Ineffictiveness of Covid vaccines for the immunocompromised.

Fanny, I was only due to have my dose yesterday, but managed to get it earlier, so it can't be too late. Your husband's consultant knows best, so ask him!

We just need to keep battering away and continue to shout very loudly, the onus is on us to raise awareness. Even if only one life is spared, then it will have been worthwhile!

I'm so grateful to the immunocommpromised posters on here, who have contributed valuable information to the various threads.

Fanny, so sorry to read what a tough time you and your husband are having.

I’m feeling quite isolated from the previous ease in seeing or talking to my GP or Rheumatology department about managing the implications of being CEV. I won’t give the boring detail but it begins to feel that we learn much more from threads like this - thanks to everyone contributing.

I plan to phone rheumatology today. My recent bloods were concerning so we’re re-done a week ago. I’ve heard nothing so assume they were no longer concerning. I will also ask if I can have an antibody test.

The other issue for me is contact with young grandchildren. They’re in school and nursery. I d0nt want to return to only seeing them over garden walls but …..

Iam, I know exactly how you feel! I haven't spoken to my GP, since lockdown began. I had another heart attack, because no-one was monitoring my heart condition, related to my RA. I feel abandoned!

I know it is untrue, but I can't help they are just waiting for the CEV to die, that would certainly ease the burden on the NHS.

I’m not clear on this, is the third primary a different formulation from the booster? They tell us the booster is the same, only you get Pfizer whether you had it before or not.

As I have already said, they are the same vaccines, but managed differently.

•Ideally, the third primary dose should be administered eight weeks after the secondary vaccine. (That hasn't happened for many).
•If you had AZ, you must have Pfizer or a full dose of Moderna for your third primary vaccine.
•I believe only a half dose of Moderna is given as a booster. (Of course I may be wrong, but I have done a lot of reading about this.
•A further booster is required in six months and this requirement should be coded in your clinical record.

The AZ has not delivered the goods for many of the immunocompromised, which is why is recommended that should not be administered for the third dose.

Bluesky, I hope this clarifies things for you.

Thanks Marydoll!

MerylStreep it was the 3rd vaccination I was referring to. Tend to refer to it as a booster. We were called for it quite unexpectedly

I am not trying to derail the thread as I know many people need to know about the third vaccine if you are immunocompromised as it is important.
I was listening to something on the radio last week and I heard that the new capsule drug for Covid has now been tested and is out on the NHS. It is called Molnupiravir and can be taken at home. It would be prescribed by the GP at the first sign of Covid diagnosis. They said that in most cases it would prevent hospitalization happening. This is not to say that people should not get the vaccine but with that drug it could help many people.

millymouge

MerylStreep it was the 3rd vaccination I was referring to. Tend to refer to it as a booster. We were called for it quite unexpectedly

Milly it isnt the same thing.
Unless I’ve misunderstood and you are immune suppressed.

Both you and your husband

I am ECV due to being immunosuppressed by medication taken for Rheumatoid Arthritis.
I was lucky enough to be contacted by my Rheumatology consultant the day before the Booster started being administered at our local Vaccination Centre and she told me to go straight away and have it before the rush.

Only found out by NHS letter about 4 weeks later that that was a 3rd Primary Vaccine and Booster to follow in 6 months.

For about 6 months I have been making enquiries as to how I can check my antibodies so I could assess my risk of getting Covid. and have ben sent from pillar to post.
Wandering around Bath I found a shop that did all sorts of allergy tests, pre travel and post travel tests etc and low and behold antibody tests.
Apparently there are two types of test , one tells you if you have had Covid and have antibodies and the other whether you have produced antibodies after the vaccine.

They were very knowlegable and both the people I spoke to were trained nurses and one had worked in a Rheumatology Dept. They knew all about the immunosuppressants I was on and the test was quickly done via a full blood test (not a finger prick). I paid £45 and received the result 2 days later.
I have produced 18,000 antibodies. Anything 50 and 800,000 is supposed to be a positive result.
Now all I have to work out is am I on the low end of immunity or is 18,000 enough antibodies!!
Anybody know the answer?

3nanny6 I assume that that’s an antiviral. It’s extremely good to know that it’s available. Hopefully it can help save many people’s lives, God willing.
Many people don’t realise what a terrifying thing Covid still is for many people

Thanks for the info, that sounds really promising. You are not derailing the thread.

However, many of us have been told Covid will kill us if we get it, so the most important thing is not to catch it in the first place.
I was told it would be a waste of time to go to hospital and a DNR would be put on my file. That is brutal!

FannyCornforth

millymouge

MerylStreep it was the 3rd vaccination I was referring to. Tend to refer to it as a booster. We were called for it quite unexpectedly

Milly it isnt the same thing.
Unless I’ve misunderstood and you are immune suppressed.

