How long has it been since you received your last Covid shot?
If you mean Shots 1 and 2, I got 2 March 30 and 1 was 3 weeks before that. I signed up for the vaccine in late January on my states website.
Truthfully Iām so disappointed that a vaccine for a pandemic has become a political issue.
Jane, so just having Type 1 diabetes was a good enough reason for a third shot? I want to get one, but have read different articles about whether diabetics are eligible for a third shot yet. I had my second one in March. I am 70. I rarely go out and when I do I am masked.
Basically most adults qualify for the 3rd booster. My husband got one just because he had his card for the first two. I donāt overthink the necessity for a 3rd booster. If you want one call your pharmacy. You donāt need a prescription or letter of medical necessity.
The Government canāt blame me in anyway for hospitals filling up with patients from COVID-19.
1 Like
Thanks for that report, Jane. Iām curious since the only info Iāve read about Covid boosters is to wait until 8 months following an initial full vaccination. I have no idea where that 8-month time period came from, whether it was scientifically arrived at or simply one that will enable smoother logistics for the entire population.
Iām also disappointed that vaccinations during a pandemic that has killed more than 650,000 US residents has taken on political dimensions. Itās good to see that the covid booster was available to you.
I will get one as well but Iām unsure whether Iāll wait for that 8-month period to elapse or get it sooner. I donāt think thereās any harm in getting the booster prior to the 8-month period expires. Iāve taken a good deal of comfort in relying on my covid vaccinations.
T1Ds are not eligible for a third shot (considered part of the initial vaccination series, no need to wait 8 months) because of being immunocompromised, unless other reasons apply. All adults are eligible for a booster shot 8 months after their second Pfizer/Moderna shot though, including diabetics.
My understanding is that you just need to say/sign that youāre immunocompromised in order to get one - at least in my area. You donāt need any kind of referral or prescription from a doctor.
Iād like to wait to hear the FDAās āgo aheadā because I donāt fall into the immunocompromised category, and Iām pretty young. I would like higher protection for the holidays, so waiting until October or early November is not a big deal for me.
If I were over age 65 and had diabetes, then Iād look into getting one.
At this point, I know several people whoāve had breakthrough infections. One developed pneumonia and was pretty sick, but did not need to be hospitalized. Another was moderately ill (he was considered high risk due to a heart condition). The others had symptoms that were milder. They all have recovered.
Iām not going to put too much thought into it as itās too politically motivated on all sides at this point. If my doctor, who I trust, recommends it Iāll do so and Iāll not waste my limited brain power on that particular topic
2 Likes
Hi everyone,
My understanding is that those over 65 years of age, and those considered to be immunocompromised are eligible for a booster, and thatās pretty much it. Do I know of people who got the J&J whoāve boosted on their own? Yep. But officially, from my understanding of what the FDA approved, itās those two criteria. Other than that, when people are saying the vaccines are political, do you mean whether to get one or not (ie, not) is political? This is what Iām very very familiar with, as we all are. Or is it something else, like about the three types of vaccines?
The FDA authorized boosters for those over 65 only yesterday. They also authorized it for high risk populations, but havenāt defined āhigh riskā (at least not that I can find). It may be left to the doctorās discretion. It seems reasonable that people with type 1 would be included in that group.
Thanks for that quick clarification.
I just watched President Bidenās press conference (September 24, 2021) dealing with this issue. It looks like those now eligible for Covid boosters include both people over the age of 65 and those with certain underlying medical conditions which includes those with diabetes, both T1D and T2D.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html
If you click on the underlying medical conditions link, it brings up an alphabetical list of those conditions which includes this one:
Only the Pfizer vaccine is currently approved for the booster dose but itās expected that the Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines will receive this designation in the weeks to come. I will take the Moderna booster when my turn arises.
2 Likes
I havenāt watched Bidenās press conference, but Iāve been closely following the booster authorizations/recommendations by the FDA and CDC.
The FDA didnāt define high risk, but the CDC does on their website. The FDA vs CDC panels had slightly different authorizations/recommendations regarding those with underlying conditions. Perhaps the FDA was implicitly using the CDC definitions of high risk.
It is all happening pretty quickly for the Pfizer vaccine- which Iām pleased about. Iām concerned that the lack of safety data on the boosters for the other vaccines will impact authorizations/recommendations for boosters for people who received those vaccines - though it does appear Modernaās efficacy is overall holding up better than Pfizerās. The vaccines have been administered to so many people now. I am really not concerned about the safety of a booster dose (I recognize that Iām obviously not an authority); I hope that doesnāt cause delays.
I am glad that the CDC has defined high risk clearly on their website. I will hit my 6 month mark since my second Pfizer dose on 9/29/21. I plan to schedule a booster for after that date as soon as the CVS website allows for it. There currently appear to be a lot of appointments available in my area.
4 Likes
I just scheduled my third shot for Sunday. There were two appointments available.
1 Like
Iām scheduled for December, 9 months from my first injection.
But I wonder if you really want one, why canāt you go to a Walgreens and say I need my first shot.
I donāt think itās really necessary, but if you canāt seem to get one, you could do that.
They offer me a Covid shot every time I go into a pharmacy.
I was wondering if I had to stick with the same vaccination brand that I took for my initial series; I found this question at an FAQ section of a CDC.gov website:
1 Like
What You Need to Know from CDC
- CDC recommends that the following groups should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTechās COVID-19 Vaccine at least 6 months after completing their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series (i.e., the first 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine):
-
people aged 65 years and older
-
residents aged 18 years and older in long-term care settings
-
people aged 50ā64 years with underlying medical conditions
-
- CDC also recommends that the following groups may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTechās COVID-19 Vaccine at least 6 months after completing their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks:
- people aged 18ā49 years with underlying medical conditions
- people aged 18ā64 years at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting
- These recommendations only apply to people who previously received a Pfizer-BioNTech primary series (i.e., the first 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine).
- People can talk to their healthcare provider about whether getting a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shot is appropriate for them.
āIf you got the Pfizer vaccine in January, February or March of this year and youāre over 65 years of age, go get the booster, or if you have a medical condition like diabetes or youāre a front line worker, like a health care worker or a teacher, you can get a free booster now,ā President Joe Biden said.
Diabetes type 1 and 2 are included as well as hypertension in addition to other cardiac diseases.
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot | CDC
I am scheduled for Sunday. The appointments are easy to get now.
My medical centers where I got my first 2 is suggesting going to retail pharmacies.
Last I heard, the Moderna was maintaining its protection for longer than the Pfizer. Moderna will probably be approved for a booster by the time its recipientsā immunity wanes.
Moderna just announced a half dose booster. And waiting for FDA to approve it
If You Got Moderna, Fauci Warns Against Getting a Booster Right Now (bestlifeonline.com)
āFauci also acknowledged that he doesnāt foresee any safety complications arising for people who received a third shot of the 100 microgram doseā.
Another mixed message aimed at the general public but not necessarily at PWD. I plan to get the Moderna 3rd shot at 100% soon before they proceed with this half dose plan.