This question goes out those who took the 2 jabs? Will you you take it to get back to normality? Or are you sick of the government moving the goalposts constantly?
How many pubs are checking covid certs? 60%?
I'm sure word gets out about the ones who aren't, and unvaccinated just go there to drink.
Now hold your horses right there. There are many people in the country who have both been fully vaccinated and have tested positive for Covid, including myself. Give me a good reason to toddle along now for another dose? Have we not enough anti bodies to beat the band?
Rubbish - listen carefully to the experts. You were told many times that if you got fully vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer or AZ that you might catch Covid, but and this is critical, that this would mitigate the worst effects of catching Covid. Now, was that correct. If it was, you've nothing to worry about. If it wasn't correct, then you should be equally concerned as the only conclusion is that you were told porkies and if so, why would you believe them now?? There's a serious credibility gap. Where is the current large increase in numbers being hospitalised?
If you're double vaccinated and recovered then you're not a priority for who needs it imo, you have pretty solid protection right now against severe covid - for how long would be the concern in the back of my mind.
So, in your shoes I wouldn't be disrupting plans or queuing for hours to get a booster.
If I got an appointment at a convenient time I'd get it \ or wait for queues to die down and drop in to a walk in at a convenient time:
* As it will probably be needed for covid cert and access to hospitality etc
* It would give you a boost against infection, for a period, so would be good to have especially if coming up to a time where you or your close contacts can't afford to be sick (even just mildly sick at home and isolated for X days)
Personally never heard about such pubs, if they exists, I doubt they are making 40%
The latest advice is to get the booster, not just two vaccines. I don’t think anyone was being told porkies but the situation is changing rapidly.
Fine but you have to cast a critical eye over some of this advice. It was made absolutely and abundantly clear a few months ago that an approved vaccine would avoid serious complications for the large majority in the event of them catching Covid. That this would 'save the hospitals'. So what has changed, we have a new variant that is more catchable but going by the experts of just a short time, most people should experience mild to moderate illness, an ordinary bad cold or bit of flu at worst. Take to the bed, have a paracetamol, mind yourself etc.
So the 'latest advice' does not make sense. As Leo has pointed out even today, numbers being treated in hospital are falling even. We need a better explanation of precisely why the public is being stampeded into another vaccine programme.
We don’t know if it’s milder according to data from London it’s not. The vaccines have saved thousands of lives and reduced pressure on the hospitals so they definitely work. The protection goes after a period of time which is why the booster is used. Instead of arguing with anonymous posters on boards you should be following official advice and not casting a critical eye.
https://t.co/x8XcnDYH6a
I had two AZ shots (in NI but registered them down here)...so doesn't look like that is option for the booster....anyone know or recommend between Pfizer or moderna?
I am due it Tuesday next week I would rather not be sick for a day or two...
Update I just got a text to go for my first shot in citywest......already booked for a booster in GP...
I'm getting it but not out of any personal fear for my health. I'm getting it to put my mam's mind at ease and because I'm going on holiday in January and want to have it done just in case it's a requirement to travel.
It's a numbers game. It's about the carrying capacity of cases, and bringing down the number of cases that lead to hospitalisation and mean we need other restrictions.
If we had this many cases this time last year, a significantly higher number would be in hospital. We couldn't carry that number of cases.
We have hospitals under pressure from the disproportionate impact of the unvaccinated, which reduces the carrying capacity - which means we need to be more concerned about the breakthrough cases in the vaccinated.
So yes I take your point, the vaccines provide good protection against hospitalisation - but the booster bumps it up a notch. Which translates into fewer hospitalisations.
The vaccines weaken significantly over time in terms of protection against infection, if there's a breakthrough infection vaccinated people can still pass it on especially to close contacts though to a lesser extent than unvaccinated who have peak viral load for longer. The booster restores effective protection against immunity and reduces transmission.
Even if Omicron is less severe by 50%, if it's more transmissible x3, there's going to be numbers heading to hospital from it. It's inevitable. It's about keeping that number down to manageable levels.
(50% was plucked from thin air for the sake of argument, it's too early to bet the horses on it being less severe, and by the time we realise it isn't, we'll have a surge of cases and booster will be too late - some good posts discussing Omicron on this thread
https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058219882/the-omicron-variant/p61)
As to why right now? Well even without Omicron, I assume a post Christmas surge is expected of covid cases and other illnesses that lead to winter pressure on public health systems.
My criticism of the government is the opposite to you. Michael Martin's comments about booster reluctance hasn't aged well. Even before Omicron, the next day what was the news headline? People turned away from walk in centres as queues too long. The government were asleep at the wheel, the booster programme should have had a greater sense of urgency for weeks not just the last 10 days.
