In anticipation of this week’s ACIP meeting on Thursday (that’s the CDC group to review after the FDA’s meeting last week), there’s lots of chatter about mix-and-match for vaccine boosters.
Do you have any insight on booster recommendations for those who have had COVID and got vaccinated? I'm a nurse eligible for Pfizer booster & definitely willing to get, but have seen a couple of different articles talking about not needing one and wondered if there's any merit to them. I had antibodies drawn for a study that showed both spike protein and total antibodies elevated, and I'm not sure what to do with that data either lol
I wish I knew that answer! That data would certainly be helpful. The hard part of this is people respond differently when they have had COVID. It's more unpredictable than when people get a vaccine.
So true! My 7yo just had covid as well (separate from my 2020 case) so I would love the idea of extra longer term immunity for her once she's vaccinated!
Question on the Moderna booster as a J&J recipient... Table 2, group 1 above shows the Moderna booster is 100 mcg. I thought the Moderna booster that was authorized by the CDC was only 1/2 dose, or 50 mcg. How does this impact the findings? Personally, would you go with the Pfizer or Moderna booster?
Hi Emily, Both hubby and I received J&J back at the end of March, early April. We now want to get an MRNA booster. I have a Pfizer scheduled for next week. I had my DTAP a week ago and wanted to put some time between the two. I called my doctor and he said that getting a booster after DTAP was ok. Any thoughts on this? Also, do you think Pfizer is enough? We are both 52. Hubby is slightly overweight and only other issue is on statins for high cholesterol. I am overweight and have very controlled HBP. Do you think Moderna has an edge over Pfizer as a booster or the other way around? Thank you!
I have a question I know you can’t give medical advice it’s just a question. I have an 80 year old man who got the Pfizer back in January 2020. Being that they are mixing and matching boosters is it at all probable that she could get the Moderna booster? Conceivably would this bolster immunity more than the Pfizer? 🤔
Hi Laura and great question. I don't think switching mRNA vaccines would provide more immunity. It's really the JJ group that benefits from switching. Hope that helps.
Thanks for this helpful info. I got Pfizer for my initial doses. I also found this report, on the reactions to the third shot. Based on the tables at the bottom (similiar to the side effects table you posted), do you know how long people waited to get the third shot? If I wait longer, will the chances of side effects decrease or increase? I'm 44 yo, "healthy" but work with a high risk population. I'm also a serious emetophobe and hypocondriac (working on it) so the less side effects the better for me. My first two shots were rough on the nerves, although I suppose my reactions were pretty mild (headache, thirsty but no fever, not much appetite but it could have been the nerves).
Hi Laurel, your comment sounds like a lot of people right now during the pandemic. So be encouraged that you're not alone with the nerves. I think the waiting time was 6-8 months, but the side effects will probably be the same. I'm wondering if that data will come out? The Pfizer booster is a lower dose than the original 2 doses you got too - which might lessen side effects. Hope that helps and thanks for the comment!
Did you initially get the j&j vaccine? Wondering why you would get a Moderna or Pfizer booster and then an additional mRNA vaccine. I initially got j&j and am looking forward to a Moderna booster ASAP.
I have a Moderna scheduled on Sunday, but concerned that it's just a half dose when what was tested was a full dose with 1st dose J&J. Wondering if perhaps I should choose Pfizer since it's a full dose. Also, wondering how likely it is that they may change any recommendations this week. Have thought about rescheduling until later this week to see if they do. Thoughts? Have you decided which mRNA you are going to get?
Hi Nancy, those are great questions and none of us know the full answers yet. The general big takeaway is either mRNA vaccine produces more robust responses as a booster than a J&J booster. So, either one is fine it seems from this data. And highly effective! =)
I have the same question! To take it one step further, if the antibody levels are so low on those that receive Johnson & Johnson vaccine shouldn’t they be starting with two dose mRNA and then start a booster six months later? I had Johnson and Johnson in March so very interested in what next step should be. And how does T cell immune response figure into all of this?
In researching further, if I'm understanding correctly, the 1/2 dose of Moderna is comparable or even stronger than the full dose of Pfizer, so the booser dose makes more sense, now. We'll see what her thoughts are when she answers.
