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FDA Approves Bivalent Booster

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Posted 4/19/2023 12:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All,

Yesterday, the FDA approved a bivalent booster for the immunocompromised and people over 65 years old

“ Most individuals with certain kinds of immunocompromise who have received a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine may receive a single additional dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months following a dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, and additional doses may be administered at the discretion of, and at intervals determined by, their healthcare provider. However, for immunocompromised individuals 6 months through 4 years of age, eligibility for additional doses will depend on the vaccine previously received. ”

This has not gotten a lot of news coverage so you may want to show the pharmacist the below FDA link.

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-changes-simplify-use-bivalent-mrna-covid-19-vaccines
Posted 4/19/2023 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
I saw that and honestly it gave me shivers! I’ve had 5 covid vaccines and boosters now and honestly not sure I can stand another. I have pretty severe 2-3 day reactions. Last couple were 2-3 day migraines.

I will probably wait til late summer. Just had covid in December anyway (not very sick from it, thanks to those vaccines) so probably have some residual immunity from it.
Posted 4/19/2023 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
Plus I'm hearing that the best immunity results from a combo infection/vaccination.
Posted 4/19/2023 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not getting the bivalent since I had Covid. Plus, the variants in it arent even what's around, as I understand.

How is covid doing at this point...we don't hear a lot about it, because if the variants are changing rapidly, what's the point of getting the continued vaccines?

Any insight on it?

q
Posted 4/20/2023 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for sharing. I'll have to ask my GI his recommendation.
Posted 4/20/2023 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
The first few vaccines I got really sick from, but each successive booster was a little better than the last one. My first bivalent booster was minor, I even got it with Shingrex vaccine. I took a nap and was fine.

These are safe and well tested vaccines. I’ll probably get it just so I lower my chances of getting reinfected.

I’m hoping there is the nasal vaccine at some point soon, they should be more effective as preventing infections.
Posted 4/20/2023 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
Keith,

Thanks for keeping us updated.

I too saw that the nasal spray was supposed to be out in the near future.

Clo
Posted 4/20/2023 4:40 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your update, Keith. The bivalent was the 1st of my 4 anti-COVID shots that didn't give me any weird reaction. But I really don't want to take another before next fall. The Prevnar pneumococcal now protects against 20 strains so I got that recently. Strangely enough, the Pneumovax 23 and Prevnar 20 both help my immune system to ward off seasonal pollen allergy! A totally unexpected benefit that I really appreciate. Besides, I believe Quincy is right about newer variants of COVID still evolving ... maybe they'll finally weaken and give us a break, fingers crossed. / Old Hat (40+ yrs with left-sided UC; in remission taking Colazal)
Posted 4/20/2023 7:33 AM (GMT 0)
I am still seeing colleagues lain low for weeks with covid infections so I will take any vaccine that's offered to me (which it currently isn't in my country 😠) as I'd rather be out of action for two days than two months.
How you will react to the vaccine is hard to predict. I've had 6 and the only one where I had almost no side effects was the 5th one. The 6th was a bivalent one.
Yes you will develop a stronger and broader immunity from an infection than a vaccine but that's not helpful if you're dead.
Posted 4/20/2023 9:56 AM (GMT 0)
Seeing so many people saying they aren't getting the booster has made this decision super easy for me ... I absolutely will get it. I had side effects from the vax a couple times that lasted a couple days. I know too many people who were very sick for weeks with Covid and some who have been dealing with long Covid for months. I'll take the vax.
Posted 4/20/2023 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
Oh I will get the vax eventually. But I’ll have to work myself up to it and will also see what the recommendation is after having covid. I think it was 4-6 months? Maybe that’s just wishful thinking.

I just read there’s a new variant circulating in India right now. Another omicron so they think it will be more transmissible but aren’t expecting it to cause more serious disease. They don’t know for sure yet but it’s on the “watch” list. Article also mentioned that covid is never going away. I hope they soon figure out tho how often we need boosters and how long immunity lasts. I think everything right now is a guessing game still since it’s not been long enough to establish reliable data.

I also read an article (maybe in National Geographic) that there is one theory that long covid is caused by micro-clots in the smaller blood vessels.
Posted 4/20/2023 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
Don't know how long protection lasts after getting covid, but thinking it might be about as long as the vax. I had the last booster in Oct and I got that right when it first was available so for now it seems as thought they are going with every 6 months.

This isn't ever going away. That ship has sailed. Best case is that it keeps mutating to milder disease ... or that we all build up enough immunity either through vax or infection ... or both.
Posted 4/27/2023 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
I have recently had shot # 6 as I am 80 + plus of course having UC.
No problems with any of my shots including this last one.
It was 6 months since my last shot and that was the pre- requisite here in Canada
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