Views on the new Moderna Double Vaccine just announced please.

[azaelea]

Having just heard on the news that this new vaccine has just been approved in the UK, the first country to do so, I am wondering what everyone thinks about it’s safety and side effects possibility. I have stuck to Pfizer for all my 5 Vaccinations as it suited me OK. I have read and heard of too many people having really bad side effects with the single Moderna up to now, so I will be very reluctant to partake. It will be 3 months since my 5 th booster on 14 th September. Regards Fran

[Whitehair51]

My husband's rheumatologist said he should get a Modern for his next booster as he has had 4 Pfizer. She said it would work better. From what I've seen, side effects remain the same.

[azaelea in reply to Whitehair51]

Thanks for your reply.

[Scottishterrier]

Hi I unknown to me my last booster was a moderna did ask at the time but the nurse at the vaccination centre said the generic name she gave so thought well at least it was not moderna but while I was waiting to get all clear they handed me the leaflet was reading it surprise surprise it was moderna but no side effects though just normal sore arm but we should be okay if on anticoagulants maybe ask GP or your consultant if you see them before your appointment to get your jab if you don't see consultant why not phone his secretary for her to ask them or if you have a MPN nurse specialist they always return your phone calls same with your consultantStay safe

Scottish terrier xx

[azaelea in reply to Scottishterrier]

Thank you for your reply. I could ask my Haematologist as I have a phone consult on Monday. Don’t know how much they’ll know about the new Vax yet. Do you have an MPN nurse? I haven’t and I rang Haematology when I had a fall recently as I fell on my knee and whole leg went black from knee to toes. They were too busy and were supposed to ring me back. Didn’t happen and when I tried twice again phone just kept ringing. Very bad patient support!

[Scottishterrier in reply to azaelea]

That is not to good I stay in Scotland and I did have an mpn nurse specialist and she was fantastic you would phone her and she would always phone back but am not sure if still got one I had to phone my consultant about having to get bloods done at GP as usually get three monthly appointment but this time is six months but consultant still wanted three monthly bloods and wants bloods done prior to phone consultation but still had the lovely Ness off writing to me with blood results just try again or ask GP but sometimes you can find some GP are not sure about MPNStay safe

Scottish terrier xx

[EPguy]

Its safety was similar to the original Moderna vax, but the trials were not as large I believe. At some point these will be like flu shots, they make new vax strains every year with not a lot of clinical testing.

The UK approved vax is for Wuhan + Omicron Ba.1 strains. Ba.1 was in fashion last winter, we're now up to Ba.5. But any vax with any Omicron is better than without, and I would get it. Some data shows declining benefit to getting ever more of the original vaxes.

In US we will wait a couple more months since US gov't has requested Ba.5, not Ba.1, be in the dual vax. So far there are no wide spread "improvements" over Ba.5 to worry about.

[azaelea in reply to EPguy]

Thanks for this info, EPguy. I think I might wait a bit to see if UK come up with Ba5 incorporated.

[EPguy in reply to azaelea]

One reason we sometimes see stronger reactions to Moderna is the dose. Moderna as a booster is 50mcg, while Pfizer is 30. But my Hem agrees to wait for the dual vax, and not just add more of the Wuhan one.

We both also are interested in the Novavax. It uses a different tech. It's designed from only the Wuhan strain, but some reports suggest it's decent against all Omicrons and may be longer lasting. The mRNAs (Pf, Mod) are showing to have unexpectedly short duration effects.

UK may get quick ba.5 approval once the US does. Supposed to happen here in Sept.

[mhos61]

I will be having the new bivalent vaccine. I waited six months between the fourth and fifth dose rather than the suggested three months, as I felt it was too much.

This maybe helpful.

theconversation.com/covid-v...

[EPguy in reply to mhos61]

Good link. It was far fewer patients than the original trials as noted, but this small n likely will be normal for the future.

<<Moderna’s new bivalent vaccine is based on data from a clinical trial involving more than 400 participants>>

[Nellin]

Hi azaelea,I understand your concerns, I had two Astra zeneca, two Pfizer and the last one in May was Moderna. I had a really bad reaction to the Moderna, which lasted for two days, I queried having this vaccination again and was told once my GP surgery knew which vaccine they were going to have ( often not until delivery), I could then phone 119 and find a centre that had a different type.

