MATEs FORUM

Hi All. I noted that just over a week ago the federal government released the medical advice that people who are fully vaxxed and who have an immunosuppressive conditions, need to have a Covid booster jab within six months of their second one. As someone who has been fully vaxxed since the 28th June, I thought I should book in for a booster jab (Pfizer for me). As can be expected after speaking to both a pharmacist and my GP’s surgery twice, it turns out that the federal government has failed to send any details of this scheme to Pharmacies or GP’s. In my second call today to my GP’s surgery they still had no info and I was quizzed about whether I had a letter from my specialist confirming the need for a booster jab. I said no but I reaffirmed that in my recent Telehealth appointment with my GP she said I needed a booster and in the end I’ve booked in to see my GP on Thursday this week. I tell you this just to warn you that the trying to get a booster jab is bonkers at the moment. If you are happy with getting the Moderna jab, then go to your pharmacist. Mark.

Evening Mark...

Appreciate the 'Heads-Up' buddy...

Wish that I could say that I was surprised by the event / discovery, leading us to the inevitable assumption that such a finding would prove "par for the course" of course...

Unfortunately, and as most of here know, Australia is far from up to speed where MPNs, their treatment & management are concerned.

It's interesting that in both the UK, parts of Europe & the USA, that they send MPN patients letters advising them of some of the special needs that MPN patients might require, depending upon their individual MPN circumstances & where CV-19 is at issue etc...

Apparently Mark, the Pfizer vaccinations wear-off faster than all the rest of those flavours out there & on offer...

Like you buddy, I too am a Pfizer vaxxer & will no doubt be seeking a 3rd Booster, (in due course). Naturally, and as you have also discovered, one's GP is quite possibly the best path to avoiding the pitfalls of approaching those under-qualified to provide the needed assistance required to remain CV-19 safe...

I actually heard briefly from Merry today, (although I was out riding so message trunkated), and of whom I think was trying to raise the same topic. However, she was on her way into work when I tried calling her back...

My understanding, much like yours Mark, is that many of us MPNers will most likely require & 3rd Booster, & quite possibly more into an ever uncertain future concerning the management of all things CV-19 related, while this pandemic or rather now endemic CV-19 crisis remains extant?

Thanks for Posting buddy...

Stay safe & well...

Steve

PS. Incidentally, I'm doing my bloods tomorrow & I'm hoping to learn what level of antibody titre I may have gained from my Pfizer vaccinations. I had to cease some of my Med's & change others, hoping to achieve the desired result. I will let you know what I find once I have become enlightened...

Hi everyone
Just to let you know that my GP was completely on the ball.
Had my 3rd primary dose yesterday. Even though I had AZ for the first two, I was given Pfizer as it is thought that the combination provides the best immunity.
Sore arm today but I’m so so happy !
Good luck to all in obtaining this much needed 3rd dose.
Rosie

Hey Rosie...

That's great news... I have heard the argument that mixing the vaccines might well provide a greater level of immunity...

Very best wishes & thanks for letting us know how things are progressing with you, please do stay in touch...

Steve

Hi Everyone,
Here in the UK it’s quite a Bun Fight to get the Booster Vac..
I was met with absolutely infuriating nonsense at my GP Clinic ie; Did I believe I was Vulnerable ? and so forth..
Lost my cool with the Surgery and took my correspondence confirming that I have MF ..

I was told that what supplies of Vaccines for Booster Jabs, had been exhausted, “the cupboard was bare“

After some investigation and ringing a former colleague I discovered that there was indeed one (1) further clinic for Booster Jabs planned the following week..

I confronted my GP Surgery with this fact no names mentioned and miraculously I got my Third Pfizer Vaccine Done...

Our Government are being really idiotic about this Booster Rollout, and definitely avoiding the truth that we actually have higher number of confirmed COVID-19 cases than back in January 2021.
We hear very little on the National News Reports & Boris laughs it off with, “ we don’t need another Lockdown etc or Mandatory wearing of Masks”...

I live in the South West 20 miles from Bristol as of today my area has the highest cases of Covid19 in the UK...
Not a Word on the National News or Newspaper’s, however on line the figures are available from Public Health, as a family we have remained vigilant and worn Masks throughout...

As a RN I fear for the population once the very cold weather really takes hold C 19 likes Cold Weather...

All our Governments throughout the Globe need to get their act together especially now with Booster Vacs for those of us in Country’s that rolled out the original Vaccine Program..

I also think of the Countries that have done very little by way of vaccinating their people.
How very Sad when there is an abundance of Wealth in our world to help the poorest countries..

Our Governments should be ashamed at home and overseas at the lack of response and care to citizens in their own country and much further afield..

I was at Guys Hospital on the 19 October I saw Professor Harrison, this time around I didn’t travel on the London Tube what so ever
The Black Cabs are completely sealed off from the Driver by Glass & Windows Open in Back...
I felt much safer than the Tube and my hotel room was not entered by staff once I had taken up residence..
Hotel’s are still taking C 19 seriously yet our Government are staying silent ?

