Covid booster tomorrow

[Jigsawlass]

Hello all, I haven't yet had Covid ...in the minority I'm sure. We are off to Italy on Sunday so I was delighted to get a follow up letter today after my last rheumy appointment saying I am eligible for a booster .Have booked one for tomorrow. Anything I need to look out for ? First 2 jabs and booster were all fine. Tender around the site but nothing else of note re side effects .

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Where are you off to? Have you said?

[Jigsawlass in reply to PMRpro]

We are off to Ostuni in the Puglia region . We haven't been to that part of Italy before. Very much looking forward to it as we love Italy

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jigsawlass]

I like Puglia - I have friends from Andria who work in Bari, They hosted a meeting and we saw some places then and later we spent Christmas with them and saw a few more. We'd wanted to see more when at the meeting and had our caravan with us to do so - but it was over 40C so retreated further north! Hope the weather is kind!

[Jigsawlass in reply to PMRpro]

It looks lovely-a rooftop terrace and private indoor jacuzzi to cool off in the basement!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jigsawlass]

Pictures required!!!!!

[herdysheep]

Do check the requirements for your vaccine passport. I think you need 2 weeks after booster before they issue it. That was April when I discovered it trying to help a friend. Scraped through with a day to spare!

[Jigsawlass in reply to herdysheep]

Hi , I've checked entry requirements no proof of vaccine etc needed for Italy at all . FFP2 masks needed on transport but no other restrictions

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jigsawlass]

Many of us up here in the north wear our FFP2 masks a lot more than just on public transport!!!! Especially with a lot of tourists around...

[herdysheep in reply to Jigsawlass]

That's good. My experience was before a lot of the relaxing of regs. I needed the cert for travel

[HeronNS]

I had a second booster after being triple Pfizered, and deliberately chose Moderna as it seems repeated vaccines with same one are subject to the law of diminishing returns. Although Pfizer had been mostly non-events other than the usual sore arm, Moderna knocked me out for a day, it was like all my bones had been removed I was so limp. As suddenly as it came on it lifted and I was fine after 24 hours. Better than fine because my pred taper seemed much easier afterwards. Had this shot in mid-May.

[Jigsawlass in reply to HeronNS]

I have a completely empty diary tomorrow and Thursday so will take note and take to my bed if needs be!

[Exflex in reply to HeronNS]

Quickly searched on-line and the renowned virologist Dr Google says Pfizer is 30ug whereas Moderna is 100ug, ie over 3x the dose. (Both are mRNA and antagonise the immune system with the Wuhan spike.) My daughter, a fit 35 year old, informs me she is wiped out when she gets Moderna and she’s had 3 in total. Having had 2x AZ and 1x Pfizer I would be pleased to receive the Moderna. But more pleased if I were to receive the updated vaccine tailored to the Omicron variant, even BA.5.

[Seacat30 in reply to Exflex]

I read that they only give a half dose of Moderna as a booster.

[Exflex in reply to Seacat30]

I think I read that too, way back. But 50ug is still getting on for double Pfizer at 30ug.

[Seacat30 in reply to Exflex]

I have had 2 x AZ (PMR developed 5 days after the first), 1 Pfizer (very sore arm) and 1 Moderna (PMR type pain for several weeks). I hope the winter jab will be a new type.

[Exflex in reply to Seacat30]

Essentially the same as it’s predecessor, differing only in the instruction set to enlist our cell machinery to churn out spike proteins with the nucleotides of the Omicron BA.2 spike. The reports I’ve read indicate it will be an adequate fit to the BA.5 spike mutations, but not perfectly. So expect to get infected even with the updated vaccine, but hopefully not to become so ill. But SARS-Cov-2 being an RNA virus easily mutates, as we’ve seen, so expect a new variant any time soon. There’s only one way to protection, and that’s to vaccinate everyone on planet Earth. Each time an individual becomes infected the virus replicates, and with each replication (there will be billions in a single human) there’s the attendant risk of mutation. Those of us who are immunocompromised are at greater risk, and pose a risk to the wider community because of the possibility of break through leading (potentially) to vaccine resistance.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Seacat30]

In certain circumstances - studies showed half produced the same response - so why use a whole if you can save money ...