I am going to speak to both my surgery and MPN consultant next week.

I had hoped that Evusheld was going to come through for vulnerable people.

Thank you for raising this issue, how lucky we are to have this amazing forum to explore concerns.

Kind wishes Nellin

[NCB1983]

I’ve had the five vaccines so far and was advised that to get the best response you shouldn’t always have the same one. I’ve had three Pfizer and two Moderna so far. Side effects were pretty much the same with both for me… sore arm and a little under the weather.

[EPguy in reply to NCB1983]

If you want the most variety, you can consider the Novavax if it gets approved in UK. It is a very different tech and may have advantages.

[azaelea in reply to EPguy]

Thank you for all your information and thoughts on the various vaccines!

[EPguy in reply to azaelea]

I had initially thought Nova was already approved in UK, apparently not yet.

[Bluetop]

I have had AZ, Pfizer and then the 5th one was Moderna. Moderna was the only one I had a reaction to which lasted 24hr -just felt very stiff and achy. So I had been wondering what I should do about the new one -if its benefits are considered superior to the others, I am quite prepared to have another achy day, but I will be interested to hear what advice you get.

[tatty123]

Hi. Like a few others I’ve had two Az, two Pfizer and my most recent vaccine was Moderna.

I had no reaction at all to the Moderna which did surprise me.

Personally I’d happily have it again but everyone reacts differently to these vaccines.

As long as it does the job then go for it otherwise see if you can have a Pfizer vaccine.

Xxx

[Hopetohelp]

I like you have some concerns as it is an adapted vaccine.

[Oscarsboy]

Yes I am very unsure as to this also, as a friend has recently been hopitalised for over a week following the Moderna booster. She was unwell for a week following but it affected her heart rate and blood pressure and has taken her quite a while to recover. Hence makes me wary too. I have had Pfizer with no problems and would rather stick to that as a preference.

[azaelea in reply to Oscarsboy]

Yes, I tend to agree with you as I have heard of this kind of serious reaction with Moderna and quite a few others with bad, but not such reaction as your friend. If Pfizer is still available I’ll go for it again.

[CraftySpider]

Hi Azalea, like you I have concerns about this one as my last single Moderna shot wiped me out for a whole month. I asked my GP practice about a choice of vaccines, as I was fine with the Pfizer ones..but was basically told that we don’t have a choice !

[azaelea in reply to CraftySpider]

That is ridiculous! We should have a choice. I did a lot of hunting around my area for who was doing Pfizer for last one and was successful at drop in caravan in our village in the end!

[ainslie]

I have had 3 vaccines and no probs, Astra and two Pfiz and I am in favour of vaccines that work. But not in favour of getting multiple vaccines that may not be effective. What I haven’t got my head round is how this new vaccine will help us, as EP Guy said it designed to have 50% Wuhan and 50% BA 1, as far as I can see Wuhan is gone and just a few cases of BA 1 are left. They say any vaccine is better than none, I suppose I need to see the science behind that.

[azaelea in reply to ainslie]

Yes, I agree. I thought the Wuhan one had changed to Omicron and then there were at least two BA numbers with this. Hope we’re not all to be Guinea pigs!

[MWxxxx]

Yes, I had a bit of a feeling of dread when I heard we were the first country to approve this new vaccine. And I guess as some of the most vulnerable we will be the first to try it out. My 6 months since my last vaccine will be up in September so feeling very nervous about it. I don't always respond well to vaccines and I've had some unusual side effects with the pfizers I have had in the past (also get some odd side effects from flu vaccines too). I've never had moderna but I have also heard that you get more protection by having different ones. I was offered either moderna or pfizer last time but I chickened out and went for pfizer again - better the devil you know! From what they were saying on the news, I got the impression that this will be the vaccine for this winter so I don't think there will be any choice.

[azaelea in reply to MWxxxx]

Hi, yes, I don’t think we’ll have a choice either. I know someone who did mix Pfizer and Moderna and was very I’ll when she had the Moderna so I’m glad you and I stuck to the devil we knew!

[Serge___]

I got stronger side effects from Moderna, but they last for one day. Never been so happy to feel bad. At least I know the vaccine was working.