I will get super powers eventually, right?

KidDoc, any thoughts on getting the vaccine if you have high antibody levels already? I had covid 16+ months ago and was recently antibody tested. I had S Protein > 2500 and N Protein = 100. Not sure it makes any sense for me to get vaccinated, or if there is any associated risk given my titers?

Just FYI - received an email from TX Children's yesterday. They are offering boosters to adults and children who meet the following criteria:

If you or your child received both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, you have one of the conditions listed by the CDC, and it has been at least 28 days from your second dose, it is recommended that you receive an additional dose. If you have questions about your medical condition and getting an additional dose, please contact your provider. If you are immunocompromised and received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, further guidance from the CDC is expected in the coming days.

Link to CDC criteria: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html

TXTransplant said:

---

Just FYI - received an email from TX Children's yesterday. They are offering boosters to adults and children who meet the following criteria:

If you or your child received both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, you have one of the conditions listed by the CDC, and it has been at least 28 days from your second dose, it is recommended that you receive an additional dose. If you have questions about your medical condition and getting an additional dose, please contact your provider. If you are immunocompromised and received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, further guidance from the CDC is expected in the coming days.

Link to CDC criteria: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html

---

So 28 days for "severe" risk?

8 months for "normal" risk?



I actually have started watching CNN a bit to see what they are saying....they had one of their recurring doctors on and he is even admitting the CDC and the White House are being extremely inconsistent and unclear at this moment. Apparently the CDC had a call yesterday or the day before and was telling people no real need for booster at this point in time. I guess that changed...or maybe just people within the CDC are being inconsistent....

I just put it out there in case anyone who is high risk has decided they need another shot but don't know where to go to get one.

No further comment from me, other than the CDC criteria for high-risk does cover some pretty severe conditions.

TXTransplant said:

---

I just put it out there in case anyone who is high risk has decided they need another shot but don't know where to go to get one.

No further comment from me, other than the CDC criteria for high-risk does cover some pretty severe conditions.

---

Sorry. I wasn't questioning or going after you and if it came across that way with the reply i apologize.

Anyone elderly / high risk needs to start convos now with their doctors and I think its fair to highlight the guidance you linked.

I am just pointing out how wildly inconsistent all this stuff is that even the CDC, internally, does not appear to be presenting a clear and consistent message. It is frustrating.

No worries. I didn't think you were. I just decided to post that in case someone else brought it up.

And I agree, the inconsistency in messaging is SO frustrating. However, I'm learning this is pretty common for a lot of medical conditions. Those conditions just aren't as widespread and don't affect as many people as this virus. So, we aren't as aware of it.

TXTransplant said:

---

No worries. I didn't think you were. I just decided to post that in case someone else brought it up.

And I agree, the inconsistency in messaging is SO frustrating. However, I'm learning this is pretty common for a lot of medical conditions. Those conditions just aren't as widespread and don't affect as many people as this virus. So, we aren't as aware of it.

---

And I agree with your second point. I mean people get cancer, etc and go for a second opinion for a darn good reason. No one size fits all approach works. I just wish those in control would understand that too. Not everyone NEEDS the vaccine. Not everyone NEEDS to wear a mask. I wish we could stop with the mandates and simply present information in a non-pushy way. It would make a HUGE difference in response to these vaccines.

Article about Israel's experience. Makes sense that the most high-risk would be the ones who got the earliest doses, and now are most in need to a booster.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/17/covid-vaccine-booster-shots-nih-director-says-new-israel-data-is-building-case-in-the-us.html

Continue to be astonished at how uniformly bad our health officials have been at keeping people intelligently informed during this entire process.

KidDoc, apologies if you have addressed this in prior posts - I searched and didn't see anything.

We have an 11-yr old who will be turning 12 in the spring. He is healthy, normal weight, plays sports, is involved in boys scouts, etc. Can you share your thoughts about having him vaccinated when he is eligible? (Which could before he actually turns 12 if they change the guidelines.)

My wife and I and our parents have all been vaccinated - we believe in science, yada yada. However, from what I gather, his risk from covid would be very low. So my wife and I aren't sure our thoughts at the moment.

