4th vaccine

My daughter had her 4th vaccine a few weeks ago. She works in the local school. She had no side effects except a painful arm for a couple of days.

Marydoll, I live in North Shropshire.
As I was confused by the advice on the NHS website about needing a letter to get the fourth vaccination I e-mailed my GP surgery for advice.
They phoned to ask me if I had had a letter about the third vaccination as I was CEV and when I said yes they said to take that along to the vaccination clinic.
The clinic was a mobile one which happened to be visiting the town on Monday.
There was no problem when I showed them the letter and they accessed my records and I had the jab.
I must admit to still being confused as the letter made no reference to a fourth jab merely stated I was CEV and should have a third jab rather than a booster.
I am just very grateful to have had the vaccination exactly 91 days after my third one. I do hope you get yours organised soon and anyone else struggling to do so.

Thanks Thorntrees.

After ages spent trying to get my third primary, as advised, I eventually marched into the vaccination centre, where my husband had an appointment.
On checking my record, they gave it to me there and then.
I did have to explain that AZ was not suitable for immunocompromised patients and why. I was given the Pfizer, which wasn't as problematic as the AZ ones, which put me in bed for three weeks each time.
Staff seemed very ill informed, but willing to listen to me.

When I couldn't access the vaccination, (the helpline were useless, hadn't a clue about a third primary), I wrote to the Chief Medical Officer in November.
I received a reply this morning to await a letter for the third one. A bit late, to say the least. I was vaccinated on the 6th of November!

In all fairness the system has been updated and I have been told I am eligible for a fourth and access to antivirals, which is reassuring.

Unless altered to take account of new variants the, fourth will be the same as the third if from the same manufacturer. It is supposed to be available for CEV patients, and some have had it, but I cannot bear the thought of arguing with a particularly obnoxious receptionist at my practice who decides who can have appointments and when. She would insist that my third vaccination was a booster, when all the litersture sent to surgeries emphasised there was a difference. Although the actual content of the vaccine was the same in 1&2 it was recommended that the boosters for say Astra Zenica patients should be ’boosted’ with Pfizer, or similar. The reason for logging a third vaccination rather than a booster is so that those who qualify would be offered the fourth as a booster. All very complicated, but it’s a poor show when even doctors are giving advice that doesn’t tally with the JCIV advice

I am in Scotland and immunocompromised, I had my 4th injection nearly 4 weeks ago. I got a letter through with an appointment. I also had a letter saying I would have access to antivirals and if I need a PCR test will get one as a priority. Very happy with the service I have received all the way through.

Yes, I have compromised immunity and have had the 4th vaccine/Booster - no side effects at all. However, many in my position then discover through testing that they have no antibodies at all, and total shielding is being recommended by many Consultants.

That's good to hear Kate. I have worked it out, my twelve weeks are up, so I'm now eligible. Once my GP phones me today (he wants to speak to me, but no time given), I will phone the helpline and book it.

I searched on line for vaccination side effects. A recent Guardian article (Tues 18th Jan 2022) describes the 'nocebo effect', a negative version of the placebo effect. During Covid vaccine clinical trials, where volunteers had either the vaccine or a placebo, scientists discovered that about 76% of all common adverse reactions after the first dose could be attributed to the nocebo effect, suggesting that a substantial proportion of milder side effects such as headache, short-term fatigue and arm pain are not produced by the constituents of the vaccine but by other factors including anxiety, expectation and coincidental ailments. In other words, a significant number of participants of the trial who were given the placebo, experienced these side effects because the expected to. It's all in the mind!

It will be all in the mind for some, lizzypopbottle, but we do have to be careful not to play down side-effects from the vaccine that some have (I'm sure you're not doing so, btw, I'm talking generally).

I've had the 'flu vaccine for at least 15 years, and had side-effects (upset stomach, headache) just the once, when the same applied to my DH on the same occasion. Likewise with the Covid vaccine, nothing at all for the first two (AZ), but the Pfizer booster just wiped me out for a full day. I certainly wasn't expecting it to.

It wouldn't put me off having another booster if I'm offered one further down the line, though.

I'm on the CEV list and have had 2 x AZ jabs and a Pfizer Booster, all of them without any side effects whatsoever. If I'm offered a fourth vaccination (booster?) I'll have it. I think the boosters will/should probably become an annual thing, preferably for everyone, if we want to continue to protect those more vulnerable in the community.

