Is it? I for example have had the two AZ jabs, and subsequently had covid. So my immune system is now very well aware of the virus....
How lengthy a gap did you have? There is evidence that even the enhanced 12 week gap many people had is sub optimal.
Also studies looking at heterologous vaccinations are likely to conclude that a combination of mRNA + viral vactor vaccines will offer a broader immune response.
So, while I don't disagree you are well protected, you would likely benefit from a booster; a booster is going to enhance the chances of you being asymptomatic when (not if!) you get exposed to the live virus.
Given the disruption that even a mild case could cause a booster is well worth getting in my opinion.
Have they actually quantified the risk to a double jabbed, healthy 40 year old for example, versus one who’s been “boosted”? Offering third primary doses to the immunocompromised seems to be based on actual science, but boosters for all yields diminishing returns.
The risk of what? The risks from vaccinations are tiny.
The benefits of a booster depend on what original vaccine you had and what gap you had (see above and see previous posts).
We’re supposed to believe that the vaccines are really good, yet at the same time we now require a booster as the “protection” (read anti-body levels) wanes after a few months?
If course antibodies wane; they are supposed to!
Protection against severe disease is almost certainly very long lasting.
The protection against an infection developing is a different matter; a booster will massively help with that.
How will they justify the fourth jab I wonder? Personally I’m incapable of performing sufficient mental gymnastics to get past thinking this is blatant profiteering, or we’ve been lied to, or more than likely both.
I don't think a 4th dose is likely to be justified, based on what we currently know, but how can we predict the outcome of any future studies or the future evolution of the virus?
As I said before, for most people two doses would have been absolutely fine, if we had known what we now know and if we had had the time to wait for the second doses (which is debatable but now a moot point).
Don’t get me wrong, if people are comfortable with boosters they should get them, it should be a personal choice. For me at this stage though the vaccines are just another element to the never ending Covid **** show I’m afraid (heresy I know)!
It should be a personal choice but it is a sensible choice.
I absolutely understand why people are fed up of restrictions, but it's not right to blame the vaccines for this, or to question the vaccines effectiveness.
Look at people like me now refusing to get a booster in protest at these restrictions as strike action against the government. A sudden drop in booster takeup would send a very effective message.
But that's not going to happen, at least not in sufficient numbers to have any effect. The only effects of such a strategy is to induce more infections.
Either way the point is we need to continue to build up immunity until endemic equilibrium is reached. Everyone is going to be exposed to the virus. The more people who get good immunity through vaccination, the fewer will get hospitalised.
Only a very small proportion of people who get infected will be hospitalised but a small proportion of a huge number is still a large number.
I totally get people wanting to send a message to the Government that we do not wish to comply with their nonsense and I agree with you. But declining boosters is not going to achieve anything positive.