Thanks in advance.

jenn96 said:

---

Article about Israel's experience. Makes sense that the most high-risk would be the ones who got the earliest doses, and now are most in need to a booster.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/17/covid-vaccine-booster-shots-nih-director-says-new-israel-data-is-building-case-in-the-us.html

Continue to be astonished at how uniformly bad our health officials have been at keeping people intelligently informed during this entire process.

---

You're really astonished? Really?? When actions are politically motivated and each side is just itching to find something to throw in the face of the other, this is what you get! (Sorry if that was too F16, but think about it!?)

dylan said:

---

Just heard that the Biden administration is going to recommend people get booster shot eight months after their second or last vaccine shot. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/16/us/vaccination-booster-shots.html

---

I believe it is doctors recommending it. Wasn't it fairly clear when the vaccine was being developed that boosters would be required or it would be built into the flu vaccine going forward and would need to be re-upped at least annually? That was kind of always my understanding we understanding.

ec2004 said:

---

KidDoc, apologies if you have addressed this in prior posts - I searched and didn't see anything.

We have an 11-yr old who will be turning 12 in the spring. He is healthy, normal weight, plays sports, is involved in boys scouts, etc. Can you share your thoughts about having him vaccinated when he is eligible? (Which could before he actually turns 12 if they change the guidelines.)

My wife and I and our parents have all been vaccinated - we believe in science, yada yada. However, from what I gather, his risk from covid would be very low. So my wife and I aren't sure our thoughts at the moment.

Thanks in advance.

---

He's generally said he advises those under 25 with some forms of comorbidities to get it. If 100% healthy he suggests it's not needed. Specifically, he's cited the chance of myocharditis in boys being the main issue and although the chances are slim, so are any serious affects of covid in that age.

On the other hand, a pediatrician friend just had her two boys as part of one of the trials.

KidDoc said:

---

Here is a good article, with no data, that agrees with my "sure why not" decision making process by the feds. It says the data should be released within a week.

Troubling CDC vaccine data convinced Biden team to back booster shots (msn.com)

It actually conflicts with real data I can find from a CDC slide stack June 23 which showed likely long term immunity from severe disease.
Overview of data to inform recommendations for booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines (cdc.gov)

Honestly I think recommending boosters at this point, outside of 65+ and immunosuppressed, is a bit of a panic move. But really hard to give an educated point of view since they are still hiding the data for some odd reason.

---

The seeming confusion from the CDC and the Biden Administration even drew mention during some of the market talk on CNBC this morning. My sense is the real answer is mostly "we don't know" as to a lot of this. However, that is not a useful answer for many.

I found it interesting you used the word "Panic" above. In looking for the latest Israeli data on 3rd dose boosters I came across an article that left me thinking the same thing. Panic or Desperation seems to be the tone of this article from Monday:

A grim warning from Israel: Vaccination blunts, but does not defeat Delta
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/08/grim-warning-israel-vaccination-blunts-does-not-defeat-delta


There are at least two facets to "Panic." One can "feel it." But one can also "induce it."

Perhaps it is too obvious to point out there are enormous political and financial bets that have been placed around the World in regard to whether "Vaccines are the Solution" will prove true. Likewise, it may not be very profound to suggest panic and desperation may not produce the best science.

Interesting read about declining immunity. Dr. checked my antibodies at 3 months and 6 months post vaccine and they are dropping pretty rapidly and consistent with what is indicated in the article. According to this article natural immunity drops just as rapidly. It is pretty simple blood test to find out where you stand if deciding when to get the booster.

https://www.technologynetworks.com/diagnostics/blog/an-antibody-test-that-quantifies-covid-19-vaccine-protection-349150

BillyFaucci! said:

---

Interesting read about declining immunity. Dr. checked my antibodies at 3 months and 6 months post vaccine and they are dropping pretty rapidly and consistent with what is indicated in the article. According to this article natural immunity drops just as rapidly. It is pretty simple blood test to find out where you stand if deciding when to get the booster.

https://www.technologynetworks.com/diagnostics/blog/an-antibody-test-that-quantifies-covid-19-vaccine-protection-349150

---

Wouldn't this type of test discount the immune response offered by T Cells and memory B cells? Waning antibodies don't necessarily indicate a complete lack of immunity (or the ability of the lymphatic system to produce a robust response), right?

