Patients recommended to have Astrazeneca boosters can find none

sir – Attending an appointment for a booster jab last week, I was told that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were contraindicated for me because of my history of allergies. I could have had a third dose of Astrazeneca, but the centre had none.

It was suggested I contact other centres in the area myself to ascertain if it was available. I did and it wasn’t.

I telephoned 119 and was informed that only Pfizer and Moderna have been approved as boosters. There must be many people like myself who are desperate for a booster but find there is no suitable vaccine supply.

Latest reports say that an increasing number of people over 70 who are double vaccinated are being admitted to hospital with Covid. Only those who have had a booster can be considered fully vaccinated.

What provision is going to be made for us ? Or will we be included in the statistics of people not coming forward to be vaccinated?

Sandra Shallcross

Bradford, West Yorkshire

sir – I’ve booked two separate appointments for my Covid booster, first on October 6, then on October 21. Each time there wasn’t any AZ vaccine available for me. This in spite of the Government’s own documentation saying that “people may be offered a booster dose of the Oxfordastrazeneca vaccine if they cannot have the Pfizer-biontech or Moderna vaccine”.

I was told I wasn’t alone in needing AZ and I would go on the waiting list during half term. I waited – nothing. I emailed – no response.

On October 31 I became ill with Covid-19 instead. I would much have preferred to have had my booster rather than this utterly miserable virus infection.

Helen Burrage

Malvern, Worcestershire

sir – The suggestion that mandatory vaccination for all NHS workers will produce mass departures of staff intrigues me.

Where will the thousands of predicted leavers magically find these instantly available new jobs in healthcare with the conditions, excellent pensions benefits and loose managerial structure of the current NHS?

We should all be more concerned about patients treated by irresponsible non-vaccinated personnel, making hospitals potential centres of spread.

Dr Keith Marshall

Llanybri, Carmarthenshire

sir – In 1956 I applied to become a nurse in Birmingham. Smallpox vaccination was compulsory.

It never occurred to any of us to refuse.

Carmel Smedley

London N20

sir – If an NHS worker refuses vaccination, then they do not deserve a job in the NHS.

If I am ill, I do not wish to be looked after by someone who is ineducable.

John M Scott FRCS

Aspley Guise, Bedfordshire