Booster or wait longer?

Your age, sex, health status (comorbidities), and your exposures (who you come into contact with) are all factors. If you're scared, I'd suggest discussing the matter with a doctor you trust and who knows your health history.

Alternately, here are some doctors I follow who have seemed level-headed and who have been covering a lot of aspects of COVID in a clear, helpful, non-hysterical manner:

Vinay Prasad, MD, MPH
Zubin Damania, MD
Mobeen Syed, MD

There are probably others, but these are the ones I've found.

Good luck with whatever you choose.
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I'm getting my booster tomorrow. I had J&J last spring (fever and crummy for 36 hours, then fine) and am boosting with Pfizer. My friends who got the mRNA vaccines originally all have done well with boosters, and reacted more mildly or the same as they did to their second doses, for what that's worth. I appreciate all of my low-risk friends getting vaccinated to help protect immunocompromised folks like us.

Yesterday's studies out of the UK said that Pfizer vaccine recipients have only 38% protection against symptomatic omicron after two doses, but that jumps to 75% with a booster. (Astra-Zeneca recipients had basically no protection against symptomatic omicron without a booster.) Thought this might be helpful to know.

Viruses (all viruses) are capable of causing serious long-term dysfunction, so I'm not willing to risk finding out what COVID does to me if I can avoid it. I am much more worried about the long-term effects of COVID than I am about possible vaccine effects. I can't let partner and child keep living as hermits just to protect me. My LLMD has been very clear that her practice (with several other LLMDs) has seen lots of awful long-COVID cases, and zero relapses from vaccines.

My LLMD recommends glutathione, other basic antioxidants (vitamin C, zinc, etc.), and quercetin for before and after the vaccine. She told me to stop curcumin and other herbs that affect immune response for a few days before and after, so the immune system can respond normally (without being quelled by the curcumin, since the whole point of a vaccine is the immune response). Plus drinking water and avoiding sugar, but I imagine those are just good basic recommendations!

I would like to add, I have MCAS as well. Was just diagnosed but have had it prob obviously for a while.

Boosters are being offered to elderly only here. (Over 65 years old)

Both my husband and I work in healthcare and will be forced to get it or lose our jobs.

It will be at least a month before it gets to our age category.

I got my booster about 3 weeks ago. Besides the arm being sore didnt notice anything. The first two shots I was tired after. Anyone I know who got boosters did not have any reactions, some had reactions after the 2nd shot nothing after the third though.

Sunflower1920 said...
I had a friend last week tell me ... a booster is TWO shots in one, not half like everyone thinks.

I'm not sure that's correct.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are booster shots the same formulation as existing vaccines?
A: Yes. COVID-19 booster shots are the same formulation as the current COVID-19 vaccines. However, in the case of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster shot, it is half the dose of the vaccine people get for their primary series.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html

Are you and your friend in the U.S. or elsewhere?

Also, the following short video is from the initial YouTube channel I recommended above in my first post:

Myocarditis Data From Ontario Province: Specific Vaccine & Interval Between Doses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzvos-1tiwi

The referenced article has not yet been peer-reviewed, so it should be considered in that light. It's simply additional information for each person to weigh (or, not) in their personal health decisions.

Here's some extra information I found interesting:

One of Dr. Prasad's colleagues -- Marty Makary, MD -- previously noted "...the longer you space out the intervals with any vaccine dosing regimen, the better the immunity. And, it's been studied now -- 3.5 times better with Pfizer, if you space out the two [doses] at three months apart ... and, so, that's what I recommend...and, that's what I've done for myself."

Later, in the same conversation, Dr. Zubin Damania mentions he's been suggesting people wait a bit longer than the default dosing schedule is probably good (he's been suggesting waiting 4-8 weeks), but then poses the question to Dr. Makary about the risk of waiting longer between the first and second doses -- his concern, understandably, is whether people will be at an increased risk by being "unboosted" between doses.

To this, Dr. Makary responds: "U.K. did this, they postponed the second dose to 12 weeks, as a rationing strategy, and they had Delta during that time period and they did not see a significant influx of severe illness..." Then, Dr. Makary states that trial data from the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine shows that doses given six months apart was found to be twice as effective as doses given two months apart. He then poses the question why the FDA isn't updating their guidance, based on this information.

All of this to say that if the first and second doses of the vaccines had been spaced further apart: (1) maybe more people could have received an initial dose of a vaccine (for those who wanted it), (2) perhaps the vaccines would have been more effective, and (3) there might have been less myocarditis and pericarditis.

It's a bit late now, except for those who've not yet received any vaccines and still wishes to do so.

Thank you Dude I appreciate it! As mentioned both doses for me were Phizer, no issues other than a bruise and some arm pain. The second dose hurt more after and I got a rash. I was told the rash was normal and a good sign. I believe everyones experiences are different regardless of what brand they got the first round and now their booster. Hoping and praying I do well! My work's offering boosters on Thursday but I'm gonna pass, I want to wait until holidays are over incase I do feel miserable.

My first and second were Moderna.

What if I’m offered pfizer for booster?

Thanks Dude!

I will likely take the first one offered to me.

It won’t be my turn for awhile yet.
Although maybe I will get to the front of the line because I work in an elderly care home.

I’m hoping my husband gets his soon - as he works with clients in the community and his second shot was in May. He is also over 60 years old.

Liamin,

Sorry I can't answer your question. The booster could have caused some sort of autoimmune cycle or caused myo/pericarditis. Have you been checked out by a cardiologist post booster?

Just as a heads up for everybody, there is evidence that young men, with the highest risk being somewhere around 16 - 25, are at higher risk for myocarditis after vaccination with mRNA products. Evidence has pointed to Moderna being the worst offender. I'm 35 and I would not vaccinate with Moderna. The chances of this complication are lower with Pfizer.