"If you have Pfizer (or AstraZeneca, in rare cases) as your booster, you will receive one full dose of the original vaccine.

If you receive Moderna as a booster, you may receive a half dose of the original vaccine, as this has been shown to be very effective."

[PMRCanada in reply to Seacat30]

Indeed I only received half a Moderna dose for my booster as I was on under 10mg of pred at the time. First two vaccinations were Moderna and both full dose. Ironically I felt the worst after the half dose booster?? It was a 4 day recovery with some PMR like symptoms thrown in.

[HeronNS in reply to PMRCanada]

Interesting. I hadn't even thought about it, but, yes, the Moderna booster approved in Canada is half dose, the same dose as offered to children 5-11. The little ones are getting a quarter dose. My granddaughter had her first dose a week or so ago and apparently has been fine. The grandson will have to wait as he and his parents have all recently recovered from covid. I find it fascinating that the lowest response to the vaccine is in chidren between 2-5, only 37%, whereas the higher dose given to children 6-11 was very effective, close to 100%.

[HeronNS in reply to Exflex]

My daughter, who did contact tracing in Ontario for a year (she was working for Public Health at the time) told me Pfizer had decided to produce a vaccine just strong enough to work, and Moderna one that was just weak enough to be safe, or words to that effect. Could be why the initial Pfizer dose for small children was ineffective? Our little ones are able to be vaccinated now and I believe so far it's only Moderna, but that could be because they have the supply.

[HeronNS in reply to Exflex]

Wouldn't we all!

[Dochaz]

I had Pfizer for my booster. No ill-effects whatsoever this time, not even a sore arm. First jab, also Pfizer, nothing apart from a sore-ish arm. Second one (again Pfizer) really sick for a day, blinding headache, nausea, exhaustion. Third one, Moderna, limp as a wet dishrag for a day.

Enjoy your hols 🌞

[Pixix]

Enjoy your hols…we stayed at Alberobello & explored the area using local train, mainly. We had a day at Ostuni, & enjoyed it a lot…watched a wedding in the big square there!

[Jigsawlass in reply to Pixix]

We are planning a trip to Lecce on the train and have a vineyard tour with wine tasting and a meal booked. Looks like a lovely area

[Pixix in reply to Jigsawlass]

Lecce is lovely, we stayed there for a week on a different holiday! Recommend fig & honey ice cream, small gelateria in the main pedestrianised street! S x

[Jigsawlass]

Jab done, the pharmacy was expecting a delivery of Moderna but none arrived so I had Pfizer instead. Arm feeling a bit dead atm so I am resting .

[PMRnewbie2017]

I've had five jabs. Two AZ, two Pfizer and one Moderna. Sorry to say though, I caught Covid two weeks ago whilst on holiday and have been very unwell despite being put onto Paxlovid (anti-virals) immediately after I tested positive and submitted my test result via the NHS app. So please beware just because we've been vaccinated several times doesn't mean we won't get it. Also take enough Pred with you to follow the Sick Day Rules incase you fall ill while away.Have a lovely trip x

[MrsNails in reply to PMRnewbie2017]

I’ve had the same regime of Vaccinations as yourself & apart from the first Pfizer, when l was just a bit washed out, l’ve been fine 🙏🏼

Just had the letter from the hospital to tell me to have the Spring Booster 🤦🏻 I had it in June!

Sorry to hear you caught Covid on Holiday, fingers crossed so far but almost everyone l know has had it recently!

Hope you recover quickly 🍀

[HeronNS in reply to PMRnewbie2017]

It's tales like yours which encourage me to keep on wearing a mask when in public.

[yogabonnie]

Have a great time! I havent had covid yet either. but then also have had 5 Pfizer shots!! had antibodies tested a month after last one and have lots. Course they go down fast. Off to Sweden soon which will be the test as they are totally unmasked etc. and numbers going up. I wear masks everywhere and never go inside a restaurant. ! fingers crossed.