GAC06 said:

---

Some people are starving for "guidance"

---

i mean they literally had people on tv giving lessons how to wash their hands...

I had COVID in January and tested negative for antibodies yesterday. It was an ecotest Antibody test, so it's likely not as accurate as a blood test. But it's interesting anecdotal info.

CowtownEng said:

---

BillyFaucci! said:

---

Interesting read about declining immunity. Dr. checked my antibodies at 3 months and 6 months post vaccine and they are dropping pretty rapidly and consistent with what is indicated in the article. According to this article natural immunity drops just as rapidly. It is pretty simple blood test to find out where you stand if deciding when to get the booster.

https://www.technologynetworks.com/diagnostics/blog/an-antibody-test-that-quantifies-covid-19-vaccine-protection-349150

---

Wouldn't this type of test discount the immune response offered by T Cells and memory B cells? Waning antibodies don't necessarily indicate a complete lack of immunity (or the ability of the lymphatic system to produce a robust response), right?

---

Correct. CDC is still trying to figure out what level of antibodies equates to protection from mild and severe disease. T cell activity is more costly and difficult to measure so is not an easy measure for public health. B Cells produce antibodies which is what titers measure so titers are roughly a measure of B cell activity. T Cells are more for cytokine recruitment and general "generals" vs soldiers in the immune army.

Just recovered from a mild case of COVID a few weeks ago. So I will not be getting a booster of my Pfizer vaccination from January.

Feels like they are just punting at this point.

Fenrir said:

---

cisgenderedAggie said:

---

t - cam said:

---

torrid said:

---

Feels like they are just punting at this point.

---

Why? The virus is mutating. Shouldn't be a larger surprise that they think additional coverage is needed.

---

The virus is mutating so re-inoculate with the same epitopes it's mutating around?

---

This is my issue. We aren't talking about giving a booster specifically designed for Delta, we're talking about injecting more of the same vaccine that Delta is evading to some degree inside of people. Seems like ever increasing dosages of the same exact vaccine for a mutating virus will both have increased side effects as well as run into issues of diminishing returns. I've never been anti-vaccine but if the plan is just to keep injecting the same thing over and over despite reduced efficacy and presumably less reliable data about how the ever increasing dosages impact people, I'm probably gonna sit it out with my current dosages for now.

---

That's a good point. I believe someone earlier mentioned your immunity fades over time. Maybe it's just fading faster than they thought? I never thought we wouldn't have to re-up the vaccine at some point so I'm not terribly Surprised. I get my flu vaccine ever year. Add this one to the list.

Fenrir said:

---

You also don't get the same flu vaccine every year.

---

Valid, there is plenty of evidence that this vaccine works for all variants. I guess they just want to boost the strength.

t - cam said:

---

Fenrir said:

---

You also don't get the same flu vaccine every year.

---

Valid, there is plenty of evidence that this vaccine works for all variants. I guess they just want to boost the strength.

---

A guess isn't good enough for this. It must be supported by clear, transparent evidence and a justification of benefit that outweighs the cost of making doses available to those that are already protected instead of others that aren't. This is a pandemic (pan=world). We are nearly saturated with willing vaccine recipients in this country and nature can take care of the rest. An argument for addressing the pandemic in this way runs blind to legitimate statements about global health equity and ensuring that the virus is best addressed worldwide.

I can see no avenue for how a third dose of the same thing does not undercut the scientific and medical reasoning of multiple arguments, but I've come to expect nothing less from the *******s that are in charge.

This is exactly what I'm skeptical about. I'm a huge advocate of vaccines. And when the idea of boosters started rolling around, I expected future shots to be some different version. I was dumbfounded when they officially recommended boosters for all populations after 8 months. Except J&J, who I think a Moderna shot would do a lot of good for...

I'm sitting this out as well until I have better evidence for the need or they have a variant specific booster that provides better protection against infection and transmission.

My wife is immune-suppressed, so we're getting a blood test to see what her numbers look like before deciding.

This is just a tough sell and muddies the message even more when what we really need is people getting their first 2 shots. Just like the masking messaging. This distracts from the message and gives anti-vaxxers another talking point. I've already personally heard "Why would I get the first one if it doesn't work? I'd rather have natural immunity."