I would dearly like to give some of the idiots running the UK a good dose of MF, PV, ET and give them a taste of living with MPN’s

Naturally as a Retired RN that goes against everything I practised and promised, “to do no harm, promote good health and care for the sick” which I have always done..

The thought of changing places with our leaders is very inviting but Naughty...

Good Luck to everyone in obtaining the Booster Vaccine and hopefully you will have a good Summer ahead of you in Oz ...
Stay Safe & Well to All..

Maria UK..

Hi Everyone. Just an update, I saw my GP last Thursday (another wonderful supportive female doctor) and she reaffirmed that indeed a booster is needed and I’m booked in for a Pfizer jab next Tuesday. I’m totally stoked! Mark

Evening Mark...

Just finished watching the Tilda's trounce Brasil... Awesome game too...

Almost as "Awesome" as your news... There's no doubt in my mind that we MPNers all should be considering the need for a 3rd Booster, whatever the flavour...

If the experience of others is any guide at all during these extraordinary historical times citing the journey of homo sapiens per se, then we all need a Booster, & maybe even more... This quill is yet to end the scribing of this tale of CV-19 on the human race...

Maria's Post above, would suggest what seems to be how the 'Economy' maintains precedence over health. Don't misunderstand me, of course we all need a growing & resilient economy, but what will be the price we are willing to pay to achieve the same end?

I am presently awaiting my latest Bloods to see if my personal management of my Med's, has helped me achieve some level of antibody protection, & I have little doubt that I'll be requiring at the very least a 3rd Booster.

In my view, I believe that a 4th & even a 5th, are not presently out of the question. Our Pandemic is quickly becoming Endemic, for how long this might remain the extant case, is really anyone's guess... ?

In my view...

Great news that your 3rd is sorted Mark. Hopefully, I will be joining you those ranks shortly myself... (?)

Best wishes all...

Steve

Steven,
I sincerely hope that you join the ranks of us that have been lucky to receive the Booster !

You and I are similar with our flavours of MPN & we both have the ASXL1 mutation.
We are both at risk of TIA and I firmly believe that we actually cope very well with our journey on this precarious voyage aboard the good ship ‘HMS MPN’ .....

Makes me cross, you give so much help on you’re Mates Forum & Voice in UK..

I watched you work relentlessly to breathe life into Mates a forum for Australia .and anyone who needs help..

Then you embarked on obtaining Charity Stutus to fund much needed research into MPN’s.....

For us with MF our only hope is SCT, if appropriate, sadly it isn’t for me...
You raise awareness by standing many hours at locations and the Cycle Ride was a Fantastic Achievement that many younger guys wouldn’t do, especially all the hours of training on you’re Cycle..

I know you are ‘Not Done Yet‘ which saddens me all the more, knowing what you give to Mates &Voice in UK and yet you my friend are still awaiting the Booster Vaccine !

Australia needs to get the Vulnerable vaccinated ASAP...

As Always my Best to You and All on Mates.
Maria

Hey Maria...

Thank you for your very kind commendations on what we have all achieved here, (thus far), w/ MATES. Hopefully, into the future, we might achieve just a tad more as yet... (?)

Nevertheless, thank you so much for those very lovely words...

Stay safe, happy & well Maria, (you & yours). Hopefully, you'll all be in your new bungalow very soon now... (fingers crossed)

Best wishes

Steve

ox

Hi Steve. Just a BJ update ( and that’s booster jab by the way). I booked in with my GP last Tuesday for my booster as they have a vaccination clinic that day. Of all the people booked in, there were on,y two people - me and a Doctor who had been fully vaxxed since March who were booked in for a booster. I chose Pfizer as I had heard that Moderna had refused to release their patent to poor countries, so I chose to not use their product. I had had AZ for my first two but found I had quite a strong reaction to Pfizer. Pretty much it knocked me off my perch for the last week. Symptoms were a strong reaction in my arm, a headache that waxed and waned, nausea that also waxed and waned and random chest pain (that felt like it was related to the nausea). Also I understand that pharmacies are getting Pfizer so check with your local pharmacist if that is easier for you than doing the whole GP thing. I also found that my express plus vax certificate updated automatically and that in my myGov account so did my international vax certificate and there is also a statement that you can print off that details all three of your vaccinations. Cheers. Mark

Evening Mark...

On the one hand I am happy w/your news of having obtained your 3rd jab etc. However, & on the other, I am concerned that you seem to have had a bad reaction to the Pfizer vaccination.

Another Post on the board, "VACCINATION & GROWING CONCERNS OVER REINFECTION" asks people if they too might have some concerns over their vaccinations etc?

Thus far, Katie has chimed in suggesting that her levels of fatigue, (not unlike my own), seem to have increased quite markedly. Some days I am really struggling to get myself out of my bed. On others, I go back to bed & stay there for the whole day & sometimes even longer... (?)

