Covid-19 Booster Shots
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 4:54 pm
I got my Pfizer booster 3 days ago, the first day they were available at Walgreens. I've had the usual side effects: arm pain, tiredness, feeling flu-ey, headache, chills, nausea. Have slept a lot. Feeling mostly better today.
I was eligible because I'm over 65 and got the second of my two original Pfizer shots more than 6 months ago. For those under 65 and 6 months out from their second shot, CDC eligibility includes those who are overweight (BMI over 25) which includes something like 70% of the US population. With all of the other eligible categories, a lot of people are eligible.
It would probably have been better to get a Moderna booster, since that vaccine has been shown to be significantly more effective over time and with the Delta variant than Pfizer. However, 1) it's not officially allowed in the US for previous Pfizer recipients who are not immunocompromised, and it may never be, 2) there is little data, unlike the plethora of Pfizer booster data from Israel, 3) side effects would likely be worse, as they are for Moderna with the first two doses. Moderna wants their boosters to be half strength.
So far, in Israel, which started Pfizer boosters at the end of July, studies show they are highly effective. All the experts are saying no one knows how long they will remain so. Some experts note that other vaccines require a booster at 6 months or a year to be fully effective for the long term, so maybe efficacy will be durable. Then again, it may peter out again after months.
Studies show it takes about 2 weeks for the boosters to reach full efficacy, same as for the previous doses.
I was eligible because I'm over 65 and got the second of my two original Pfizer shots more than 6 months ago. For those under 65 and 6 months out from their second shot, CDC eligibility includes those who are overweight (BMI over 25) which includes something like 70% of the US population. With all of the other eligible categories, a lot of people are eligible.
It would probably have been better to get a Moderna booster, since that vaccine has been shown to be significantly more effective over time and with the Delta variant than Pfizer. However, 1) it's not officially allowed in the US for previous Pfizer recipients who are not immunocompromised, and it may never be, 2) there is little data, unlike the plethora of Pfizer booster data from Israel, 3) side effects would likely be worse, as they are for Moderna with the first two doses. Moderna wants their boosters to be half strength.
So far, in Israel, which started Pfizer boosters at the end of July, studies show they are highly effective. All the experts are saying no one knows how long they will remain so. Some experts note that other vaccines require a booster at 6 months or a year to be fully effective for the long term, so maybe efficacy will be durable. Then again, it may peter out again after months.
Studies show it takes about 2 weeks for the boosters to reach full efficacy, same as for the previous doses.