I'm curious, are you still getting COVID booster shots?

Boost for science 🙏

@derthomas Not old enough apparently. 🤣

@derthomas yup!!! Every year I get COVID and flu shots

@MetalheadDana @derthomas I got the flu shot in one arm and the COVID one in the other today. Tomorrow may suck, but it's worth it.

@derthomas Rhetorical question: why wouldn’t I!

@derthomas Last year was a bit tricky because of the confusion going on, but I had a good pharmacist who was supportive of folks wanting to stay up-to-date.

This year I'm waiting for the updated COVID as well as mFLUSIVA from Moderna. When I live, October to around the 1st of November is the best time to do it.

@derthomas I'd love to, but due to medication I'm on, my rheumatologist advised me to not get them (but flu shots are fine for some reason).

@derthomas I don't get an invite for them anymore so no.
If I were to get an invite and it'd be free, I'd do it no questions asked tho.

@NoRomBasic

Careful with that. COVID isn't seasonable like the flu. I've been working off of the theory that "the best time to get your booster is now".

@derthomas

@mason @derthomas I hear you, but the COVID variations are generally updated annually, so doing the refresh about the same time as the Flu has been a good practice.

@derthomas I would be, but they haven’t ruled me eligible for at least a couple of years anymore. My risk group is apparently no longer at risk 🙄

@derthomas I would like to, but they aren't available here!

@derthomas

I and my Dad are incredibly bloomin' vulnerable so I'd be the hypocrite to end all hypocrites if I didn't!

Six years and counting COVID-free!

@derthomas I don’t even think I can

@jernej__s That sucks. Do you know whether the rheumatologist is opposed to you getting ANY covid shots, or just the mRNA kind? I'm wondering whether Nuvaxovid might be an option for you. I'm not trying to second-guess the rheumatologist, and I'm definitely not qualified to give medical advice. I'm just wondering whether the rheumatologist has even heard of Nuvaxovid, as many doctors seem not to know that there is a non-mRNA covid vaccine. Sadly, it isn't yet available in all countries.

@Lkdc All covid shots; I specifically asked about mRNA since the new flu shots may be mRNA based, and was told mRNA isn't the problem, they just don't know enough about how the vaccine will react with the biologicals I'm on (and I got the same answer from two different rheumatologists).

@gavin57 @derthomas

That’s true for the NHS, but you can get them privately in most pharmacies, as with flu shots. They’re not cheap (about £100), flu ones are under £20.

@gavin57 @derthomas

That's insane. Age-related immunity loss has started by age 50. Your top public health folk need to be given back their power.

75? My infection preventionist brain is exploding.
75, or immunosuppressed? It would be funny if it were not horrific.

@Edelruth @gavin57 @derthomas Also the UK uses a very strict definition of "immunosuppressed" which means that merely "immune compromised" people are excluded.

I'm about to drop £70 each on this year's Covid boosters for my household via private healthcare, I'm glad I can afford to do this but it's no herd immunity strategy.

@diffrentcolours @gavin57 @derthomas

No. Indeed.
Plus, this morning, my son, whi lives with me, announced both she and my older granddaughter tested positive for covid - huge numbers out sick at the girls' school.
Very little is being done to protect the young from multiple infection, and the consequences of that.
It makes me furious.

@derthomas Who would say no?

@derthomas (at least I’m trying to…)