Covid vaccination winter 2025

Diddles

I'm over 75, a retired PhD medical researcher and have had every COVID vaccination offered.
My concern is that the over 75s this autumn are being offered the Pfizer KP.2 vaccine whilst a more recent one LP 8.1 is available which has a wider effect on current new variants.
KP.2 still offers excellent coverage against severe disease and hospitalisation. My husband is immunocompromised as his spleen has been removed and we will certainly take the KP.2 but look for a private vaccine of LP.8.1 (~£100) at a later date as advised by our GP.
The reason the JVCI has recommended the KP.2 for adults is almost certainly due to financial costs, but rightly immunocompromised children will be given the newer vaccine. COVID cases are still low but riding. To keep up to date read Bob Hawkins substack, and excellent understanding and guidance of the reduced government information now available

Relieved to find that, having had to pay for it I’ve been given LP8-1. Although it still concerns me that a better service was provided because I could afford to pay £100 and many people can’t .

I am not 75 until next year but have been able to book a Covid vaccination, due this Saturday. I don’t have any condition that would make me a priority. Hopefully they won’t turn me away when I get to the surgery.

We've had our jabs this morning. The pharmacist said they are getting a good uptake for the jab. COVID is on the increase again.

I am 70 and immunocompromised.
I was grateful to be offered both Covid and ''flu vaccinations.
I have an appointment in two weeks.

I am extremely angry at the UK JCVI and this decision. I am 67 and have moderate to server COPD. According to my last spirometry test my lung age is 85. I am not eligible for a booster. Have they bowed to the vocal antivax minority or is it being led by a RFK Jr clone?

LindyB

I would be fine with their decision to only vaccinate the over 75’s if it was based on scientific evidence changing since last year. However I would like to know if it is for financial reasons, if it is could the 65-74 year olds at least be offered it at the amount it would cost/save the NHS - again I do not know but would imagine it is less than £75-£100.

The NHS cost is £25 per vaccine. So the private outfits are fleecing us, quelle surprise.

watermeadow

The US has stopped routine Covid jabs and I’m surprised we haven’t. We were told some time ago to treat Covid like any other common bug. There is no need to test for it or to isolate with it.
I’m 80 but shan’t bother with Covid jabs again.

In the US the health insurers have decided to allow covid boosters for anyone who wants one. As they are not known for their big hearts it's obvious that their actuaries have analysed the costs of extra hospitalisation and decided it makes sense. The systems are operating outside of that knucklehead RFK Jr and and his merry band of quacks. Very sad that we have less access now in the UK than the USA.

My group practice sent me an appointment for 18th October for a vaccination. I just assumed it would be a joint jab for Covid and flu, as it was last year. Not sure now, but I'll be there for it whether or not it is cor both. I think people who are vulnerable like my DiL (MS) have also been summoned.

IOMGran

LindyB

I would be fine with their decision to only vaccinate the over 75’s if it was based on scientific evidence changing since last year. However I would like to know if it is for financial reasons, if it is could the 65-74 year olds at least be offered it at the amount it would cost/save the NHS - again I do not know but would imagine it is less than £75-£100.

The NHS cost is £25 per vaccine. So the private outfits are fleecing us, quelle surprise.

It was explained earlier that the NHS are using a cheaper vaccine and that the one that we’re having to pay for is more up to date and covers the more recent strain ( although the NHS one is still effective).

I am just recovering from covid felt much worse this time around.Vomiting for three days awful.Not able to have the vaccine due to my age.

GP surgery kept urging me to book an appointment for vaccination, wasted hours on my phone without success so I went online and booked at my local pharmacy.
I had my covid and flu vaccinations on Wednesday and I asked the pharmacist about the covid one not protecting against the new variant. He said it was correct but hopefully it would still lessen the symptoms if I caught it.

I had my covid jab yesterday, the pharmacist said there was a poor response so far. She said the numbers were rising and it was a different strain this year, so people should take advantage if they were offered the vaccine.

I don't qualify for free COVID vaccine this year . Even though Boots are advertising for£98+ few pennies . Tried they aren't doing them . So had to ring pharmacies to see who is . Luckily found one in a town not to far away but will have to have a taxi there as it's not where the rest of the shops are and my sense of direction is rubbish. Walk to have it done £85. Busy this week so will go week on Friday .

Just been reading on the BBC News that many people who have booked a Covid jab are finding when they get there they no longer qualify.

Chatting to a lady at aquacise yesterday, she said she was booked for a flu and Covid jab. I was surprised as I knew she wasn’t 75, but she said ‘Oh, I have asthma”.

Don’t think that qualifies now though. Wonder if she’ll be able to have it when she gets there?

That’s what happened to us. Assumed we would have a covid/flu jab as per last year but then realised we didn’t qualify. Even the person at Boots that we spoke to didn’t seem to realise we weren’t eligible until the pharmacist overheard us. And usually when we have our flu jab there are lots of people having it at the same time in a separate part of Boots. This year it was just us in the pharmacists room. Can’t help but feel that, in a few weeks time the hospitals are going to be overwhelmed with people.

My husband is 66. He was critically ill in intensive care with COVID in 2021, having already been vaccinated. The doctors said he would have died had he not been vaccinated. I am angry that anyone who was made seriously ill with COVID before, is not being offered the vaccine now, irrespective of age.

petra

Anyone could have mine. I’m not having anymore.

I'm only having the flu jag this year , no more covid jags for me either

I’ve been offered both by my surgery- just going to have the flu jab this time.

There may be a lot of covid about but it’s not as dangerous as it was…..not killing people….so immune compromised and over 75s makes sense
The NHS has other things to spend it’s money on

True. But I feel that, in this instance it will be a false economy. I hope I’m wrong, though.

Just to follow up on my previous comment. Although I will not be 75 until next year I had Covid and flu vaccinations on Saturday. They only realised I didn’t qualify when I was in the chair, sleeves rolled up. They decided to go ahead anyway. Common sense ruled!

Angelafeet

There may be a lot of covid about but it’s not as dangerous as it was…..not killing people….so immune compromised and over 75s makes sense
The NHS has other things to spend it’s money on

It may not be killing people - thank goodness- but it can be very unpleasant and debilitating - and you don’t have to be 75+ to suffer!
75 is a bit arbitrary, the criteria for the flu jab make much more sense.

Covid can still kill people . Because I have a rare hereditary neurological condition and it's not on the list plus born with a hole in the side of my heart . I would rather pay than risk having covid. Had it once and because of having the jabs it wasn't to bad more like a really bad cold but it played havoc with all my neurological symptoms. And effected my breathing but at least got a GT spray.

My sister in law has MS and in wheelchair when out can't get a free one . Luckily her dad is 93 and has COPD can have it ..My brother is carer to them both so he will have to pay as his health problems aren't on the list either.

Those with health conditions that aren't on the list or age . Have to make the choice which is best for them and if they are a carer.

I booked my flu and Covid vaccination online 2 weeks ago. The system allowed me to do this but I went yesterday and was refused the Covid one as I don’t qualify as I am 69 and no serious illnesses.
I was so confused I had completely missed the publicity on this but the nurse said I am not alone he said he has had so much abuse from people not able to have it. He was angry with NHS for having a glitch in the booking system that let people book and not making it clear who qualifies.

It was only when we went to Boots to double check the date of our appointment that we realised we couldn’t have the Covid one. Although I’d seen on gransnet ages ago about the change in criteria, because we’d booked it I was hoping it wasn’t true.