.
she should have had the third jab in august.
the GP surgery phoned me to arrange for district nurse to come and give her the booster and flu jab.
i said she'd had a letter from nhs saying as she is immuno-compromised, that she must have third dose.
the GP admin person did not not what i was talking about. said they are coming to do flu and booster only.
i think it would have been clearer if nhs had used different terms.
perhaps tell everyone that they need a third jab, and some ECV need a fourth.
but believe it was meant to be given before the booster, so maybe call it two and a half ? i don't know.
or the immuno=comps extra.
it's the suggestion that we are making it up, or are just wrong that is annoying, esp as we have letter from nhs, saying just ask your GP about getting the third jab. wish they'd tell GPs.

Teacheranne, there is a fair amount of conflicting info. It's not surprising, there is confusion!

Marydoll

Sorry, Teacheranne, I am receiving treatment and certainly not in respite, so that is not the case.

My consultant told me I fulfilled the criteria, but managing to get it is the problem.

I’m sorry that you have been struggling, it’s hard for you. I was making assumptions based on what friends had told me but I am obviously incorrect.

Are you sorted yet?

I’ve just read on the NHS website that from Monday you can book your third COVID vaccine online.

We’ve booked our flu jabs at a local pharmacy. Easier than trying to contact our surgery.