FDA Approves Booster Shot for People with Weakened Immune Systems

[ivinsfan]

So my 30 something year old children (and their spouses) cannot get the booster. However if they were obese and smoked they could. Isn't this discriminating against healthy people?

This whole vaccination process has been a disaster since the beginning.

Give it a rest why don't you..

 

[Sojourner]

So my 30 something year old children (and their spouses) cannot get the booster. However if they were obese and smoked they could. Isn't this discriminating against healthy people?

No, it's not discriminating against healthy people. It's public health officials, in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic, trying to make complex decisions regarding vaccine availability, efficacy, safety, and risks. The decision does not allow healthy 30 year olds to get a booster (unless they work in high risk jobs like hospitals, etc.), since there is very little scientific data or evidence to support healthy young adults getting boosters at this time. There is, however, strong evidence to support older adults and those with health risk factors getting a booster.

This whole vaccination process has been a disaster since the beginning.

Again, we are in the middle of the greatest global public health crisis in 100 years, and the situation is in constant flux. IMHO, we should all be grateful that we (in this country) have free access to a full course of the most effective types of vaccine against COVID (mRNA). Just because every single adult isn't currently eligible for a booster dose does not mean the whole vaccination process is a "disaster". Take a look at the situation in Africa for some perspective. Only 3-4% of the people living in Africa have been fully vaccinated, compared to around 60% of us here in the U.S.

 

[travelover]

I signed up for a 3rd shot on Wednesday. My state has not made it official for 65+ yet, but I figured it is best to get in line.

 

[PaunchyPirate]

I signed up for my booster shot today for October 1st. This will be the local hospital system’s first Pfizer clinic in a while and they will offer first, second or boosters. Alternatively, their affiliated pharmacy does a signup process and will do shots when at least 10 people sign up. Also, another non-chain local pharmacy group is offering the booster at a clinic tomorrow. It’s about 45 minutes away. Had I not already signed up for October 1, I would have driven down to the one tomorrow.

 

[becca]

You cannot deny it's totally chaotic and confusing. When I went to bed last night healthcare workers, frontline workers and teachers were not recommended for boosters, wake up this morning and that's changed. And what about the people who are waiting for their Moderna or JNJ boosters? Is there a date for that?

There needs to be a consistent policy with everything rolled out at the same time for all people rather than piecemeal. Now it's if you get this vaccine, if you are this age, if you have this condition, if you have this job.....who can keep track of this. All this confusion is just reinforcing the anti-vaxxers stance.

Also testing....after over 1 1/2 years of covid, in some places finding a test and timely results is still difficult.

 

[audreyh1]

You cannot deny it's totally chaotic and confusing. When I went to bed last night healthcare workers, frontline workers and teachers were not recommended for boosters, wake up this morning and that's changed. And what about the people who are waiting for their Moderna or JNJ boosters? Is there a date for that?

There needs to be a consistent policy with everything rolled out at the same time for all people rather than piecemeal. Now it's if you get this vaccine, if you are this age, if you have this condition, if you have this job.....who can keep track of this. All this confusion is just reinforcing the anti-vaxxers stance.

Also testing....after over 1 1/2 years of covid, in some places finding a test and timely results is still difficult.

It’s confusing because there are two government agencies involved and they each have their advisory committees of outside experts who make recommendations, but the government agencies aren’t bound 100% by what the advisory boards recommend. The process is transparent because that’s how it has been done for a long time under non-emergency situations. The pandemic situation just makes it much more visible in the news and many people are anxious anyway. In this situation that level of transparency made it more difficult.

Honestly, those campaigning against the vaccine are always going to find something to point their finger at.

So far a piecemeal approach has been used because the fact is that the risks are not the same for everyone, so they make recommendations by outlining risks with respect to age and other pertinent factors. We each have to evaluate our risks and make our health decisions accordingly.

 

[anethum]

You cannot deny it's totally chaotic and confusing.

