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COVID Spring booster

(71 Posts)
tanith Mon 15-Apr-24 17:12:25

Just got my invite to book, how do people feel? Is it necessary?
I had the virus before Christmas for the first time after flying abroad. I can’t make up my mind.

Thorntrees Wed 17-Apr-24 20:34:34

DH managed to book a private covid vaccine.
He is not quite old enough to get an NHS one and wants to protect me as I am vulnerable having had blood cancer.
It’s a 60 mile round trip but worth it to keep us both safe.
I can’t understand why anyone would not want the protection of a vaccine,covid is still around.

nightowl Wed 17-Apr-24 21:35:33

Marydoll this is just one article about the vaccine payouts

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-politics-2023-6-uk-to-pay-out-over-11-5m-in-covid-19-vaccine-damages/

Marydoll Wed 17-Apr-24 22:56:48

Thank you for the info.

Without intending to be dismissive, by May 22 over 57 million people in the UK had the vaccine.

www.statista.com/statistics/1194668/uk-covid-19-vaccines-administered

As of January 2023, which is the latest data available, there were 59 deaths involving the COVID-19 vaccination of which 51 are registered as the underlying cause in England from March 2020 to January 2023. In Wales for the same period there was 1 death.
I'm finding it difficult to find the Scottish data.

It is not easy to compare the data and risks, but the odds of dying from the Covid vaccine appear to be minimal.
That of course is not going to appease those who have lost a loved one from the vaccine.

I would rather

Marydoll Wed 17-Apr-24 23:11:36

I would rather take the risk.

M0nica Thu 18-Apr-24 15:11:32

The chances of dying from the vaccine is roughly one in a million.

I recommend you look at this link and the graph showing death rate of those vaccinated and non vaccinated in this country. The non vaccinated rate was over 300 per million, among the vaccinated it was 17 per million
ourworldindata.org/grapher/england-covid-19-mortality-rate-by-vaccination-status?country=~All+ages

winterwhite Wed 24-Apr-24 17:48:03

We had ours today. Appointments at local pharmacy. Booking via phoning 119 very efficient.

Given a long leaflet with the off-putting name Strike Vax. Much more alarmist re side effects I thought than things we've been given before. Made by Moderna so I suppose more or less the same as the others.

annodomini Thu 25-Apr-24 11:11:09

A text from the practice asked me to book my booster on line - easily done and this Monday I had the jab. As usual, I've had no reaction- except the site is itchy! In my time I have had vaccinations for everything from Smallpox which we all had as infants in the 1940s through Whooping Cough, Diphtheria and Polio. Just think how child health and mortality rates have improved in the past century. Don't let's get dismissive of the Covid vaccination!

Elegran Thu 02-May-24 08:47:15

Strategic bump for t***l avoidance.

Georgesgran Thu 02-May-24 08:52:21

Another bump

Whiff Thu 02-May-24 11:51:33

Just bumping this up

lemsip Thu 02-May-24 20:52:14

had my spring booster last week, no problemss

Ainismum Tue 07-May-24 15:47:35

No I’m not having this booster.

Kim19 Tue 07-May-24 22:35:02

Had mine ten days ago. No adverse effects other than the usual tenderness around the injection point of entry. Fine by me.

Oldbat1 Wed 08-May-24 10:57:10

DH stage 4 bowel cancer had his covid booster yesterday. The chemo classifies him as clinically vulnerable so he qualified plus currently on a chemo break. By the way consultant said DH bowel cancer is likely to have taken 10years to grow to size to cause problems. Pity England do not do “poo” tests until 60 wheras Scotland I believe is 50.

HelterSkelter1 Wed 08-May-24 13:49:10

Astra Zeneca vaccines now withdrawn. Which is a bit of a worry.

Marydoll Wed 08-May-24 14:24:26

HelterSkelter1

Astra Zeneca vaccines now withdrawn. Which is a bit of a worry.

Why is it a worry?
I see it as a positive step. It has done its job, but vaccines meed to be adapted to protect from new varients.

I had a dreadful reaction to it, but without it, if I had caught Covid in the early days of the pandemic, I would probably have died because I am CEV.
There were deaths, but it saved the lives of millions, who otherwise may have died.

AstraZeneca has begun the worldwide withdrawal of its Covid-19 vaccine due to a “surplus of available updated vaccines” that target new variants of the virus.

The announcement follows the pharmaceutical company in March voluntarily withdrawing its European Union marketing authorisation, which is the approval to market a medicine in member states.

Source: The Guardian.

HelterSkelter1 Wed 08-May-24 14:38:56

The BBC News site stated that it had been linked to blood clots. Which always makes one think why withdraw it when they are tweaked anyway to respond to new strains each year. Like the flu jab.

Personally I would be a tad worried if it had been my spring booster.
I suppose as authorisation was withdrawn in March, it would not have been a spring booster choice.

Marydoll Wed 08-May-24 15:35:10

EMA confirms overall benefit-risk remains positive.
EMA’s safety committee (PRAC) has concluded today that unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as very rare side effects of Vaxzevria (formerly COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca).

In reaching its conclusion, the committee took into consideration all currently available evidence, including the advice from an ad hoc expert group.

EMA is reminding healthcare professionals and people receiving the vaccine to remain aware of the possibility of very rare cases of blood clots combined with low levels of blood platelets occurring within 2 weeks of vaccination. So far, most of the cases reported have occurred in women under 60 years of age within 2 weeks of vaccination. Based on the currently available evidence, specific risk factors have not been confirmed.
Source: European Medcines Agency, Official Site of E.U.

I had a heart attack after taking an R.A drug called Leflunomide. It turned out that I had an undiagnosed, rare heart condition. It was an extremely rare side effect. It shouldn't mean that the drug has to be withdrawn, for it has benefitted many R.A.patients.
Side effects happen with all medication. It's about weighing up the risks.

Katie59 Wed 08-May-24 16:22:57

DG45

After looking all through the charts I found out that the NHS think that because I had Radiotherapy after having cancer in
January this year I'm classed as immunosuppressed - I must say
I don't know why?

If you had radio therapy, that would have damaged your immune system so you are much more vulnerable to infections.
You are immunosuppressed.

Notagranyet24 Wed 08-May-24 20:51:38

DG45, please pay attention to the medical advice that you are immunosupressed after radiotherapy. The latter requires a tremendous effort by the body to heal and you are liable to catch anything going.
My DH has covid, he caught it the week after finishing his radiotherapy. He's been very ill and missed the stage when they might have been able to give him antivirals.
He's over the worst but still testing positive three weeks after first infection.
He has always been very healthy until now.
A new variant of covid is spreading fast throughout Europe.