Will you be taking a booster?

TBH because of radical statement like this I am would think twice when getting close to anyone who is vaccinated. Unvaccinated or unboosted at least don't believe they are immortal heroes and can save the word. They are more likely to reduce number of social contacts and by not being able to booze in a pub also posses less risk of not spreading covid.

What is so radical about me stating that I won't get close to someone . Far less radical than recommendation to examine your head. Obviously everyone has their own reasons to vaccinate or not. I am just saying if I see someone is posting 10 images from different pubs on instagram, I won't meet them, vaccinated or not. I don't really see how their vaccination status is 'savaing the world' and why their head needs less examination than someone who is not vaccinated and going for a hikes with 2-3 people for all week. Just an example.

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?

Personally never heard about such pubs, if they exists, I doubt they are making 40%

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.

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...

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.

Despite my giving out/venting on here I'm still going to try to get a booster as soon as I can. I don't really blame you for feeling the way you do though. The latest restrictions being talked about are insane considering we're one of the most vaccinated countries in the world.

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

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.

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.