When the vaccines were released we knew they gave approx 6 months immunity after the second dose. For me that was in August so I have about 2 months left which would've got me through the worst of winter. I understand the booster need for those that had their second jab in May/June as the immunity would've waned but those would be of higher risk than me anyway
We now have a variant which seems to now need a booster or three jabs to be immune from. What happens next year (e.g. in Spring) when another variant becomes apparent, do we need another jab? Do those that were boosted in September like my Gran need another in March Is this going to be what happens for the rest of time?
We don't do this with flu and whilst it's worse in winter hence the yearly vaccine programme it's still there all year round and mutates like any other virus
I've booked my booster for Friday and doing my bit to ensure we hopefully don't endure any further restrictions which none of us want
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I do have a certain sympathy with the time element. As you suggest, it's probably driven by government not wanting to introduce more restrictions.
As for what happens in the future? Well at some point Covid will inevitably cause less disruption, illness, death. Will it be this variant that unlocks that door? Maybe. Early indications are though that while it may be not quite as potent it spreads far more effectively, so that's still an issue. We are, however, a lot better off than we were this time last year.
I appreciate everything is a pay-off, but I am slightly concerned that GPs appear to be being asked to abandon just about everything else in order to meet a wild booster target set by Johnson. I understand that Covid will inevitably mean medical services are affected elsewhere, but I'm hoping nobody I know gets ill this December!