Declining antibody levels after one month: Wha... - CLL Support

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Declining antibody levels after one month: What now ?

ikahan profile image
13 Replies

My husband ( with CLL and on acalabrutinib) had his first 2 Moderna shots in Jan and Feb 2021 with no anti spike protein antibody detected. At the end of Sept 2021 he got a Moderna vaccine again as his 3rd dose. On Nov 3rd ,6 weeks later, his antibody level was measured to be 1450 U/ml. On Dec 13 we measured it again and it had dropped to 950 U /ml. Since this is a significant drop in only one month he is thinking of getting another 4th vaccine very soon which would be only 3 months from his 3rd one. Cases in Ontario are going up very fast and he will be left with little protection in a couple of months assuming a linear decrease. We also would like to travel to the US to spent some time with our grandkids.

Is a 4th vaccine now a good idea ? Has anybody here had a 4th vaccine less than 6 months after the 3rd ?

Thank you

Ileana

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ikahan profile image
ikahan
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13 Replies
Pin57 profile image
Pin57

I did n twice.

Suggest consult with your docs on doing it early.

Mine supported Phizer shots 2 & 3 only 3 months after I had shot 1. Shot 1 (J&J) had quickly waned to 100 U/mL in under 2 months. But luckily shots 2&3 skyrocketed antibodies to >2500 U/mL. I’m in early W&W, no treatments yet.

Then got shot 4 (another Phizer) 2 weeks less than 6 months because of oncoming Omicron and the heavy Delta surge where I live.

No side affects from the “early” shots. Maybe lucky? Well in between shots 3 and 4, I took flu, tetanus, shingles and pnemonia shots, spacing them just a few weeks apart. It seems to have work just fine multiple shots piled up.

Again, suggest check with your docs on any vaccines your wanting to get (and when) to be sure it’s ok for your case, your situation. Good luck!

Psmithuk profile image
Psmithuk

In the UK we have been told to get a 4th dose 3 months after the third, if that helps.Chrisx

ikahan profile image
ikahan in reply to Psmithuk

Thank you very much for your reply, do you have a link to the advice for the 4th dose in UK ?

Ileana

Psmithuk profile image
Psmithuk in reply to ikahan

I have read about it on here, but as it is relevant to the UK you may find they have different protocols in Canada.I understand that we should be getting a letter from our Health minister in Wales if we are registered as blood cancer patients.

Chrisx

Ibru profile image
Ibru

My husband had his third Pfizer in August. Antibodies checked at Labcorp last week showed 94 -- very poor. So, he went for a fourth Pfizer shot yesterday, four months after the third shot. The doctor didn't say to do it. We didn't ask. We just did it based on low antibodies.

ikahan profile image
ikahan in reply to Ibru

Thank you

KimBXL profile image
KimBXL

Hi there!

I am located in Belgium on W&W since I was first diagnosed in 2013.

I got my first Pfizers in Feb/April this year without any effect = zero antibodies.

My doctors over here told me that I have to live with it... so I took my situation into my own hands and got a third Moderna n June and forth Moderna in July.

Two weeks after my fourth my antibodies were up at 14.000 AU/ml. From there I had them checked on a monthly basis - the waning was "impressive": 7.000 after one more month, then 5.000, 2.000 in November.

I then took a 5th Moderna shot end of November and we checked two weeks ago = antibodies were at 28.000 AU/ml.

My conclusion is that the boosters work very well, but I am counting on getting refreshers every 6 months from now on (hope the government is playing along - here in Belgium they are so slow and reluctant).

Loads of greetings and hope this helps!

ikahan profile image
ikahan in reply to KimBXL

Thank you

HopeME profile image
HopeME

Hi ikahan:

I asked the same question yesterday. Please review the responses on the link below as well. Good luck!

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

Best

Mark

ikahan profile image
ikahan in reply to HopeME

Thank you

New-bee-cell profile image
New-bee-cell

Hi!I am a fellow Ontario resident.

When I read about Omicron, waning immunity and the fact that provincial government is advising (as of tomorrow) all 18+ persons get booster if it has been 3 months since 2nd, I went and got a 4th dose (I consider the first 3 = 2 primary doses in healthy, non-compromised).

I did this without physician input as I believe that not including Watch & Wait folks as immune compromised doesn’t make sense. I had significant difficulty booking booster appointments for my family members this past Friday as my local Public Health Unit was entirely unprepared and understaffed for the new government directive. Maybe they have figured it now.

If not, and he decides that he wants a booster, try heading to a pop-up clinic where they do walk-in’s without an appointment. Or try phoning small, local pharmacies.

Best of luck to you both!🤞🤞🤞🤞

ikahan profile image
ikahan in reply to New-bee-cell

Thank you

lankisterguy profile image
lankisterguyVolunteer

Hi ikahan,

-

I got the 4th shot yesterday (3 months after my 3rd), but will only learn of my antibody level from the 3rd shot in a few days. I found a chink in our system by narrowly answering only the questions asked and NOT volunteering any information. -

See healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

-

Len

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