Received a letter yesterday from Imperial confirming i am immunosuppressed and entitled to 3 primary and a booster stating I can use it at a walk in vaccine centre for any of the vaccines I haven’t had. I am hoping by January my GP will call but i am relieved i have the letter now. Whether it is accepted or not will be another story…
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NHS Cancer Programme FAQs for charities.pdf (196.9 KB)
Good evening, everyone.
NHS England has announced that you can now get your fourth dose (booster) at a walk-in vaccination centre if it’s been three months since your third dose.
If you had a letter from your doctor confirming your eligibility for the THIRD primary dose, you can use this letter at a vaccination centre to get your FOURTH booster dose too. If you haven’t got a letter, ask your doctor for one.
Not all centres can offer fourth doses. Use the online search to check for centres that say ‘3rd dose for people with a weakened immune system’ as they should be able to provide fourth doses https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/find-a-walk-in-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-site/
They also announced that a third primary vaccination dose for patients defined as severely immunosuppressed will be recorded in the Point of Care system as a “booster”, with the booster (fourth dose) recorded as a “second booster”.
In Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England, see our website for the current information on booking third and fourth doses https://bloodcancer.org.uk/support-for-you/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-vaccine-blood-cancer/how-to-get-vaccine/ We will keep updating it with any new information.
You may also wish to take a copy of the attached “NHS England Cancer Programme FAQs for Charities” document from NHS England with you to the walk-in vaccination centre, as it outlines all of this information and it may aid in your conversations with staff.
If you continue experiencing barriers in accessing your fourth dose, call our Support Service (Blood cancer information and support by phone and email | Blood Cancer UK) on 0808 2080 888 or email us on support@bloodcancer.org.uk, and we can talk this through with you further.
Take care and warmest wishes, Rebecca
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Priority Access at the Vaccination Site
We know that attending a busy vaccination centre can cause worry for those who are at higher risk from COVID-19.
NHS England has announced:
“Shorten your booster wait If you are at higher risk from COVID-19, struggle with standing or have additional needs, we can reduce your wait. Priority access will be given to pregnant women, severely immunosuppressed people, those who are vulnerable, and their carers. Let our staff know and we can help you.”
Take care and warmest wishes, Rebecca
Shorten your booster wait.pdf (52.0 KB)
Edited to add [29/12/2021] COVID-19 vaccination for the severely immunosuppressed.pdf (137.4 KB)
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I had my fourth vaccine yesterday at my doctors surgery in my village. Might be worth contacting your GP. My 3rd was 25th September. Wrongly recorded as a booster and not yet changed. I have just looked at the app and yesterday’s jab is there, recorded as 4th vaccine with booster in brackets. The nurse who gave me it said she couldn’t record it but someone must have. Just so relieved to have got it.
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Thanks @ilivesunshine I had mine on Monday. For once the GP Practice seemed to realise that they’d got it wrong. I’ve now had more than one invite from them for the 4th dose. Well better too many…
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Just back from local hospital that has been running vaccination sessions in partnership with GPs. Had my fourth dose (three primary doses plus booster). First two AZ, second two Pfizer. My GP phoned yesterday to offer an appointment today. They know we’re not allowed to book in ourselves via NHS website, so had secured ‘slots’ at this centre for patients on their ‘4th dose’ list! Arrived and escorted to a separate waiting area, then called by a doctor who gave me the jab after brief, friendly and helpful consultation. An excellent service by all involved, despite the confusion caused by Government’s poor communications/mixed messages. I’m South Derbyshire.
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Now that’s how it should be done!
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I’ve taken my Dad for his 4th dose ( booster ) today as his 3rd dose was a little over 12 weeks ago ( booked as a booster ) . He wasn’t invited but our Drs told me to ring the vaccination hub to find out if they needed to do anything , the lady on the phone was so helpful and after a bit of back and forth and her going off the phone to speak to someone else a few times she gave him an appointment for the clinic today which was especially for people like my Dad . The place was really quiet which made us feel safer as when myself and my husband went on the 15th December it was like a cattle market with queues out the door and we were there ages . Just now he’s been for an appointment with our practice nurse for a BP check and he said he’d had his 4th dose ( booster ) and she said oh I didn’t know they were going 4th doses 
. So I’d like to thank Blood Cancer U.K. for all the info I’ve got on here over the last few months because if I’d have waited for Dad to be contacted rather than making the first move myself I think he’d still be waiting maybe weeks 
.