Do you have any insight on booster recommendations for those who have had COVID and got vaccinated? I'm a nurse eligible for Pfizer booster & definitely willing to get, but have seen a couple of different articles talking about not needing one and wondered if there's any merit to them. I had antibodies drawn for a study that showed both spike protein and total antibodies elevated, and I'm not sure what to do with that data either lol
I wish I knew that answer! That data would certainly be helpful. The hard part of this is people respond differently when they have had COVID. It's more unpredictable than when people get a vaccine.
So true! My 7yo just had covid as well (separate from my 2020 case) so I would love the idea of extra longer term immunity for her once she's vaccinated!
Question on the Moderna booster as a J&J recipient... Table 2, group 1 above shows the Moderna booster is 100 mcg. I thought the Moderna booster that was authorized by the CDC was only 1/2 dose, or 50 mcg. How does this impact the findings? Personally, would you go with the Pfizer or Moderna booster?
Hi Emily, Both hubby and I received J&J back at the end of March, early April. We now want to get an MRNA booster. I have a Pfizer scheduled for next week. I had my DTAP a week ago and wanted to put some time between the two. I called my doctor and he said that getting a booster after DTAP was ok. Any thoughts on this? Also, do you think Pfizer is enough? We are both 52. Hubby is slightly overweight and only other issue is on statins for high cholesterol. I am overweight and have very controlled HBP. Do you think Moderna has an edge over Pfizer as a booster or the other way around? Thank you!
I have a question I know you can’t give medical advice it’s just a question. I have an 80 year old man who got the Pfizer back in January 2020. Being that they are mixing and matching boosters is it at all probable that she could get the Moderna booster? Conceivably would this bolster immunity more than the Pfizer? 🤔
Hi Laura and great question. I don't think switching mRNA vaccines would provide more immunity. It's really the JJ group that benefits from switching. Hope that helps.
Thanks! Yes it does help.
Thanks for this helpful info. I got Pfizer for my initial doses. I also found this report, on the reactions to the third shot. Based on the tables at the bottom (similiar to the side effects table you posted), do you know how long people waited to get the third shot? If I wait longer, will the chances of side effects decrease or increase? I'm 44 yo, "healthy" but work with a high risk population. I'm also a serious emetophobe and hypocondriac (working on it) so the less side effects the better for me. My first two shots were rough on the nerves, although I suppose my reactions were pretty mild (headache, thirsty but no fever, not much appetite but it could have been the nerves).
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7039e4.htm?s_cid=mm7039e4_w
Hi Laurel, your comment sounds like a lot of people right now during the pandemic. So be encouraged that you're not alone with the nerves. I think the waiting time was 6-8 months, but the side effects will probably be the same. I'm wondering if that data will come out? The Pfizer booster is a lower dose than the original 2 doses you got too - which might lessen side effects. Hope that helps and thanks for the comment!
Thank you so very much for responding! This helps a lot.
Ooops and I meant to say, of course I know it's better than COVID, lol! Thankful for my access to the shot.
Did you initially get the j&j vaccine? Wondering why you would get a Moderna or Pfizer booster and then an additional mRNA vaccine. I initially got j&j and am looking forward to a Moderna booster ASAP.
Hi Meredith. I initially got the J&J vaccine and will get a mRNA booster - not the additional 2 dose mRNA. Does that help?
Yes, thank you.
I have a Moderna scheduled on Sunday, but concerned that it's just a half dose when what was tested was a full dose with 1st dose J&J. Wondering if perhaps I should choose Pfizer since it's a full dose. Also, wondering how likely it is that they may change any recommendations this week. Have thought about rescheduling until later this week to see if they do. Thoughts? Have you decided which mRNA you are going to get?
Hi Nancy, those are great questions and none of us know the full answers yet. The general big takeaway is either mRNA vaccine produces more robust responses as a booster than a J&J booster. So, either one is fine it seems from this data. And highly effective! =)
I have the same question! To take it one step further, if the antibody levels are so low on those that receive Johnson & Johnson vaccine shouldn’t they be starting with two dose mRNA and then start a booster six months later? I had Johnson and Johnson in March so very interested in what next step should be. And how does T cell immune response figure into all of this?
I heard from another scientist, Dr. Peter Hotez, that I trust that the more time between the original dose and the booster, the better. =)
In researching further, if I'm understanding correctly, the 1/2 dose of Moderna is comparable or even stronger than the full dose of Pfizer, so the booser dose makes more sense, now. We'll see what her thoughts are when she answers.