Registration for the latest Covid 19 ‘top up’ boosters opens today, offering additional injections to pregnant women, healthcare workers and over 60’s.
The HSE’s latest booster advertising campaign is carried across all media platforms today, with no reference anywhere to possible side effects linked to vaccines.
For the booster shots on offer, the HSE states that the level of risk is ‘unknown’.
“We do not know the risk of myocarditis or other rare side effects after a booster dose yet,” the HSE website states.
On booster dose safety, the HSE says it has ‘less information.’
“Because they are new, we have less information on the safety of the second or third Covid 19 boosters,”
No mention is made of such risks, despite substantial additional information available compared to the when the vaccines were rolled out at the end of Dec 2020.
The HSE updated its own safety literature on possible side effects linked to vaccines, adding multiple additional injuries described as ‘very rare’ and ‘extremely rare’ published on March 24 2022.
This list includes myocarditis and pericarditis, blood clots, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms, immune thrombocytopenia, ‘unusual blood clots in the brain’ and transverse myelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord).
The HSE press office did not respond to a specific question today asking if booster shots are the same product as primary dose vaccines.
Staff attending the HSE Covid helpline to service calls from members of the public today described the second booster as a ‘top up’ but said only ‘a GP or a specialist’ could answer what difference in ingredients there is between a primary dose and a booster.
However, NYC Health, the largest municipal health care delivery system in the US, explicitly states on its website that booster shots are the same product as a primary dose:
“The Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson booster shots are the same vaccine as the primary doses. The Moderna booster shot has the same ingredients but is a smaller dose of the vaccine that is given for the first two doses,” it’s webpage on frequently asked questions says.
In information for healthcare workers on its website, the HSE says the Pfizer dose is the same as the primary course, while the recommended dose for Moderna is .25mls, half of the primary course dose.
“For Comirnaty®, the recommended vaccine dose is the same as the that for the primary course i.e 0.3mls
For Spikevax®, for those aged 30 years and older only, the recommended vaccine dose is 0.25mls (half the dose used for the primary course)”
The HSE’s updated safety information literature was published on March 24, more than 14 months after the initial vaccine roll out began.
The updated HSE safety information has been greatly expanded since the initial roll out, with myocarditis and pericarditis – inflammation of heart muscle and tissue – described as ‘very rare side effects’ of both Pfizer and Moderna that may effect one in 10,000 recipients.
Symptoms include breathlessness, palpitations and chest pain.
With Moderna, the HSE says ‘the risk of these very rare conditions is higher in young men.’
The information does not state how much higher the risk of Moderna is for young men.
The Moderna booster shot is available to over 30’s only.
On side effects for Janssen (the one shot Johnson and Johnson injection), the HSE lists ‘very unusual blood clots’ as a rare but possibly deadly side effect.
‘Rare’ side effects of the Jannsen injection affecting one in 1,000 people include ‘blood clots in the deep veins – such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms,’ according to the HSE.
“Very rarely, one in 300,000 people may develop very unusual blood clots with low platelets. One in 10 of these people may die. This risk of this very rare condition is higher in young people,” the HSE states on its website. A similar warning of ‘very unusual blood clots’ is listed in association with Astra Zeneca.
One sided face drooping is listed as a ‘rare’ side effect of the Astra Zeneca affecting one in 1,000 people.
‘Very rare’ side effects include ‘very unusual blood clots with low platelets’ and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
‘Extremely rare’ side effects of Astra Zeneca include immune thrombocytopenia, unusual blood clots in the brain and transverse myelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord).
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) said it continues to undertake actions to encourage reporting of suspected side effects of Covid 19 vaccines as part of its ‘commitment to enhanced transparency for members of the public and healthcare professionals.’
“This includes a dedicated section on the HPRA website, which provides information regarding authorised COVID-19 vaccines and of the importance of reporting suspected side effects to the HPRA.”
The fourth round of Covid 19 vaccine injections begins on August 15.
“It will give you ongoing protection from serious illness, and increase your immunity against infection from Covid-19, which we know tends to reduce after a period of months following your last vaccine,” HSE Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry said.
National lead of the covid 19 vaccine programme Eileen Whelan said she wanted ‘to ensure people have a smooth experience booking appointments online and getting their vaccine.’
“We are also continuing to plan for the autumn, when more groups of people have been recommended to have covid 19 boosters as well as routine flu vaccines to provide best health protection for the winter ahead.”
Meanwhile, The Irish Times reports today that the entire population of Ireland shows evidence of antibodies to Covid 19 through previous infection or vaccination.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre data is based on sampled collected between July 17 and 24.