This is where the battle should have been fought, I mean people were encouraged to get vaccine so that they could go out and socialise... and now there's talk of pubs effectively closing. Makes no sense to me, suggests a government not in control of what should have been their #1 priority.
I was planning to get the booster but now that yet more restrictions are being brought in it's become crystal clear that there's no point. Get vaccinated, more restrictions. Get a booster, more restrictions. Hospitalisation down, more restrictions.
I got the first two shots because they were supposed to enable us to get life back to normal. Instead things actually got worse (vaccines passes, masks and social distancing still in place, clubs closed, opening hours restricted, etc, etc). The government clearly has no desire or intention of ever returning to normal and all they can really do to me at this stage is remove my access to things like restaurants and pubs but they're taking those things away from everyone bit by bit anyway so... 🤷
I suppose I'll get a booster when I need to travel abroad but for now there's absolutely no impetus.
I've been to a bunch of pubs the past while. Some are really good at checking, and others just don't bother at all.
One place on Tuesday didn't check pass, but still took contact details for tracing.
One place about a month ago told me they don't really bother checking, but would scan my pass if I wanted them to.
Yeah, got the first vaccine, no interest in a booster anytime soon. At virtually no danger from Covid. Took the vaccine so I could get my life back to normal.
Social contract has been broken. Life isn't returning to normal. A merry-go-round of restrictions regardless of numbers. Modelling done by a team of absolute thickos. No thanks.
You do realise that the protection you’ve got from the original vaccine will have depleted and you’ll be putting yourself and others at risk if you don’t get the booster. It’s not an optional extra to go travelling, it’s an essential piece of protection.
The virus isn’t dangerous to almost anyone of average health with no underlying conditions. Or has this magically changed at some point in the recent past
The risk is lower but there are deaths hospitalisations icu treatment and long covid in that cohort.
People like the below get severe covid, likely due to some genetic quirk - its like having an underlying condition without knowing it, and could be a potential vulnerability for 10 percent of people.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/nov/30/life-tragic-death-john-eyers-fitness-fanatic-who-refused-covid-vaccine?utm_source=pocket-newtab-global-en-GB
Long Covid is an unproven theory at best , there is nothing settled about it whatsoever
I'm due to get the booster on Monday. For those who got the vaccine already and won't get the booster, seriously what's the point in not getting the booster after getting the initial shot. It doesn't make sense. I understand there's a lot of clowns out their that go against the grain and if public health experts or the government said black they would say white but we're all in this together. Play your part in helping to protect not only you but also you're loved ones as much as possible and the booster will help with this.
Yes there is a lot of mystery about it.
More mundanely covid can knock out your sense of smell for weeks to months. Vaccines reduce your chances of being hard hit by covid - ranging from that 'mild' consequence to hospitalisation.
Id rather not get even a bad flu level of symptoms from covid. I take the flu jab for similar reasons.
Because I can't see the point of it.
Two vaccines give me adequate protection. I'm in my 30s and healthy.
There's nothing concrete on how much it reduces transmission. It wanes within 12 weeks.
Today, it turns out it, there's nowhere to go to use your passport cert anyway.
I'll pass for now. Thanks.
The vaccines you got are no use now anyway. At least by getting the booster you will have stronger protection to see out the winter. Did you go to the pub every night after 8pm? Do you not mix with other people in households, go shopping, have other leisure pursuits were you meet people etc that the booster will help if you unfortunately contract the virus. Anyway different strokes for different folks. What I will say is that I won't be getting out the violin for those people who had the chance to get a vaccine or a booster and end up in ICU disregarding people who medic ally can't get it. The only concern I would have is for Nurses and Doctors getting snowed under.
The 2 vaccines are of no use??
That's just completely untrue. How many healthy, double jabbed, people in their 30s/40s have ended up in ICU so far?
The vaccines wane after 6 months hence the need for the booster. Everyone's immune system reacts differently when infected. I am a lot fitter then the average bloke in that I train 6 days a week and take part in triathlons and the odd marathon. I'll get the booster to give me the best chance possible to limit symptoms if I get infected.
Anyone have an opinion on which jab best option... i had astra 2 times and would like to check other options as i found astra tough...
Is your mother or father still alive and do you visit them?
Ok, well can you tell someone who had a bad reaction from the 2nd jab that it won’t be worse after the 3rd? No, and neither can any doctor because there is no data. All I know is that I’m damned if I’m going to be that guinea pig and rot on a waiting list for years to see a consultant in our wonderful HSE. I’ve had enough experience of that already thanks.
Moderna or Pfizer.
Early indications are that the booster gives good protection against the new strain. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-59696499
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