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I don’t know where I would’ve been without all the information and support from BCUK!
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Well sorry to rain on the parade but no joy here GP practice believe I had booster which is what it was recorded as otherwise uninterested as they “do not store or distribute Covid vaccinations” this is undertaken by PCN who are not able to administer a fourth vaccination and anyway centre are closing down this week owing to limited take up on boosters now was only reopened for the big push to 31 Dec. Chemist in town some miles away doing vaccines but not fourth. They all say if you are eligible then go on line and book ! How? No walk in centres within 25 miles anyway trip to city on public transport in Covid hotspot area not attractive. Guess I’ll have to wait until Haematology appt at end of month so not 3 months for me but four months if I’m lucky. Postcode lottery or what?
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Hi @Ismo , this must be incredibly frustrating for you. After all this time the government and some NHS trusts still haven’t sorted out this out. The booster jabs for immunocompromised patients should be a accessible to everyone who is eligible and should not continue to be a post code lottery.
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Hi @Ismo. Information from BCUK says take the letter you received inviting you for your third vaccine (do you have that?) This should be enough for fourth dose to be administered. You can’t book this but can go to a walk in Centre. I’m going to a walk in Centre next Friday so will let you know how I get on as my third was also recorded as a booster.
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Hello @Ismo, so sorry to hear that you are struggling to get your 4th dose, here is our advice:
We have started to see guidance on how people should book their boosters (fourth doses):
England
You can now get your fourth dose (booster) at a vaccination centre if it’s been three months since your third dose.
If you had a letter from your doctor confirming your eligibility for the THIRD primary dose, you can use this letter at a vaccination centre to get your FOURTH booster dose too. If you haven’t got a letter, ask your doctor for one.
Not all centres can offer fourth doses. Use the online search to check for centres that say ‘3rd dose for people with a weakened immune system’ as they should be able to provide fourth doses.
If your third primary dose was recorded as a booster, this doesn’t matter, you are still eligible for a fourth dose, and this will be recorded as a second booster.
You could download this FAQ document from the NHS about this, to help with any conversations with your doctor or vaccination centre.
The full link to our information is here: https://bit.ly/3JRBDQ8.
Unfortunately it is not possible to book online. I do hope this helps and if you do need to talk this through we would be happy to help: Blood cancer information and support by phone and email | Blood Cancer UK. Kind regards Gemma
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Hello Erica and others,
Thought I would mention that
I had 4th jab last week at walk in clinic.
Took my letter from gov stating needed third primary as evidence I should have fourth as booster. Clinic were well aware and didn’t question. It does say on gov website we should have booster after 3 months not 6.
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That’s good to hear. That’s my plan next Friday. Will let you know how it goes. Fingers crossed it will all run smoothly 
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How are you keeping?
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Following last night’s announcement from JVCI that fourth doses are not considered necessary for normally healthy older people at this time, please can you assure us that blood cancer patients will still be eligible for a fourth dose and that this information will be make clear to all patients and to the medical profession at all levels. We do not want doubt and uncertainty.
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When speaking to the booking centre, or cccg, they will tell you the closest walk in centre in your health area - mine is 45 miles,
However, I went to the walkin centre 25 miles away, in Devon, for my 3rd jab, and expect to go there in 2 weeks time, for my next one.
If I were to wait for anything closer, it will never happen.
The first two, were in the middle of Bodmin moor - it was foggy, and there were sheep and ponies all over the road!!! - no way could anyone get any public transport there, unless you wanted about 2-3 hours each way, and 3 different busses.
Not sure what the decisions are around location, but if there is a centre anywhere willing to give me the jab, I will get there… and blag my way through too, like last time, if I have to.
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