Well, I'm going to deny it. When I went to bed last night, I knew that CDC Director Walensky had the final say regarding the somewhat conflicting advisory votes from the FDA panel and the CDC panel. I also knew that for all of the vaccines, 6 months after the final dose was probably going to be the earliest that anyone would be approved for a booster. I also knew that Pfizer was the 1st vaccine to get EUA and the only one to have formal approval at this time. And I knew that both Moderna & JnJ have only recently provided data to the FDA which will allow the agency to go forward to study the data and make recommendations regarding boosters. These agencies have strict protocols which they follow, for everyone's safety. Because I pay attention to the processes the FDA & CDC follow, I haven't found things confusing insofar as booster vaccinations are concerned.

I also watched much of the discussions that the advisory panels had this week regarding Pfizer booster doses. There was science and data behind their recommendations. Ultimately, the decisions largely came down to observed risk and evidence as to who would benefit significantly from boosters.

While there was chaos in the early days of covid vaccination when doses were in short supply and with different states and counties following different rules, that hasn't been an issue for many months now that the supply of doses in the USA is exceeding the demand.

 

[explanade]

It’s confusing because there are two government agencies involved and they each have their advisory committees of outside experts who make recommendations, but the government agencies aren’t bound 100% by what the advisory boards recommend. The process is transparent because that’s how it has been done for a long time under non-emergency situations. The pandemic situation just makes it much more visible in the news and many people are anxious anyway. In this situation that level of transparency made it more difficult.

Honestly, those campaigning against the vaccine are always going to find something to point their finger at.

So far a piecemeal approach has been used because the fact is that the risks are not the same for everyone, so they make recommendations by outlining risks with respect to age and other pertinent factors. We each have to evaluate our risks and make our health decisions accordingly.

I don't know why they let those deliberations be open to the public, even covered by the media.

Just put out the press release after they've made the final decision.

In any event, most things where you see how the sausage is made isn't going to be pretty.

 

[audreyh1]

I don't know why they let those deliberations be open to the public, even covered by the media.

Just put out the press release after they've made the final decision.

In any event, most things where you see how the sausage is made isn't going to be pretty.

I think it’s simply how things had been done in the past to keep the process transparent when the situation wasn’t nearly so urgent or dire.

It’s definitely tougher during a pandemic amid a big delta outbreak.

But if they had met in a non-public you can bet there would be people complaining about the break in tradition and that they must have something to hide. You can’t win.

 

[Calico]

Well, I'm going to deny it. When I went to bed last night, I knew that CDC Director Walensky had the final say regarding the somewhat conflicting advisory votes from the FDA panel and the CDC panel. I also knew that for all of the vaccines, 6 months after the final dose was probably going to be the earliest that anyone would be approved for a booster. I also knew that Pfizer was the 1st vaccine to get EUA and the only one to have formal approval at this time. And I knew that both Moderna & JnJ have only recently provided data to the FDA which will allow the agency to go forward to study the data and make recommendations regarding boosters. These agencies have strict protocols which they follow, for everyone's safety. Because I pay attention to the processes the FDA & CDC follow, I haven't found things confusing insofar as booster vaccinations are concerned.

I also watched much of the discussions that the advisory panels had this week regarding Pfizer booster doses. There was science and data behind their recommendations. Ultimately, the decisions largely came down to observed risk and evidence as to who would benefit significantly from boosters.

While there was chaos in the early days of covid vaccination when doses were in short supply and with different states and counties following different rules, that hasn't been an issue for many months now that the supply of doses in the USA is exceeding the demand.

+1 on every single count. Excellent summary.

 

[Calico]

I just scheduled my booster online at the CVS website. Easy peasy. There were multiple daily appointments available at dozens of CVS locations near me.

This signup was 1000% easier than the signup for the original vaccinations back in Jan/Feb 2021. And the location is much more convenient - right down the street.

I had to provide the usual data (name, address, medicare insurance info, DOB, date and type of second Covid vaccination) as well as answer the usual questions about recent Covid exposure/symptoms/treatment, any allergies, etc. I then immediately received a confirmation email, including a link to change or cancel the appointment if I need to.

The first available appointments at the CVS three miles from my house were on Monday, 9/27, but I scheduled mine for Saturday, 10/2.

I have my routine biannual oncology follow-up appointment on 10/1. A small percentage of folks experienced enlarged lymph nodes after their initial series of Covid mRNA vaccinations, and I don't want there to be any confusion about possible swollen lymph nodes at my Onco follow-up appointment!

