Booster doses for Covid 19 ?

Roger · **on:** December 09, 2021, 05:15:11 AM

It seems to me that without panicking on the one hand or denying the value of a booster on the other hand - a booster shot, after an interval of 3 months + following the 2nd dose, makes a great deal of sense.

With 2 Pfizer/BioNTech on board myself, I've been thinking of a Moderna booster, but this report from BioNTech today, has a remarkable conclusion, that 3 doses of their vax gives the same level of protection against Omicron as 2 doses does against other variants . . . .

"Dr Ugur Sahin, the chief executive and co-founder of BioNTech, added: “Our preliminary, first dataset indicate that a third dose could still offer a sufficient level of protection from disease of any severity caused by the Omicron variant."

"Prof Jonathan Ball, a Professor of Molecular Virology at the University of Nottingham, said: “Whilst a relatively small dataset, the fact that neutralising antibody levels against the omicron variant after boosting were similar to levels seen against the original coronavirus strains after two doses of Pfizer vaccine – which we know is good at protecting from serious disease – is reassuring." "

A 'let it rip' philosophy to head for herd immunity is well understood but the danger is that a smaller % of hospitalisations from a massive number of cases will be difficult to absorb.

Here's the link (paywalled) : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/08/three-doses-pfizer-vaccine-effective-against-omicron-covid-variant/

Coolkorat · **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2021, 02:42:34 PM

I was on two minds about getting the booster but it seems the decision is being effectively made for me; get the booster or be reset back to square one. I need the ability to travel and if this becomes mandatory I will have no choice. I am certainly not ant-vax in any way but I am getting completely fed up with this situation. At what point do we accept that Covid is here to stay (and has been with us long before the '19' variant) and we simply need to get on with it.

Roger · **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2021, 03:28:22 PM

CK - a highly infectious variant has appeared in the UK so maybe now is not the best time to lose faith in the vaccines ? I'll have a booster as soon as I can. It's 3 months + since my second jab and I'll be glad to get the booster myself.

Covid world is a confusing and exhausting place - I'm sure we are all fed up to the teeth

Keep punching M8

Roger · **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2021, 10:51:39 AM

I noticed this on the NHS website :-

"Studies have shown that you only need a half dose of Moderna to boost the immune system well. This half dose of Moderna is expected to have low rate of side effects including myocarditis."

I'm looking for a booster myself and if it's Moderna, it'll be 50% ! ATB

Herbie · **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2021, 04:36:42 AM

I had my third jab at Central last Tuesday. I had my second, Astra, in August. My wife and I walked in around midday. I showed the certificate from my previous jabs and my passport at the registration desk. In the vaccination hall I was offered Astra or Pfizer, I chose Pfizer. A fairly simple and efficient process.

Roger · **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2021, 04:41:50 AM

Herbie that's great. So that's about 4 months since the 2nd. ATB

Hector · **Reply #6 on:** December 12, 2021, 06:09:56 AM

Thanks for the info, Herbie. I had my second Pfizer in September, so am thinking about a booster soon. Did you have to check in anywhere on line first or did you just turn up at Central?

Herbie · **Reply #7 on:** December 12, 2021, 06:53:59 AM

No booking, just turned up.

Hector · **Reply #8 on:** December 12, 2021, 06:57:47 AM

Thanks

Alfie · **Reply #9 on:** December 18, 2021, 02:51:07 PM

I have seen walk-in booster shots advertised on a couple of sites for different local hospitals. They both said more or less the same thing regarding timing of the third shot. It depends on what your first two shots were.

2 x Sinovac shots - 4 weeks after your second shot.
2 x Sinopharm shots - 4 weeks after your second shot.
1 Sinovac + 1 Astra Zeneca - 8 weeks after your second shot.
2 x Astra Zeneca shots - 12 weeks after your second shot.

At one location, Astra Zeneca and Pfizer were available and you can choose which one you want. At the other location, Moderna was also available for a booster.

Anyone in Thailand wanting a booster, I suggest you look for details of vaccine centres near you and find out what they have available and when the walk-in days are. Try the hospital websites and/or their Facebook pages.

Roger · **Reply #10 on:** December 21, 2021, 11:45:43 AM

"Moderna’s half-dose coronavirus booster shot triggers a strong antibody response against omicron, according to early laboratory studies, raising levels even further than a Pfizer top-up jab. On Monday, the biotech company released preliminary data suggesting two shots of its Covid-19 vaccine generated low levels of neutralising antibodies – which are used as a proxy for vaccine efficacy – against the highly mutated omicron variant. But a 50 microgram booster shot increases neutralising antibody levels 37-fold, while a 100 microgram dose – equal to a full dose – triggers an 87-fold rise.

In comparison, early lab-based studies of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine found a booster lifts antibody levels 25-fold against omicron, though the different studies may not be directly comparable. Stéphane Bancel, Moderna’s chief executive, said the latest results are “reassuring” in the face of a dramatic surge in omicron cases across the globe. Previously, he predicted there would be a “material drop” in the effectiveness of vaccines against the variant.

