Thanks, i came here to say this, but you said it much better than i would have. I just wanted to add that there is really no way to know, at this point in time, whether 5, or 6, or 8, or 12 months might be optimal for the third dose. I think in a year or so, we will likely have enough observational data to make good guesses around that.
For now, I’m leaning on the observation that 6 months is par for the three dose vaccines previously approved.
Looking at recommendations for older children, the final dose of the initial series of DPT should be 6 months out.
Second and final dose of hep A 6 months
hep B should be 2 months from second AND 4 months after first
Polio third dose is 6 months after the second.
So… In the absence of covid-specific data, 6 months looks like a good guess to me.
Well, you’re getting to see how the sausage is made, and in real time. The result is delicious but the process is messy and disgusting.
The general complaint by the anti-vaccine crowd (and echoed by the vaccine hesitant) that that the process was rushed, or there hasn’t been enough testing, or “we just don’t know enough” to know if the vaccine is safe, which are the sort of complaints that sound reasonable on the surface, but the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines developed in the US and UK went through the standard three phase safety and efficacy process with a larger test population and as much transparency and oversight as any vaccine trial in medical history. A lot has been made of the very few severe reactions (primarily blood clotting and myocarditis) in excess of the placebo group, but these are actually a less frequent occurrence in the vaccinated population than in those naturally infected, so it is likely likely that people prone to these conditions would still be better protected by vaccination than taking their chances with infection. The takeaway is that the exceptional safety of these vaccines has been well-established, and there is no reason to expect that a third ‘booster’ shot would compromise that (and has not been seen in booster trials).
Understatement of the year. Now everybody is realizing why epidemiologist have been yelling from the rooftops for decades about preparing for a global pandemic of respiratory pathogen.
It is as good of a guess as any, and very unlikely to do harm. The worst that is likely to come from it is that it will require another shot later on to maintain immune response. I think offering boosters to those who are occupationally exposed, and especially medical and first responder personnel, is a good preventative measure because the last thing we need is for these groups to get hit (again). The fear of a variant with significant evasion from the immunity provided by the current vaccines still looms but so far hasn’t been observed.
That’s what I’m wondering. That’s what my primary care office said, that I should wait till 8 months; but the pharmacist at Walgreens where I stopped in for a flu shot a couple of days ago didn’t know why they said that and said 6 months is fine.
I’m just past six months from my second dose of Pfizer (and several months past my 70th birthday, with other risk factors). I’d be better able to deal with possibly being sick for a couple of days a month from now; but of course I don’t want a round of covid in the meantime, either; even one made milder by the previous vaccinations.
– they told me at Walgreens that no appointment’s needed for a covid booster; this was in a fairly rural area of New York State.
– I guess, having read more of the thread, that the answer to my question amounts to ‘we don’t know yet.’ Maybe I’ll compromise on seven months.
Exactly. And i plan to sign up as soon as I’m eligible, unless i end up in a clinical trial, first. (I’ve signed up for a J&J over Pfizer study, but they might fill it before i become eligible for that, either.)
According to one of the Fauci press conferences I’ve heard while at work (when I can listen to stuff) the timing was heavily influenced by data/research from Israel, which is a couple months ahead of the US on vaccine dispensing.
Obviously, a day or two either direction won’t make much difference, but I expect a lot of places giving shot #3 out will be reluctant to give it to you a day “early” but won’t care if you’re a day “late”.
Well, I’m 26 hours out from the 3rd jab now and I must say I’m having more side effects that the previous two combined. Headache and myalgias, blech. Started about 3 hours ago. Still worth it, but we’ll see if I make it to work tomorrow.
QtM, is there any reason why you asked about side effects to #3 compared to #1 & 2? An abundance of caution?
I get my meds thru the VA, and they tell me I can get a #3 shot in October. I had negligible reaction to the first ones. I got a shingles shot a few weeks ago, and had a relatively severe local reaction around the injection site, so it looks like the substance used is important, not just “any” shot.
Got mine 3 days ago~no side effects beyond being able to tell I’d gotten a shot of something in that spot on my arm. Not even the slight headache or day of fatigue that I had after jab #2.
My niece (in her 40s) reports getting third jab of Pfizer. First two jabs, no problem. Third: drained her of energy and her arm still hurt the next day.
I can’t decide if I should hold off on this or not, so I think I’ll wait a little while. I reacted poorly to the second one, with my main problem being intense tinnitus that lasted for months. It might be a coincidence, but I’m not looking forward to that again.
having covid’s worse than tinnitus, from what I’ve seen in my patients and experienced. But unless you’re high risk, I don’t see a need to rush for the 3rd dose at this point.