Yes, it could be coincidence. However I am more in the court of "Cause & Effect", of course, & in my own case, it might also be the adjustments to my previous Med's regime... Always so many variables one must consider... (?)

Nevertheless, I wanted to hear from a few others on their experiences w/ their vaccines etc...

I will let you know how things continue to progress in my case, w/ my fatigue in particular...

Stay safe, happy & well Mark...

Steve

Hey again Mark...

Just coming back again about the BJ... I will likely be having mine in early December. Probably the Pfizer again, (same as the first two)?

Interestingly, I noted Dr Norman Swan recently stated that we are much better off by varying the BJ by use of one of the alternate vaccines, in order to create a higher value of seropostive titres to the vaccine.

A recent study I scanned, (Eliakim-Raz et al 2021), also suggested strongly the need for the 3rd Booster, this was another study completed on the Israeli population, & a fairly large cohort too...

However, there was no mention of utilising an alternate vaccine...

My 2nd Pfizer did produce more of a side-effect than my 1st. However, I was also expecting it too... As my med's modifications had to be taken into account beforehand, & I am certain the 1st dose would have derived a zero sum result, as a result of my medications etc.

Anyways, I shall also be shortly joining the ranks of all w/ the 3rd BJ etc...

Cheers Mark

Best wishes

Steve




REFERENCE

Eliakim-Raz N, Leibovici-Weisman Y, Stemmer A, et al. 2021. "Antibody Titers Before and After a Third Dose of the SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 Vaccine in Adults Aged ≥60 Years." JAMA. Published online November 05, 2021. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.19885

Hi Steve, yes - I’ve heard that a variety of vaccines is beneficial. I must admit that being triple vaxxed means I feel confident in being able to handle anything that the pandemic can throw at me. Good luck with your jab and I hope that any reaction is manageable and short. Mark

Cheers Mark...

Thanks... me two...

I'll let you know how it goes shortly...

Steve

Hi All
I had my 3rd Pfizer 4 days ago. My reaction to Pfizer has got slightly worse each time. This time I was feeling quite rough on Day 2 but I've improved and I'm just left with a slightly tender injection site.
I'm feeling better protected now but will continue to be cautious and avoid crowded areas where possible. I expect to continue wearing a mask indoors when the restrictions in NSW are eased next week.
Best wishes
Allan

Hi Allen. Well done on getting boosted. It took me 5
days to get over my Pfizer booster side effects but like you I feel much better re being triple vaxxed. I too will continue to wear my mask indoors past the 15th December easing of rules here in NSW.
Cheers
Mark

Evening guys...

Just wondering about what time interval there was between your 2nd & 3rd vaccinations?

My current understanding is that the shorter the 'Interval' the more pronounced the 'Side-Effects' (SFX)

I am also taking the Pfizer & shall have my next (3rd), as of this coming Monday. Apparently, & according to my GP, because I am considered 'Immunocompromised' x3 vaccinations is now what is recommended, w/ the addition of a 4th after a 6 month interval.

Sadly, my own ongoing research leads me to the inevitable future conclusion that ever more elegant strains of CV-19 will continue to materialise globally, as long as unvaccinated people (herds) remain extant within our global community.

Presently, it is estimated that the wealthiest tiers of developed nations data might account for circa half the global population of vaccinated individuals. However, the data tracking relating to how much of those vaccines is actually reaching less-developed nations through the United Nations COVAX programme is said to be poorly monitored. In the interim, Developed nations continue to source & stock beyond the immediate needs of their own populations. Remembering that all of the vaccines have a "Use-By' date. Raising the spectre of a rather ugly question, "How many of those vaccines are being wilfully wasted?"

"The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response called for 1 billion redistributed vaccine doses by 1 September of this year. To date, one quarter of that amount has been delivered to the poorest countries. The inadequacy of our global response, particularly in terms of collective leadership and resource allocation, has never been more apparent or more dangerous. The IRC urges high-income countries to increase their investments in the COVAX facility and to expand humanitarian funding and support for frontline responders." (RWI 2021)

In any event guys, I shall let all of you know of my next jab experience, relating to the question of SFX...

Like you, I too will continue to observe all safety protocols, including dealing w/ the apprehensive fears raised by siblings of mine, who remain unvaccinated... Navigating those debates to a successful resolution seems entirely unlikely, at this juncture in my own experiences.

Stay safe & well guys...

By the way, we will be holding our long overdue AGM meeting Sunday week... So please do let me know if either of you might be interested in becoming elected as an 'Office Bearer'

Again, best wishes to you & your families...

Steve

REFERENCE

RELIEF WEB INT (RWI).
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/omic ... inated-and

NEW YORK TIMES (NYT):
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/202 ... acker.html

World Bank Podcast:
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/podca ... nt-podcast