My wife just received a notification from our pharmacy that a booster COVID shot is recommended 6 months after the last 24-25 winter COVID shot. This second shot is recommended for those over 65 and the immunocompromised. I had my last COVID shot on September 23 of 2024.
I have asked my primary care physician and my CLL specialist about receiving another COVID shot this spring. Neither felt that I needed to have another shot. They were not aware of any recommendations for a " spring booster". I have received 7 or 8 COVID shots and had COVID twice.
Ironically enough, after a 10 day holiday get together with my family at my home, there was a COVID outbreak. All but my wife and I tested positive for COVID! We had no symptoms, no sickness.
My youngest child is getting married at the end of April of 2025. I think the extra protection would help my immune system while in contact with the large wedding party.
Does anybody have information or inquired about a "spring booster" for immunocompromised individuals? What direction have you received from your oncologist and/or CLL specialist regarding additional shots? I can't find any information on the internet.
Just tell them I'm here for my spring booster. Don't tell them what or who you asked, just expect it. If they decline, have them worry with you about missing your child's wedding plans, 30 seconds of silence is a big lever.
There's been no announcements about new Covid vaccine formulations to date that I'm aware of. There also hasn't been any change to the recommendations in the US that those who are immunocompromised may receive two 2024-2025 vaccines six months apart. cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/immu...
What is unclear is whether you could/should receive a third dose of the same formulation if you've already received two doses of the latest 2024-2025 vaccine and we don't have any data on what the impact might be of getting the same formulation many times over.
This week, the organisation called GAVI ( gavi.org ) highlighted some recent research published in the journal Nature which suggests that six monthly vaccination against COVID is still a good idea.
"Pre-Omicron, infection meant you had 80% protection against re-infection one year later. Post-Omicron, this has fallen to 5% protection at one year, highlighting that vaccination is more important than ever for people with vulnerable immune systems.
The evolution of the Omicron variant marked a significant shift in the way COVID-19 spread – it was much more contagious than previous variants and could evade vaccines better too.
There were also indications that Omicron might be able to dodge natural protection from a previous COVID-19 infection and therefore more likely to lead to reinfections."
"In the group with a pre-Omicron infection, their natural immunity protected them after reinfection (with a pre-Omicron virus) at 81% at three to six months after initial infection; a year later, protection was still maintained at 80%.
By contrast, in the group with a post-Omicron infection, the protection from reinfection dropped from 78% at three to six months to 60% at six to nine months, plummeting to 5% by a year."
Importantly, although protection against reinfection dropped off significantly, protection against severe illness was more robust.
The figures in this Nature study suggest that six monthly protection from vaccination mightn't be a bad idea but I'm sorry I can't provide a more definitive answer right now.
Even some of our CLL specialists don't seem to be in agreement about the ongoing timing or number of Covid boosters we should receive, because of the lack of data one way or another. In a 2024 video for the CLL Society shared in a post here earlier this week, Dr Furman strongly advocated in favour of six monthly Covid boosters. In a virtual town hall meeting for the CLL Global Research Foundation in Jan 2025*, Dr Wierda cautioned that we don't know what the impacts of receiving a very high number of mRNA vaccines might be and suggested waiting for a new formulation or getting annual boosters.
With a wedding coming up, I can understand why you'd be very tempted to get re-vaccinated ahead of the event.
CLLerinOz
* link for the recorded town hall meeting is not yet shared on the CLL Global Foundation's website
Here's a link to the shorter, 3:30 min discussion on the topic of Covid and boosters for those who don't have time to watch the whole 60 min presentation (although it is worth watching if you do have the time) :
In the UK a booster programme for the immunocompromised and the elderly is again being provided - due to launch late March / early April. I’ll be taking it again as I’m in a study that has shown I do have a good level of antibodies after each Covid shot.
I'm being treated at University of Penna. Hospital with Calquence for one year. I've had Covid 3 times- the last time I had been to a summer wedding and got Covid a week later. I got a Covid shot this past December and my CLL doctor recommended a booster in June. I hope this is helpful to your decision making.
First I've heard of this and I just saw my CLL specialist a few days ago. I am W&W, very stable. I asked about renewing childhood boosters after we reviewed my current vaccines so it definitely would have come up within that discussion.
I've gotten mixed cues too. The US "CDC recommends that people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised get a third dose of a 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine, and then additional doses at least two months after that. These recommendations apply in addition to any other doses that are recommended." I asked my GP about this and he thought two doses/year would be adequate. Then the other day I listed to a LLS webinar and that specialist thought ONE shot/year was enough. I'm going for the 6 month booster. Personally, if I were going to a wedding I would definitely get the 6 month booster.
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