Now I will just keep my fingers crossed that I do not experience the same level of physical misery that I did for 2-3 days after my second Pfizer vaccination back in February. If I do, so be it. It still beats getting Covid.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Calico, I was pretty sick for 3 days after my second Pfizer shot also. Not looking forward to the booster but I am getting it.

 

[Calico]

Calico, I was pretty sick for 3 days after my second Pfizer shot also. Not looking forward to the booster but I am getting it.

Same here.

Maybe we will both get lucky this time and experience nothing more than a sore arm. Good luck!

 

[Teacher Terry]

Good luck and yes it’s so much better than Covid).

 

[tmm99]

Well, I'm going to deny it. When I went to bed last night, I knew that CDC Director Walensky had the final say regarding the somewhat conflicting advisory votes from the FDA panel and the CDC panel. I also knew that for all of the vaccines, 6 months after the final dose was probably going to be the earliest that anyone would be approved for a booster. I also knew that Pfizer was the 1st vaccine to get EUA and the only one to have formal approval at this time. And I knew that both Moderna & JnJ have only recently provided data to the FDA which will allow the agency to go forward to study the data and make recommendations regarding boosters. These agencies have strict protocols which they follow, for everyone's safety. Because I pay attention to the processes the FDA & CDC follow, I haven't found things confusing insofar as booster vaccinations are concerned.

I agree with everything you're saying. The only problem I see is that people who never paid attention are now paying attention (without knowing the process) and getting confused and upset.

 

[harllee]

My 2 shots were Moderna and Moderna has not been approved yet for the third shot (unless you are immune compromised). Anybody got any info on the schedule for approval of Moderna third shot?

 

[Alan]

My 2 shots were Moderna and Moderna has not been approved yet for the third shot (unless you are immune compromised). Anybody got any info on the schedule for approval of Moderna third shot?

A half dose of Moderna has been approved in the UK for a booster shot.

FDA authorization is underway I believe. (Article is dated Sep 8)

https://www.verywellhealth.com/moderna-half-dose-booster-5200546

Moderna is seeking FDA authorization for a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine for the general public.
Data presented by the company indicates that a booster shot containing half the initial dosage is effective at creating a strong immune response.
If the half dose is authorized, Moderna could potentially ramp up its global vaccine supply.

 

[explanade]

Novavax is said to be scaling up production, after struggling to establish supply chains.

They showed good efficacy data a few months ago.

They will seek approval and their strategy as a latecomer may be to get approval as booster.

That or maybe they will sell most of their production to the developing world.

 

[MichaelB]

<mod note> Some posts were removed that were sarcastic and might might lead to confusion. This is intended as a helpful thread.

 

[audreyh1]

Novavax is said to be scaling up production, after struggling to establish supply chains.

They showed good efficacy data a few months ago.

They will seek approval and their strategy as a latecomer may be to get approval as booster.

That or maybe they will sell most of their production to the developing world.

Because “last mile” distribution is such a big deal in parts of the world, any vaccine that only requires normal refrigeration is very important.

 

[monte1022]

I got round three of pfizer two days ago. My only "side effect" was a slightly sore arm for one day. Injections #1 and 2 left me feeling lethargic for a few days.

 

[Koolau]

A half dose of Moderna has been approved in the UK for a booster shot.

FDA authorization is underway I believe. (Article is dated Sep 8)

https://www.verywellhealth.com/moderna-half-dose-booster-5200546

Keeping my fingers crossed that this is approved as we both took Moderna vaccinations.

 

[audreyh1]

Moderna vaccine didn’t show nearly as much immunity waning (for hospitalization) after 120 days as Pfizer did. It had almost no change at all.

 

[travelover]

Has anyone seen an estimate of how long it takes for the Pfizer booster shot to take full effect?

 

[anethum]

Has anyone seen an estimate of how long it takes for the Pfizer booster shot to take full effect?

"The latest study evaluated 1.1 million Israelis over the age of 60 who had received their first two doses at least five months earlier. Twelve or more days after receiving a third jab, participants were about 19.5 times less likely to have severe COVID-19 than were people in the same age group who had received only two jabs and were studied during a similar time period."

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02516-4