Hi @DavidAmbassador thanks a really brilliant informative post.
Please do let us know how the test goes and of course The Great North Run experience on Sunday.
Take lots of care and go for it.
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Hello Erica i completely agree ā¦ I have spent a great deal of time on line, in person in two pharmacies with the gp surgery and on the phone today to try to find out if I am eligible, whether I should have it if I am eligible at the same time as my flu jab and where to go to have it ā¦no joy whatsoever, sadly ,ā¦the gp says go to 119 where there is no mention of the 3rd vaccine in the first cycle, and no one to talk to that I could find the chemist knew nothing about the 3rd vaccine and kept referring to the booster jab which will be rolled out later and the gp receptionist just said they have opted out of givingCovid jabs ! I havent heard back from my haematlogy team yet having rung them yesterday ā¦so I am at a loss as to were to ask next ā¦I would be delighted to hear where we cango and what authorisation we will need to get it
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It seems like pharmacies, GPs know as much as we doā¦
It appears that boosters are very much different to a 3rd Jab even though it seems they are the same thing.
3rd are for a very niche group whereas the booster jab will be rolled out in the same way as the 9 groups. However no official confirmation has been released yet my folks recieved a text a few weeks back reminding them to have their flu vaccine in September where (if available) they will also give a booster covid jabā¦ Very mixed messages indeed.
If you donāt fall in that niche group itās a waiting game Iām afraid and til then it will be in the grouping orderā¦ It seems
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it does look as if this third dose will go ahead * found this yesterday https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/third-primary-covid-19-vaccine-dose-for-people-who-are-immunosuppressed-jcvi-advice*
Its very specific and clear to me that CLL people on treatment will definitely get one and soon and it will be the consultants that trigger it ā¦no doubt we shall see in due course ā¦for me its the sooner the better
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Hospital consultant yesterday confirmed that she had not yet received any info about how the third vaccination would be managed. Her expectation was that it would be via the primary care system (GP led) and that consultants would be asked to provide advice about most beneficial timing e.g for individuals receiving chemo.
The most up to date advice on COVID vaccinations appears to be in in chapter 14A of the Green Book which was last updated on 3 September and includes the latest JCVI advice re immunosuppression. This seems to include all haematological cancers. Interestingly it also suggests post vaccination antibody tests to assess protection which would be a positive step I think.
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There are a few messages this evening on twitter from some nhs trusts saying the immunosuppressed will be contacted shortly. I also found an article mentioning they would start from 13th when the nhs system is updated to allow for the entry of the 3rd jab.
It will then be a wait and see if we are included or not.
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I dont speak to my consultant until 23rd September but my mentor ( at my hospital new CML patients are offered a mentor who has been diagnosed at least 2 years earlier and weāve stayed in touch since) had her appointment yesterday and our haematologist said she thought that GPs were controlling the process due to start before the end of September and Specialists were not involved unless there was a question of when to give the vaccine because of sessions of chemo. She said as far as she knew all Leukaemias were included at any stage of treatment but apparently she did then spoil it slightly by saying at the rate theyāre going the vaccine for the Blood cancer groups will probably only be marginally ahead of the booster programme for all 9 vullnerable groups (whatever they are?)
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Thanks so much Erica, will do.
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Just phoned my GP about something else and it was stressed that they had received no information yet about the 3rd Jab and perhaps i should try 119. I tried that and was initially told they had no details but went away and came back and told me the system was currently being updated and GPs would then be in contact. I was told not to contact them but i would be contacted. He then said immunosuppressed were top of the list which confused me as i thought we WERE the list. Mixed in with Booster campaign again i think.
will wait and see. Not holding my breath.
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Thanks Chrispy thatās interesting - such a shame all the arrangements and procedure is not put in place BEFORE something is announced - save all the poor professionals dealing with it getting all the queries before they are advised and save āpoor all of usā hearing an announcement, thinking oh good that will help us, then days and weeks go by before we have a clue if we qualify etc etc - by which time you think donāt know if I want a third one now anyway?!! Funny old times !!
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Thanks @Chrispy, for doing your Sherlock Holmes bit, yes I think we wait and see.
@Jilly20 I agree, and I havenāt dealt with what personally stresses me well since diagnosis.
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My rests showed antibodies are very weak. Between 0.8 and 5. Had to pay for private tests. Results after first vaccine showed no antibodies at all so I supposed it is a slight increase. I discussed it with my GP who really wasnāt very helpful. He said unless I stay home I am at risk of catching it which of course I am aware of. I have more or less resigned .myself to that fact. Shielding canāt go on forever and covid isnāt going away so not a lot of options. I asked him when I would be getting my booster and if it would work and he had no answer.
We have a 40 night cruise booked to the Carribean in February and if the ship sails I will be on it! I did discuss this with the doctor and he said as long as I am well at that time he will give me a letter to say I am fit to travel.
I am also in a dilemma about what to do about looking after grandchildren. My daughter has asked me to look after them one evening a week whilst she is at college. I want to say yes but feel it is risky as they are at school.
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I did enjoy the cruise thanks. Felt very safe even though masks nor required apart from the staff. We have been back 3 weeks now and absolutely fine. We enjoyed it so much we booked another with a different cruise company. We should have been saving today but I found out some of the entertainment staff and some passengers had covid a couple of weeks ago so we cancelled. Will have to live off happy memories for a while. Whilst I really want to get get to a normal life there are some risks not worth taking. We have enjoyed lots of days out this summer and a few nights away. We have also just started dancing again. Not altogether sure how safe it is so hopi g for the best.
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Oh @ilivesunshine I am living on your happy memories.
As you say each decision of what to do or where to go is a dilemma and balancing act between your safety and having adventures with the enjoyment and your emotional wellbeing taken into account.
What have others thought and done or not?
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Hi @ilivesunshine and everyone, hot off the press, I have heard of 2 people being called by their GP surgeries to have the 3rd Vaccine.
Please donāt all start ringing your GP surgeries, it will only clog up the system and muddy the waters and I expect it will be like the 1st vaccination when we were all called in dribs and drabs, as and when and it was patchy throughout the UK !!!
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Interesting to hear Erica and yes as throughout it will be a case of who, what, where and when for us 
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Hi @ilivesunshine. Your cruise sounds as though it was amazing and I really love your attitude. You do what you feel safe doing and are managing to make amazing memories in challenging times! X
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Iām happy to have a third jab. If Iām being honest Iād prefer if it was a different one to my first two in the hope that it would maximise the impact.
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