Booster vaccination

I am 77 and have COPD my second vaccination was n April can't remember the date but was just before Easter.
I rang my GP surgery today to enquire about the booster dose and was told to ring 111.I did this and was told to get off the line and ring back later!
Like OP I went online and was informed I was not eligible.
This is all very confusing

Hopefully this will clarify. Sorry I can't make it any clearer.

I have found this, which explains the difference.

www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/news/third-covid-19-vaccine

Shelflife

Thankyou Kate and Greyknitter. Hope for a text message on Sunday.

You do not need a text just go on nhs website and you can book it.

I’ve booked mine for next Saturday.

I am sure that there is no difference in the content or strength of the booster vax. The card I was given simply states the name of the vaccine (Pfizer) and the batch number which suggests to me that it's just from one of many batches.

Rascal my GP surgery told me they hadn't a clue what was happening. No-one does!
I will try and find the post from the lady in Scotland , who got a full vaccination, as opposed to a booster.

The only information I can find about the difference between the third dose and the booster dose is the eligibility and the timings
I have looked and looked and cannot see anywhere that says that there is a difference in the strength of these doses ?? Please if anyone has a link can you share it.

I received a letter from NHS Highland like you Marydoll it said I was coded as immunosuppressed. I was at the GP surgery this week for the flu jag and was told NHS Highland have decided that the GP surgery have not to do the Covid booster. They said they are keen to administer it as they did the first and second Covid vaccinations. They also said they have no idea where we have to go to get it. It's well over six months since I had the second one. So it seems NHS Highland aren't bothered if we get the booster or not. I wonder if cost is something to do with it?

Sue, I only found out by accident. Another Scottish gran has had a third vaccination and explained the difference.

Thank you, Marydoll - you’re the first person I’ve come across who has known what the difference is. Everyone else has been baffled by it!

Thankyou Witzend , I will follow your advice.

Thanks Baggs. Glad to hear your daughter got hers. I did receive a letter some time ago, saying I had been coded as immunosuppressed on the system. My surgery and consultant knew nothing. I'm trying to be patient, but Im not a patient patient!! ?

My 6 months was only up yesterday - I straightaway booked it myself and had the jab today.

I wasn’t going to wait for a summons from the GP, since they forgot me when it came to the 2nd initial jab, so again I booked that myself.

Once your 6 months is up, you can just google ‘book COVID booster’ and do it. All very straightforward. I had a choice of a few dates/times/centres, and picked the soonest.

I don’t do regular childcare but am needed now and then, and dd was worried, since COVID is apparently going round Gdcs’ school. Hence a certain amount of urgency.

Marydoll

Our health board, Greater Glasgow is using hubs. I had my two vaccinations at my GP surgery, as I was sheilding,, but they are not doing boosters nor flu vaccinations. I need a third vaccination, rather than a booster, but no-one can tell me where or when! Left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

My immunosuppressed DD has been given a third covid vax, mdoll, so it is happening in Scotland. I hope yours gets sorted asap.

Thankyou Kate and Greyknitter. Hope for a text message on Sunday.

It said on the news that it is six months and one week after your second jab.

I am CEV but have not been invited for a booster but my much younger, fit husband has had an email inviting him!

Exactly 6 months after my second vaccine I received a text message from the nhs inviting me to book my booster. That was yesterday. I’m waiting til tomorrow to book it as then my husband will be due and we can go together as we need to travel to a nearby town to the nearest centre. I was impressed.

If you have no luck with your GP Shelflife keep trying the website. I read somewhere that it as to be at least 182 days since your last one.

My surgery has been given them out for several weeks now. I got my notification end of Sept.
In fact in my friendship group I'm one of the last ones, but I'm getting both my Flu and Covid tomorrow.
Sounds like it depends on the area.

Sue my husband has received the same letter. Those whom I know, having received that letter, if eligible, have been offered the booster along with the flu vaccination.

They are separate things Sue.

Those who are immunosuppressed, apparently need a stronger dose and it must the same vaccine as the previous two. That's all I know.
It's because being immunosuppressed, means the vaccine is less efficacious for those people.

What’s the difference between a third jab and a booster? Different names for the same thing or are they separate things.

My Dh has an appt for a flu jab where a booster CV ‘may be available’. I’ve heard nothing, though I had mine only one week after his.

My neighbour was invited for her booster and had that done , a week later she received a second invitation for the same vaccination!

Thank you all for your comments. The six months since my second vaccination will be up on this coming Sunday. I rang the surgery most of today and did not even receive a recorded message - just an engaged sound !!! No wonder A and E departments are bursting at the Seams with people who can't even access their GPs surgery. There is a notice outside the surgery asking people not to enter the building unless they have an appointment!!. Thank goodness I am in good health. If I don't hear about my vaccination in the next 3 days I will be on the phone on Monday until I get a response - or hopefully by Monday the website will NOT tell me I am not eligible for the booster!!! I am an easy going person but this is a stressful situation.