Vaccine--3rd shot

Ok I knew shingles was a 2 shot vaccine. I wonder if having the first provides some partial immunity. I’ve had shingles and thankfully it was very mild and caught quickly.

I would say that it’s better than none.

And like the COVID vaccine, getting the second is still not a guarantee to never catch it; but it does reduce the severity of symptoms (which was the case for my mom who was in her 70’s when she got it).

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Got my fourth shot today. Heading out to California’s Trump Country soon, and I don’t know where they’ve been.

Got my 4th shot yesterday. My body still does not like these shots. Temp of 38.3 bc my thermometer is stuck on C and I don’t know how to fix it.

I’m going to Spain in October, and I’m definitely getting shot #4 (booster #2) before then. I was holding out hope that one will be available that targets the newer variants by then, but either way I’ll probably get jabbed by 10/1 at the latest. COVID is rampant enough right now that I might change my mind and get one sooner.

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There will almost certainly be an omicron-based booster in the fall. It will be available regardless of how many shots you’ve had (possibly unless you’ve just had one really recently.)

Withing until shortly before you do something risky makes sense, since immunity seems to wane over time. But waiting until the omicron booster doesn’t. You will be able to do both

I hadn’t heard the quoted part. Any source with the details?

While the boosters for newer variants are reported to be available “in fall” by many sources, I don’t know that it will be soon enough for my trip. Since I’m traveling in later October, I would want to get boosted by early October at the latest

Now that I’ve been infected I’ll probably skip the fourth shot until an omicron specific shot is available.

Forgot to say I had a shingles vaccine the same day and I wonder if the extreme reaction is from that one. I’ve had a reaction with every Covid shot, but they’ve been less bad each time until now. I was still feverish overnight and headachy this morning. Need to try to get some work done but I think I’ll wait a bit longer to see if the cobwebs clear

The 4th shot isnt available for people under 50 in the US unless they have underlying conditions. Is this different in canada?

It’s recently been opened up as available, although not exactly recommended depending who you’re talking to.

When the COVID vaccine came available, I heard people compare the reactions similar to the shingles vaccine (some people said the shingles vaccine was worse) so that could be the case.

in canada you’re speaking about i assume, not the US?

i’m probably going to wait for an omicron specific one regardless too, but makes the decision easier if it’s not open to me anyway.

I am fairly certain you can walk into any pharmacy in the US and get a 4th shot with little to no pushback from anyone.

I actually had to sign a form saying I understood the CDC guidelines. Then I had to sign that I was over 50 or immunocompromised. I also had to provide my date of birth so the over 50 part was obvious.

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Just tried on the Walgreens site. It said no because I’m not over 50 or known to be immunocompromised.

No, and technically, it hasn’t actually been decided. But all the discussion is around that, the manufacturers are providing the FDA with vaccines and test results, and the FDA has voted to approve an omicron-based vaccine in the fall. (lots of other steps, CDC, etc.)

Katelyn Jetelina, one of my favorite sources, has described the process and where we stand in this public post:
Clarity for fall: We're getting an Omicron booster

She also agrees with my bet that we’ll be eligible for omicron boosters regardless of whether we get a summer booster here:

If you’re over 50 years old, get your booster.

If you don’t have your first booster, it’s beyond time. If you don’t have your second booster, get one now. Seriously. Schedule your appointment here. Do not delay. You will be able to get an Omicron booster this fall even if you get boosted now.

(They are still arguing about who will get what when, and only the over-fifty omicron booster has actually been voted on. But once they have a recommended path, i think it’s really unlikely that it will be restricted to old folks. The final call will be made by Rochelle Walensky, the head of the CDC, and she’s been pushing for more access for younger people all along.)

I know a few people who have walked in w/o a scheduled appt that are <50 and not immunocompromised and gotten it with no questions asked.

They probably clicked off as being immunocompromised and we not asked any other questions.

oh yeah, probably. i’m not sure i want a booster that much at this point though to do that.

you could lie for the first dose back when it first became available too. they don’t ask for proof that you have an underlying condition.

They won’t ask for proof of an underlying condition or even what it is.