Round 4

J received an email invitation to book her autumn Covid booster vaccination, because she was registered as at high risk and shielding in 2020, and when I checked the website I was pleased to find all three of us are already eligible, as are J's carers/PAs. We had to go to Canterbury this time, the large Folkestone vaccination centre in the former Debenham's store having closed early in the year, and having booked our chosen times with no difficulty and at short notice, we were surprised to find the venue, which offers a walk-in service as well as booked appointments, astonishingly busy and crowded with a wide range of people. I was encouraged to see lots of people taking up the opportunity, but am shocked that we have received no notification or encouragement from our GP practice, who do not even have a mention of Covid boosters on their website. We were pleased to receive the new Pfizer vaccine, which provides more targeted protection against the Omicron variants, and to be offered the option of flu vaccinations in the other arm at the same time, which removes the need for the appointments I had booked for late October. I'm grateful that we've been vaccinated again but it's impossible not to wonder how much longer this will continue, after two and half years of staying mostly at home and largely isolated. I was hoping for a walk on the coast afterwards and some seaside photos, but it all took much longer than expected, and by the time we finished J really needed to come back home.