I got my jabs early so am I at risk until autumn booster?

QAI am in my 80s and had my first Pfizer jab in December and my second in January. The Government now says a booster may be necessary in September as there is uncertainty about whether two jabs will give me protection for more than six months.

What should I do until then? Should I avoid all forms of social contact and remain in my bubble? Both Covid-19 and the vaccines that have been developed against it are still very new, and a lot is still being learned about the immunity provided by both the natural illness and the vaccines.

The immune system is complex, and includes specific antibodies, which are proteins in the bloodstream that can “neutralise” the virus. There are also T-cells, which are special white cells in the bloodstream, and memory B cells, found in lymph nodes – both of which spring into action as soon as the virus enters the body.

Research is showing each of the vaccines being used in the UK are very effective at producing all of these, suggesting the vast majority of vaccinated people will be protected long term, certainly for several years, against existing Covid-19 variants.

But the immune system does become weaker with increasing age, and this is why it has been suggested that older people, as well as those who take drugs that suppress the immune system, may need a booster.

So if you are otherwise well, and are not on immunosuppressant medication, the two jabs you have had should certainly give you good protection through into the autumn.

Only you can decide what risks you want to take. But avoiding all forms of social contact, and staying in your small bubble, is a recipe for loneliness and feeling very isolated.

I would certainly encourage you to get outside for some exercise, fresh air and sunshine during the remainder of the summer.

That said, it may be prudent to avoid places where there are very large gatherings of young teenagers, as there may be large numbers infected with the virus.

Q

My husband’s nose is becoming red and looks lumpy and swollen. I’ve seen old men with big red noses like this, but he is only 46. I haven’t mentioned it to him because I don’t want him to feel self-conscious, but should he see our GP?

A

This sounds like rosacea. This skin condition, which is more common in women aged 30 to 50, usually causes redness and pustules across the cheeks. But men can get it too, and it normally starts in middle age. The nose becomes swollen due to thickening of the tissues beneath the skin and enlargement of the sebaceous oil glands.

Widening of the tiny blood vessels in the skin leads to a red, or sometimes purple, discoloration. The cause isn’t known, although it is thought to be due to environmental and genetic factors. This means you are more at risk if you have a family history of the condition. It is also more likely in smokers (yet another reason to stop) and also if your skin has been exposed to a lot of sunshine.

A variety of treatments are available, including creams that reduce redness by constricting blood vessels, such as brimonidine, or reduce inflammation, such as Ivermectin. The anti-acne drug azelaic acid can help lower oil secretion, and gels containing metronidazole can work to rebalance the bacteria that live on the skin.

Antibiotics taken by mouth, such as tetracyclines, can be useful for more severe rosacea with a lot of bumps and pimples. But be warned, all the treatments take up to six weeks to take effect.

Rosacea can be a progressive condition, so it would be worthwhile for your husband to have a chat with his GP. The most efficient way of getting help would be to email a photo of his face to the surgery first.

Exposure to sunlight can make rosacea much worse, so a factor 30 sunscreen every day is important, especially at this time of year. Apply it after any topical medication.

Also, opt for a wide-brimmed hat, and avoid the midday sun.

I recently went for a smear test and the nurse saw a polyp on my cervix. She recommended I go to a gynaecology clinic to have it removed. But as it’s not causing me any problems, and my smear result was normal, is this necessary?

Cervical polyps are growths that usually start within the cervical canal, the passageway that leads from the vagina to the womb.

They are usually reddish in colour and can range in size from just a few millimetres to several centimetres long. They may be shaped like a finger, a bulb or thin stem and are fairly common, occurring in up to five per cent of women.

They often cause no symptoms at all and are found by chance during a routine gynaecological examination.

But they can cause bleeding in-between periods, especially after sex, as well as slightly heavier periods, and bleeding after the menopause.

Why they develop is not known, but their formation may be linked to increased levels of the hormone oestrogen or chronic inflammation of the cervix, vagina or uterus.

Though most are harmless, they can increase in size, which makes them more likely to cause symptoms. Very rarely they may be cancerous, so it’s normally recommended they should be removed, a procedure that can be done as an outpatient at a hospital gynaecology clinic.

Small ones can be simply twisted off, but larger ones may require removal with a heated wire loop under a local anaesthetic.

The tissue removed should then be sent to a laboratory for analysis, and afterwards you should refrain from using tampons, going swimming or having sex for at least a week.

If you have a health question for Dr Leonard, email her in confidence at yourhealth@express.co.uk. Dr Leonard regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence or reply to everyone.