Well, Maggiemaybe if 76% of side effects were imagined, then 24% were real.

My reactions to AZ were so severe that they had to be reported to the Yellow Card site and on both occasions, required intervention by my GP.
Definitely not imagined.
I have a history of drug allergies, so not a surprise

Of course if your doc suggests 4th dose, you should probably get it, but it seems to be largely ineffective against Omicron, according to an Israeli study:
healthpolicy-watch.news/israel-fourth-covid-booster-ineffective/

Israel was the first country to give 3rd dose and now giving 4th to vulnerable, but still has very high rates of infection

The fourth dose is recommended for those who are immunocompromised, because research has shown that the vaccines have only been 40% effective for some of those patients.

lizzypopbottle

Well, Maggiemaybe if 76% of side effects were imagined, then 24% were real.

Absolutely. Which is why I said we do have to be careful not to play down side-effects from the vaccine that some have (I'm sure you're not doing so, btw, I'm talking generally).

I have had two and my booster, first 2 was the AZ. I have not heard much lately on the AZ being given anymore
Seems to be Pfizer or Moderna.

Is AZ still being given?

I would seriously give some thought whether to have the 4th jab.

I had the booster and then suffered with vision problems, doctors said it was a side effect. The vision problems triggered vertigo which I’ve never had before. 3 months later I’m still unable to drive or work.

Still have vertigo and blurred vision.

Being self employed certainly doesn’t help with the stress.

So I will definitely hold off on rushing to have the 4th jab. x

I has a phone call two weeks ago offering me a fourth jab, I have an autoimmune skin condition. I accepted straight away, why wouldn't you? It was Pfizer, like the first three, no adverse reaction.

grannysyb

I has a phone call two weeks ago offering me a fourth jab, I have an autoimmune skin condition. I accepted straight away, why wouldn't you? It was Pfizer, like the first three, no adverse reaction.

Exactly! As someone who has had severe reactions to the vaccine, it's still a no brainer for me, it's the lesser of two evils.
If I catch Covid, I will be lucky to survive. I suspect that some posters do not fully understand the implications for some of us.

I am sure at the moment the 4th vaccine is only for the CEV, my husband who has blood cancer will have his next week. But as he will be on chemotherapy for the next 2 years I am not sure how useful it will be but on advise of consultant will have it. He has a PCR test kit at home and will get antibody/antiviral treatment to take at home if he tests positive.

sodapop

I'm uncertain about this, four vaccinations in less than a year is a step too far for me.

I feel quite the opposite, I mean, hey, what's one more? Which reminds me, I must book in for the shingles one..

I had my fourth vaccination yesterday (Pfizer). My arm aches.

I'm taking part in a Covid study for the immunocompromised. After the first two vaccinations (AZ) I produced no antibodies. Recently I found out that after the 3rd vaccination (Pfizer), I actually produced some antibodies. That is such a surprise - I'm only too happy to have the 4th (booster).

Meant to add, I have also received a PCR test kit and the info on how to access antibiotics should I test positive. I was due to have an operation to remove a tumour on my adrenal gland on 6th Aug but it was cancelled at the last minute. Still waiting for a new date so want to keep as safe as possible so am grateful for the vaccine booster etc.

I live in Wales and I can assure you that we are not happy with being out of step with England. “Dippy” Drakeford is just playing politics. With a border with England as long as it is, and with many crossing the border in both directions for work or shopping it makes no sense. If you read the press reports, the Scottish are not happy with their restrictions either. The free prescriptions and University tuition are not being paid for from tax receipts in Scotland. You are paying for them through your taxes.

Racingsparrow

I live in Wales and I can assure you that we are not happy with being out of step with England. “Dippy” Drakeford is just playing politics. With a border with England as long as it is, and with many crossing the border in both directions for work or shopping it makes no sense. If you read the press reports, the Scottish are not happy with their restrictions either. The free prescriptions and University tuition are not being paid for from tax receipts in Scotland. You are paying for them through your taxes.

Your statement is based on a false premise. Scotland and Wales have devolved governments, each with their own parliament and budget. The Scottish and Welsh Parliaments make the decisions on how to spend those budgets.

Health is devolved, so the parliaments have decided that it is in the best interests of the citizens to provide free prescriptions.

No-one in England pays for those prescriptions. You need to find out how the Barnett formula operates, and what it is designed to do,