“[The vaccine is] highly effective, it's extremely safe,” Dr Paul Burton, Moderna’s chief medical officer, added in an interview with Reuters. “I think it will protect people through the coming holiday period and through these winter months, when we’re going to see the most severe pressure of omicron.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/reassuring-moderna-booster-jab-triggers-strong-response-against/

Roger · **Reply #11 on:** December 21, 2021, 03:29:54 PM

Anyone ? I think this means that if you had say Pfizer or AZ for doses 1 and 2, the wait can be 3 months, but if you had Moderna 1 and 2, the wait should be 6 months ?

"Booster Dose : The booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine is 0.25 mL.
A single Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine booster dose (0.25 mL) may be administered at least 6 months after completing a primary series of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to individuals 18 years of age or older.

A single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (0.25 mL) may be administered to individuals 18 years of age and older as a heterologous booster dose following completion of primary vaccination with another authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. The dosing interval for the heterologous booster dose is the same as that authorized for a booster dose of the vaccine used for primary vaccination."

https://www.fda.gov/media/144637/download

Robert · **Reply #12 on:** December 21, 2021, 06:16:31 PM

So what about 2 Pfizers shots then? When can I take booster? Had my second Pfizer in September.

Roger · **Reply #13 on:** December 21, 2021, 06:51:40 PM

Me too Robert

If you can get the booster at 3 months + ( at 50% only), if vulnerable, as I am, that's great - the point about 2 Pfizer is the immunity is longer lasting than say AZ so they make it 6 months . . . .

I'm not sure Moderna say that though. 3 months half dose should be OK, as long as you didn't have Moderna for 1 and 2.

DYOR and ATB M8.

Vin · **Reply #14 on:** December 25, 2021, 10:44:12 AM

I turned up at Central last week, waited 4 hours only to be told that I had to wait for 6 months after my second vaccination. At least I know when I return for the booster in March. Got my new address updated on my certificate so it wasn't a completely wasted journey.

Robert · **Reply #15 on:** December 25, 2021, 02:25:15 PM

Quote from: Vin on December 25, 2021, 10:44:12 AM

I turned up at Central last week, waited 4 hours only to be told that I had to wait for 6 months after my second vaccination. At least I know when I return for the booster in March. Got my new address updated on my certificate so it wasn't a completely wasted journey.

Hi Vin,

allthough you did not mention which vaccin has been given to you I assume you mean Pfizer. If so then I also have to wait 6 months as of September this year.

Thaiwolf · **Reply #16 on:** December 25, 2021, 07:32:09 PM

I was turned away too Robert despite showing the doctor a photoshot of news that the Thai government had two days ago reduced the period to booster to 3 months.

Thaiwolf · **Reply #17 on:** December 25, 2021, 07:36:34 PM

Info here

Roger · **Reply #18 on:** December 26, 2021, 11:08:32 AM

Thanks TW - I'm guessing the CCSA reporter has condensed the details - it seems that the interval from vax 2 to vax 3 varies from 1 month to 6 months - depending on what vax you had for 1 and 2. The only loophole I see in this atm is to try and wangle a 50% dose of Moderna through Individuals/Private Hospitals who may be sitting on spare doses now.

Reported elsewhere from the NNBT :-

"However, no booster shot before you are eligible. Waiting a few months between doses helps the immune system "remember". After creating crude antibodies to a new opponent, the body focuses on making stronger antibodies that may be amplified swiftly when triggered by another dose of vaccination or natural infection. After two COVID-19 vaccine shots, patients have freshly formed B and T cells ready to create antibodies and target the coronavirus. To fight against an invasion, those cells need to develop in the body. A dosage delivered too early may restart something that was already functioning."

"When to get it : The timing of the third dosage will likely be determined by the virus’s circulating levels. Experts advise sacrificing peak responsiveness to acquire protection faster if many viruses are spreading. It may come down to a trade-off between optimum protection and acute infection risk. The first two shots of vaccine should also help determine the time, as the time between the second and third doses varies by vaccination type.

The Thai government has decided on booster dose timing. Those who had their first two doses of Sinovac or Sinopharm may choose AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Moderna for their booster four weeks later. Those who had two AstraZeneca doses may choose Pfizer or Moderna for their booster three months later, while those who received two Pfizer or two Moderna doses can choose either vaccine for their booster six months later.

Those who received mixed vaccines, such as Sinovac and AstraZeneca or Sinopharm and AstraZeneca, may choose AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Moderna as their third shot, three months after the second shot. People who have received Sinovac and Pfizer or Sinopharm and Pfizer may select either Pfizer or Moderna for their booster shot, three months after their second jab. Six months after their second jab, those who had AstraZeneca and Pfizer may decide between Pfizer or Moderna for their third injection."

Alfie · **Reply #19 on:** December 29, 2021, 09:46:03 AM

I went to a walk-in and got my booster jab this week. I could choose from Astra Zeneca or Pfizer. I chose Astra but by far the majority of people I saw were getting Pfizer. They must have plenty of it.

While there, I saw some medical staff getting their fourth shot.