# The Omicron Variant **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [November 29, 2021, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134 "2021-11-29T13:54:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/61 "2021-12-08T18:01:49Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Any word on how quickly the booster gets you to maximum protection? Is it still 2 weeks? From the study in Israel with Pfizer > We found that 7-13 days after the booster shot there is a 48-68% reduction in the odds of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection and that 14-20 days after the booster the marginal effectiveness increases to 70-84%. [https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.29.21262792v1.full.pdf](https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.29.21262792v1.full.pdf) But this is a few months ago, not Omicron. I can’t find any detailed analysis of Omicron data along these lines, probably it doesn’t exist yet, sample sizes may not be large enough to know much more than the fact that it’s effective. If it were me - would I spend a few hours trying to find an earlier appointment? Yes. Would I cancel _important_ social events - assuming they are with sensible people who are at least fully immunized with 2 shots - probably not. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/62 "2021-12-08T18:07:08Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Also, people keep saying that #3 is a half dose. If so, should I expect the same side effects as after #2? I had minimal side effects from my booster, but I also had about half the side effect from the second dose as the first dose - first dose had me in bed pretty much incapacitated for 24 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/63 "2021-12-08T18:43:57Z")
> [@Tfletch1](#): > > Okay, great preliminary booster data is in. Booster protects against Omicron as well as two doses (I’m assuming fairly fresh two doses). So the CDC’s encouragement of boosters was a good call. I meant protection of two doses against the original variant. You all probably knew what I meant. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/64 "2021-12-08T20:09:38Z")
I hope I’m like you! ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/65 "2021-12-08T20:23:10Z")
And here I thought Xi was rejected as the variant’s name because too many Americans would pronounce it “ex-eye” or “eleven.” > [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > I hope I’m like you! If it’s any comfort, I also had zero side effects after the booster, and I was sick as a dog after jab #2. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/66 "2021-12-08T20:29:29Z")
Hub. My booster was full dose, Pfizer. I specifically asked when I got it in October. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/67 "2021-12-08T20:31:48Z")
My understanding is the Moderna booster is a half dose, Pfizer booster is a full dose. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/68 "2021-12-08T20:35:18Z")
Ah! Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/69 "2021-12-08T20:39:57Z")
And, if you fall into certain categories, you can get a full ModeRNA third dose instead of a half-dose booster. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/70 "2021-12-08T20:41:02Z")
And from a different thread, I’m told: > [@POLL: How was your vaccine reaction?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-was-your-vaccine-reaction/939463/299): > > But also, the regular Moderna shot had 100mcg of active ingredient, and the original Pfizer 30mcg. So the half-dose Moderna is still “more” than the Pfizer booster. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/71 "2021-12-08T21:00:53Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > I’m scheduled for my Moderna #3 next week, but have a bunch of social events over the next 2-3 weeks. Riffing off of **Riemann** ’s suggestion to try to get your booster earlier than you’ve currently got it scheduled: I don’t know if this is available where you live, but around here (New Orleans metro area) many independent non-chain pharmacies and clinics are giving walk-in COVID boosters. No appointment necessary. It’s worth asking around or looking on your state’s Health Department website to see what kinds of places besides the big chains are giving boosters in your area. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/72 "2021-12-09T00:49:11Z")
My understanding (from another poster here) is that full protection from a booster shot is also two weeks, because that is the amount of time it takes the body to physically get the appropriate cells online. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/73 "2021-12-09T01:46:22Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > …My understanding (from another poster here) is that full protection from a booster shot is also two weeks, because that is the amount of time it takes the body to physically get the appropriate cells online. I don’t agree with that. The adaptive response to _primary_ infection takes 1-2 weeks. But the response of memory cells to secondary infection is much quicker. That’s the basis of vaccination - the vaccination simulates the primary infection and establishes immunological memory for the antigen, so if the real thing shows up it will be neutralized quickly. A booster shot looks like a repeat infection, so it will stimulate rapid production of a lot of antibodies. If you were exposed to the virus a couple of days after your booster shot, you’d almost certainly be much better off, because there would not even be the that short delay - you’d _already_ have a lot more antibodies circulating. On the other hand, repeat exposure to the same antigen stimulates _affinity maturation_, the selection of clones with greater specificity for the antigen. That process takes longer, and that may be the basis for the enhanced protection from the booster in the longer term. So you may not get _better_ antibodies until a couple of weeks have passed. So I don’t think you can really predict from basic principles exactly what degree of protection you’re likely to have at various times after the booster - but it’s extremely unlikely that you get _no_ benefit until 2 weeks have passed. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/74 "2021-12-09T02:00:43Z")
Thanks. I should stress that from me, it’s hearsay, not science. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/75 "2021-12-09T03:13:24Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > I don’t know if this is available where you live, but around here (New Orleans metro area) many independent non-chain pharmacies and clinics are giving walk-in COVID boosters. I get regular texts from the state of NJ that certain public schools in my area have walk-in availability. Since this week was invariably going to be a busy week at work, and Thanksgiving was a couple weeks ago etc., I didn’t want to deal with the side effects, which hit me hard after #2, during these periods. I’m scheduled for Monday at my local CVS, so I’ll stick with that one. That is now 5 days away, so hopefully reduces the chance of illness even if I am exposed in the next few days. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/76 "2021-12-09T04:23:38Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > My understanding (from another poster here) is that full protection from a booster shot is also two weeks, because that is the amount of time it takes the body to physically get the appropriate cells online. I agree with what @Riemann is saying. Maximum protection with even better antibodies may take a few weeks, but a booster should start giving you more antibodies within days. I don’t see any papers reporting this but I do remember the papers showing that antibody levels started increasing faster after the second shot than after the first shot. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/77 "2021-12-09T20:04:14Z")
I got my second shingles shot today and listened to hear if anyone was asking for COVID. The person in front of me wanted a flu shot and the person behind me wanted a shingles shot. I asked my shot giver about boosters and she said they were now appointment only because they were wasting so much of the vaccination to spoilage. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/78 "2021-12-13T20:47:31Z")
Just got my Moderna #3. This time I did the counter-intuitive and got the jab in the right arm, under the hypothesis that the more active arm will stay looser, move more, thereby reducing the pain. Let’s see. ETA: I should point out that my arm pain was very minor both times, but still annoying. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/79 "2021-12-13T20:59:41Z")
I also got my third shot a last week (technically 1 day early). I went with my right arm simply because it was the one closest to the nurse, and she asked if it was okay. I did not feel it hampered movement. It just hurt to lay on. Though I do suspect that where they inject plays a part. My dad got his shot at Walmart, as the hospital’s clinic was closed for Thanksgiving weekend. They gave him the shot lower down on his arm, and he says it hurt even at the time of the shot. When he got the shot nearer to his shoulder, it didn’t hurt at all, suggesting you don’t feel as much pain up thee. And the primary site of the arm pain I’ve experienced is around the injection site. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/80 "2021-12-14T18:30:40Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > This time I did the counter-intuitive and got the jab in the right arm, under the hypothesis that the more active arm will stay looser, move more, thereby reducing the pain. Let’s see. When I joined the Air Force everyone got all of their childhood vaccinations as well as a few other things at once. The DI’s told everyone that after we got shot we should do push-ups to get the vaccines moving around which would reduce the pain. I did push-ups after the first round of shots, I didn’t do them after the second round and didn’t notice any difference in pain or side effects but I’m a weenie. Let me know if it worked for you, OK? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134.md?page=5)