I hope you don't mind me asking, but are you and your husband immunocompromised. That must be very worrying for you both, millymouge? That's amazing that you both got a third Primary, without having to fight for it, like many of us.

That is absolutely awful Mary
Can’t give you enough

Kathryn I’ve started a thread about antibody tests, as I’m absolutely clueless about them, you might get some clarification there.

Thanks Fanny, I've kept that info from my husband and children. That's not a burden I want them to carry.
I just need to keep myself safe, but frankly I have had enough of it all!

Marydoll

Thanks for the info, that sounds really promising. You are not derailing the thread.

However, many of us have been told Covid will kill us if we get it, so the most important thing is not to catch it in the first place.
I was told it would be a waste of time to go to hospital and a DNR would be put on my file. That is brutal!

That is quite scary. I imagine you are mainly staying at home and not seeing friends and family, as that would be risky? Are you able to have shopping delivered, rather than having to go shopping?

An interesting thread. M DH is immunocompromised and was called in just under the six months for his 'booster'. With the first and second jabs we went together so he asked why I wasn't included and could I be added as it makes life easier, and was told no. These injections were just for immunosuppressed and they would catch up with me. We thought at the time it was because they were short of supplies (they are) but I now wonder if it was a different strength? We both still had Pfizer again.

When we had the first and second doses we were given a card stating the time and date and what we had. I got one again saying I'd had a booster, he was told it was on his records so he didn't need one. I'm wondering if our doctors have decided that saying the vulnerable shielders need a third dose may be too scary for the poor dears to accept!

Lizzie, I have now had three primary vaccines. and manage my risks, the best way I can.
No-one comes into my home, ( no-one has been in for twenty months) except my triple jabbed children, who are classed as my carers and they keep their distance. No hugs, no kisses and they all do lateral flow tests, before visiting.
The info I posted was given to me three days before the first lockdown and the week of my daughter's cancelled wedding),

My rheumatologist has now advised me to get out now, but to be very careful. It's a matter of balancing mental and emotional wellbeing and physical health. To that end, my postponed hospital treatments are now starting up again.
However, I will not be socialising anytime soon and my Christmas food deliveries are thankfully booked.

Basically I have had enough of splendid isolation!

It surely would have saved a lot of confusion if the third primary vaccine was always referred to as that, and never called the booster.

I was quite shocked to learn from knowledgeable posters on various threads that many medics appear unaware of the need for those with a compromised immune system to have a third primary, plus a booster a few weeks after, so a total of four vaccines.

Having said that we all know that generally speaking, the vaccination programme has gone brilliantly well for most people, but that’s not much comfort for those who are most vulnerable and who have spent many frustrating weeks trying to access their much needed third primary dose.

Marydoll

There have been a few discussions recently, where some posters insisted that there was no such thing as a Third Primary Vaccine for those who are immunosuppressed, it was just the same as a booster. It isn't.

I have just read an article in the Sunday papers, which reported that a number of immunosuppressed patients in England and Wales are seriously ill in hospital with Covid, because their GP had no knowledge of the requirement to get a third primary dose, nor the urgency of needing one, rather than a booster.
Some patients were found to have had little resistance to Covid, despite having had two vaccinations. In other words, for them the vaccine was ineffective.
As someone, who is immunocompromised, I was horrified to read this.

The confusion with 3rd dose vs booster I think comes from the fact that they are currently exactly the same formula.

Hopefully in the future a booster will be upgraded.

I’m sad to hear that many GPs didn’t know the difference. A pretty poor education campaign

Summerlove the difference is in the management, not the formula. It is certainly not easy to find accurate information. For me, the most informative was the Zoewebinar on vaccines and the immunocompromised.

Oh, I think I'd put my name down for that webinar Marydoll but missed it. I wonder if I can still access it.

There's not much point in our asking our doctor what my DH had. They wouldn't respond. There's a shortage and a struggle to get enough vaccines delivered here, but the rate of take up is very high - and the infection rates comparatively low (could there be a link?!!) so I doubt he'd get another dose anyway.

We've both only had two initial vaccines and the six month spaced one. If the third dose is the same as a booster, then that's all he's had.

We continue to just take care.

NFK, it was interesting, but I was quite unsettled after it!

covid.joinzoe.com/post/vaccines-and-the-immunosuppressed

Regrettably if you are immunosuppressed you are very susceptible to everything the only remedy is to isolate to a greater or lesser degree.
Mum had RA, grandchildren were a no, no in winter when they had colds friend visiting had to be asked if they had colds. Others did shopping mostly, very restrictive.