should I have my covid booster now

[Provence]

Hello Everyone,

I wonder if any of you would have an opinion on the following. I have had 5 vaccinations and boosters for Covid. And although I had no response at all to the first three, there has been a good response to the last two. I had my last booster in May. End of June I think I may have a very minor episode of covid since my husband caught it and brought it home. But all I felt was being slightly under the weather for two days. Then on September 16 I had my usual half-yearly blood analysis and was also tested for my covid antibodies. To my great surprise it was 512!

Now there is a new wave of covid here in France and it is still very much on the rise. They are warning that vulnerable people should get their next booster. I am also going to travel to the UK in early January by plane.

So my dilemma is whether I should have the booster now or wait for a few months more. There is no point in asking my GP since he is against all vaccinations and would undoubtedly be against me getting the booster. I have gone my own way with regard to covid vaccinations.

I am also slightly worried since someone on this forum wrote about the toxic effects of the boosters. (*See below - Admin)

I would appreciate hearing your opinions,

Many thanks,

Kunderke

* I don't recall a reference supporting this claim of "toxic effects of the boosters" being provided, but given boosters reduce your risk of a COVID-19 infection, or if you do develop COVID-19, its severity, surely boosters protect you from the much worse toxic effects of the actual illness? More in my reply below here:

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo... Neil (Admin)

[Pearlpink]

hi. X I would definitely get the booster as it has been modified to protect against some of the newer omicron strains. A very recent report from USA has said they are seeing more deaths because vulnerable people have not been taking up the booster. I’ve had mine and it made me feel big rotten but at least that means it’s working!

My lovely uncle dies recently from omicron, and now I know about 5 people close to me who have been much younger and pretty sick with it.

I’m going to take anything that helps!

[Provence in reply to Pearlpink]

Thank you so much. That is a helpful perspective.

[noeagaman]

Kunderke, I would definitely get the new booster. It has been modified to go against the new variants that are on the rise. I only had a minor headache when I got it. With Evusheld being less effective against the new variants it seems that the booster is the only thing that might work for us.

Chris

[Provence in reply to noeagaman]

Thank you for your advice , Chris. I have made an appointment with another GP than my usual one, in order to get the prescription.

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

I've just had the Moderna bivalent booster which just resulted in my arm being a bit tender for a couple of days. I only noticed it if I lay on it. If you did have COVID-19 back in June, you'll now have the best kind of protection, known as hybrid immunity, but that wanes too with time. As you noted, "there is a new wave of covid here in France and it is still very much on the rise." There are also new variants becoming dominant in the UK as reported in this site which reports the latest updates: gov.uk/government/news/covi...

If I saw the same mention of supposed "toxic effects of the boosters" as you, you'll note that the member who made that claim, didn't provide a reference supporting their claim, nor did they explain why the much larger amount of spike protein you'd get from any actual infections wouldn't cause a problem*.

I provided a reference busting that claim in a reply to the claim I saw. Here's another:

health-desk.org/articles/wh...

This article from Healthline explains the (very minor) differences in the Omicron bivalent booster from the earlier booster:

healthline.com/health-news/...

Please, if you see any posts/replies of concern, please report them per: healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

*I've added a link to my reply into your post for easy reference.

Neil

[country76 in reply to AussieNeil]

I have not received antibodies from any of the vaccines. I am not sure of Evushield however it was due this month and they stopped giving it. I had the booster last month and obviously didn't work because I have Covid. I am wondering if I will get antibodies from actually getting Covid. Sorry if you already answered this question.

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to country76]

If you didn't get antibodies from a vaccination, then you are also unlikely to get antibodies from an infection. However, per the USA Leukemia & Lymphoma Society study of the response of blood cancer patients to vaccinations, patients that didn't generate antibodies had a 45% chance of developing some T cell immunity from their vaccinations*. Boosters will also reactivate and boost your memory T cells.

(Good question; I don't think this has been previously asked)

*Per Anti-Spike T-cell and Antibody Responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccines in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies, by Lee M. Greenberger , Larry A. Saltzman et al doi: 10.1158/2643-3230.BCD-22-0077

"Among the 221 seronegative patients, 45% had a positive T-cell call" About 56% of the study participants had CLL.

Neil

[SofiaDeo Administrator in reply to country76]

There was some recent discussion about Covid antibodies now being present in IVIG, for folk receiving that treatment.

[Provence in reply to AussieNeil]

Thank you, Neil, as always very helpful!

[Pin57]

Advice asked, mine is ….get the bivalent covid booster!

It may (or may not) prevent you from getting covid. More importantly, if you do get Covid, by getting the booster shot the experts have stated that it helps keep you from being hospitalized for covid. That maybe the most important reason to get the booster.

Also… if may help you from getting “long covid”. Another plus.

Good luck with your decision!

[New-bee-cell]

Research seems to show that, after vaccination and/or infection, immunity rises but then falls over time. Unless you are avoiding all indoor socializing during December, I would choose to get the bivalent booster now.🙂

[Billhere]

I had the same situation. I was leaving Los Angeles for a conference in New York first time out in quite a while, but I had all the shots and boosters just like you. I decided to get my fifth booster before the trip even though it was less than 6 months. I wanted to be covered for the latest variants plus get the boost of the original vaccine. I have had responses for each vaccine.

Pointedly, I ignore all of the Negative viewpoints around vaccines. This is not because I am close minded. It is because I have never had a negative reaction to any vaccine, including Covid vaccines. And to my knowledge, there are no clinically valid studies which have proven such claims.

All vaccines and medication’s have a insignificant percentage of failure. This is why every country has a system of clinical trials administered by the medical and scientific community, and monitored by the government agency. If you are taking Tylenol, birth control, or any form of medication for anything whatsoever, it has the potential to have a negative outcome for you.

Since you have had multiple successful doses of Covid vaccines, the history of vaccines, and how they behave would indicate that you are clearly not part of the group of failure or risk of a negative outcome.

I say, get the booster and enjoy the peace of mind and your trip!

[Provence in reply to Billhere]

Thank you, that is good reasoning and I will go ahead now,

[SteverinoP]

Hello,

I have had COVID like symptoms (fever chills headache) for a 24 hour period after both of the last booster shots. I would still recommend getting the booster even knowing I’d likely endure feeling bad afterward. I believe the potential benefits far outweigh the discomfort..

Steve

[Provence in reply to SteverinoP]

I have never had a bad reaction to the vaccination and booster and so I am hopeful it will be the same this time round, but I take your point that it is better to have symptoms for a day rather than the illnesss in full. Thank you.

[Astro617]

I've had 6 shots. I would get the booster. Especially if you get it soon it should be protecting you fairly well when you go on your travels.

[Provence in reply to Astro617]

Thank you I will do so!

[Provence]

Thank you, I will go and do so after having read all your comments!

[Provence]

Thank you