This Is Why I'm Getting the Updated Covid Shot Next Weekend - Primary Care Doc 🥼

[appalachiablue]

Daily Kos, Aug. 27, 2024. (407 Recs, 164 Cmts).

Image: IMG_0170.png
The family tree of coronavirus misfits

I’m getting the new updated Covid vaccine as it rolls out this week. As a primary care doc, I don’t accept money, hot dogs, or even face to face time with drug representatives. And I know that all vaccines have potential side effects. But Science keeps watching for safety and efficacy, and the CDC, ACIP, and FDA weigh known risks against known benefits.

Bottom line: the CDC has advised everyone aged six months and older to receive the 2024-2025 Covid-19 vaccine - now if they haven’t been infected in the past 3-4 months. Last week the FDA approved the mRNA offerings from Pfizer and Moderna, while they are still reviewing the data from Novavax as of this writing. I hope you will find this post helpful when you need to make your own decision, or to engage with someone who is saying the CDC is totally corrupt, incompetent, or just a shill for pharma.

CDC and FDA are certainly not perfect, but consensus and policy derived through expertise is better than performative cherry picking from self-proclaimed, contrarian, individual experts online. Read on. Granted, this is an easier decision for me as I do not react strongly to these vaccines. Some people are knocked out for days, and a quite small number have absolutely experienced serious adverse reactions.

But for most people, the benefits outweigh the risks, hence the consensus guidelines and authorization.

Assuming I don’t contract Covid this week, I am currently scheduled to roll up my sleeve next weekend at a local Philly CVS to start priming my immune system against these newer variants. Although the mRNA vaccine we can get now is targeting the KP.2 variant, and the currently cresting wave has KP.3 and KP.3.1.1 making up 54% of infections (with KP.2.3 coming in 3rd at 14%, and KP.2 down to just 3%), the updated shots are still much closer to what’s going around than my last shot in the fall of 2023... https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/8/27/2265917/-This-is-why-I-m-getting-the-updated-Covid-shot-next-weekend-x1f91e

[Irish_Dem]

1. I'm getting mine tomorrow.

I have a busy September and don't want to get sick.

[appalachiablue]

2. Good for you, smart! Thanks for replying.

[Clouds Passing]

3. I'm getting mine hopefully with a week.

[Deuxcents]

4. I get my shots in September so I'll be making my appointment soon.

I’ve had all my flu shots, Covid n boosters and thankfully, I’ve been healthy n no side affects.

[Alliepoo]

5. Wonder how long you have to wait if

You’ve had Covid recently?

[Bleacher Creature]

6. That's my exact question.

I had it last week so I'm thinking that I'll get my booster closer to Thanksgiving, which may work out well as the timing could align with the next wave.

[TBF]

7. I just got the email from CVS this afternoon -

I'm immune-suppressed due to meds so I keep up with these and the flu shots. I also need the 2nd shingles shot so that will be 3 for me in Sept/Oct timeframe. It does make it easier now that CVS does these and we can schedule through the app or their website rather than having to make yet another doctor's appointment.

eta - in the email CVS did say they have the new Covid vaccine. I'm in a metro area (Houston, TX) but I would imagine if they are rolling it out it will be going to smaller cities as well very soon.

[appalachiablue]

14. Thanks for the info, best.

[redstatebluegirl]

8. I am scheduled to get mine on Friday.

I will also get a flu shot!

[Native]

9. I just got my shot today even tho I just got over my 2nd bout of Covid about a month ago..

They say you can wait for up to 3 months after getting covid because of natural immunity; however, natural immunity didn't do squat for me. I had my first ever bout of Covid mid May, was sick for 3 weeks, and then I got it again mid July. The new strains are very efficient when it comes to evading our immune systems. That's likely why guidelines say we only have to wait until we have recovered.

[Tumbulu]

10. Oh, I am recovering from my first ever Covid attack

and it has been hell! I came down with it hard - in bed for 2 weeks before finally testing negative. Another 10 days and I am still barely functional. Weird issues with walking and utterly slow motioned brain speed. Yikes, good to know that one does not need to wait the three months to get the updated vaccine.

My doctor had advised waiting for this new vaccine as I have had all of the previous ones.

Everyone claimed that this version going around was more mild. If that is true, I guess I would have been hospitalized with a previous version! I am at maybe 1/10 th normal capacity at nearly the 4 week mark. A younger neighbor who is also a farmer has had Covid three times ( up to date with vaccines), and he said this one was worse than previous ones. Maybe it is different enough to evade previous immunities?

Thanks for the useful info! Sorry to share too much information!

[Native]

11. I totally get it. I also figured I would have been hospitalized

if it weren't for the vaccine. I had a high fever for an entire week, was flat on my back for two weeks, and still sick enough to not go out at the 4 week mark. When I got it again in July, I had the same symptoms, just truncated. I was much better after 1 week though I still had some lingering nasal drip for almost 3 weeks. A netti pot helped immensely, and with both bouts my doc had me on antibiotics to treat what was likely a secondary infection. My doc was mostly concerned about my getting long Covid since the risk of that increases with each infection. My pharmacist said the guidelines she was pulling up recommended waiting at least 28 days from onset of symptoms before getting the vaccine
but that's not what the current CDC guidelines say, and my husband's pharmacist said you just shouldn't be sick when you get it. Definitely see what your doctor recommends. I'm in Florida where it's really bad, so I had to take that into consideration too. The brain speed thing is a bitch. Oh, I also had hair loss with the 2nd round. Good times! Keep taking it slow and don't get too discouraged...you'll get it all back. 🙂

[Tumbulu]

12. Thank you for the help!

I am so shocked at how debilitating it has been. Every one of the six times I was boosted I had a full day of pain- would be stuck in bed. Then a few days of just feeling bad. So, my system seems to be so very unable to fight this virus well.

Thanks sincerely again for the encouragement!

[appalachiablue]

15. Good to know, thank you. TC

[Alliepoo]

16. Do they mean recovered in the sense that

Symptoms have eased-no fever etc- or recovered and not still testing positive on home tests? I had Covid over a week ago. The worst for me was the fever and chills for a couple of days. OTC cold meds took care of other symptoms. Felt much better after 3 days, fever all gone and feeling fine now. I just keep testing positive on the home tests though. Wonder if I can still get the new booster while testing positive?

[central scrutinizer]

13. My pharmacy said two weeks

But I’ll check again