Covid

[Josephine233]

I live in Ohio, no one has suggested I get a fourth shot. I've had 3 full doses. How do I get the fourth?

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi Josephine223,

-

The screen shot shows what is listed by the CDC

People ages 12 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should receive a total of 4 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The 4 doses are made up of a primary series of 3 doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, plus 1 booster of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (4th dose).

cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nc...

1 booster Given at least 3 months after 3rd dose

-

Len

COVID Vaccinations for Adults Who Are Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised

[Josephine233 in reply to lankisterguy]

Thank you

[Panz]

In OH I would try Kroger, Walgreen, Rite Aid or a CVS. Plus I would try to take in a copy of lankisterguy’s print out. You shouldn’t have an issue. I personally have received 5 full shots and awaiting my Sixth. Then I hope that by then maybe late summer Evusheld will be more readily available. I have no immune system of my own and rely solely on IVIG every 4 weeks. A common cold or sinus infection causes issues for me.

Wishing you the best in seeking out that 4th shot!!! We simply must all hang in there!

Panz 💕🙂🙏☘️

[msbypass4cll]

I also live in OHio and got my first two shots throughThe county board of health, and the first booster through the pharmacy at University of Cincinnati Hospital, where my oncologist is located. I got the booster there because CVS and Walgreens required proof of my immunocomped. diagnosis to qualify for the booster and it was easier to go to an entity that was already the repository of my medical records than to determine what the pharmacist of the day wanted to see as verification.. If you are lucky enough to have gotten Evershuld. it may change the date that you get the biggest benefit from the 4th jab from the CDC recommended schedule. Do you have an oncologist following you? They may be able to facilitate getting the booster for you at the optimal time.

[Josephine233 in reply to msbypass4cll]

Thank you. Will ask my oncologist about 4th. shot

[64lusso]

I was 6 months out from my first booster a few weeks back and called the local health district office (I’m in VA) hoping to get an appointment. They said they couldn’t schedule an appointment but told me to walk into to their local vax clinic and I’d be able to get it. Sure enough, after showing them my card and telling them I have CLL the lady checked a few boxes on her computer and asked me which one I wanted!! That was it, I didn’t need to provide any other proof other than my word.

[beanlake14]

I just went to my local health department. But any pharmacy now knows according to the CDC, you can get it, so please go!!! My doctor did tell me two switch it up, so I got 3 Pfizer and the 4th was Moderna. Best of luck to you. You can log in to any of the major pharmacies and make an appointment first.

[DanBro1]

Easy.... take your vaccination card and call your nearest Walmart pharmacy and make an appointment. Tell them that you are immunocompromised. A fourth shot is authorized. I know this to be true because this is what I did here in Texas. I received my second booster one month ago. Yesterday, Feb. 18th, 2022, I donated another blood sample to the LLS Covid antibody study. My previous three shots provided "no detectable antibodies". I hope this fourth shot proves more effective. Good luck to you!! PS : You are not required by law to show CVS or Walgreens that you are immunocompromised. You sign a form at Walmart stating that you are immunocompromised.

[Josephine233 in reply to DanBro1]

Thanks

[Astro617]

Go online to Rite Aid Pharmacy. That's where I got mine. Their website has a choice for a 4th shot and one question, "Are you immune compromised?" When I got to the pharmacy no questions were asked. The tech who checked me in went and asked the pharmacist though. He later told me I was their first 4th shot. Hopefully you have a Rite Aid near you. Maybe other pharmacies have the same easy online scheduling. riteaid.com

[SurvivingCLL]

Hi, Josephine233! I live in WV, grew up in Ohio. My recommendation is to speak w/your pharmacist. Do you have a good relationship w/him or her? If they are aware of your condition, they'll likely help you out there & let you know as soon as the boosters are made available in your area.

When the boosters were still being discussed, I spoke w/my local pharmacist. I have CLL & my husband has a heart condition. We're both Seniors, as well. As soon as we'd passed the 6-month point following our 2nd Covid shot, our pharmacist gave us our 3rd shots.

Hope this helps ease your mind! Stay safe & keep wearing your mask!🌹

[longwalkhome]

I have a unique problem in this regard, since I started with the J&J vaccine (not by choice, it was not even available when I made my appointment in February 2021). At that time, my CLL treatment team thought it was better for me to get this shot than to risk waiting another few weeks to get Pfizer or Moderna. However, I was disappointed, since I knew it had the lowest efficacy. Then there was a long wait to see if we could get another dose and by the time that happened, no one was recommending a J&J extra dose, so I went with Moderna, based on papers that I read that suggested it had the best efficacy for blood cancer patients. However, Moderna decided the the booster should be 1/2 dose, when I was eligible in October 2021. At this point, I have only had 1/2 dose of a what is considered the best vaccine for people like me. At my last 3 month check up, the NP told me I should go get a full dose ASAP, since I am immunocompromised. However, the pharmacist at my local Walgreens told me I could not get a full dose after getting 1/2 dose, so now I am looking for new pharmacy to get this shot. In any case, I would get the fourth shot if I were you, as soon as you are eligible, since protection seems to wane after 4 to 5 months. Sorry for the venting. I just wondered if anyone else out there had this same issue.

[Pin57 in reply to longwalkhome]

I kinda did. Took J&J initially in Mar21, same reason as you. Found out it sucked … luckily my doc said volunteer for LLS Study n in April21 n my first antibodies test showed J&J had waned to 100 U/ml in me … right on schedule like J&J finally said in Oct21, that it’s only good for 2 months!

Yeah no kidding.

But because I luckily knew I was in a bad antibodies spot per talking with LLS Study doc in April21, my docs ok’d I “start over the vaccine process”.

So I took duo Pfizers shots in May21 n a Phizer booster in Nov21. That zoomed my antibodies to normal healthy people levels (per LLS study doc) at >2500 U/ml. So in my mind I’m sitting on 3 full shots of Pfizer’s… J&J is a zero shot in my book.

It’s clear you realize you have a 1/2 Moderna and one lousy J&J… your no where near a 3rd or 4th shot status IMO.

I’d suggest think about what I did (start over) with your docs ok of course so your hopefully in a better position than where your are at now antibodies-wise.

Something to think about. I certainly agree with your vent and J&J concerns …. very valid and IMO highly forgotten by CDC, media, n others. It’s a problem not very logically addressed.

Good luck going forward.

[janvog]

In Florida I got my 4th at a supermarket pharmacy without problems. I am 87.