Just 7% of adults 2% of kids took the new COVID booster
November 4, 2023 11:20 AM Subscribe
A Winter of Low COVID Vaccination Will Probably Seem Fine – Until we start to see the longer-term consequences of missed shots Missed vaccinations still translate into more days spent suffering, more chronic illnesses, more total lives lost—an enormous burden to put on an already stressed health-care system
Archive link.
I just got my covid booster this week, because I got it with my flu shot, which I tend to get at the end of October/beginning of November. I do wonder how many people would have gotten the covid booster but didn't because they get their flu shot earlier in the fall when supplies of the new vaccine were still low.
Plenty of vaccine appointments at the local chain pharmacies now, if anyone's been meaning to get their covid shot before the holidays ramp up.
posted by the primroses were over at 11:36 AM on November 4, 2023 [15 favorites]
I just got my covid booster this week, because I got it with my flu shot, which I tend to get at the end of October/beginning of November. I do wonder how many people would have gotten the covid booster but didn't because they get their flu shot earlier in the fall when supplies of the new vaccine were still low.
Plenty of vaccine appointments at the local chain pharmacies now, if anyone's been meaning to get their covid shot before the holidays ramp up.
posted by the primroses were over at 11:36 AM on November 4, 2023 [15 favorites]
The impact of lockdown has a longer memory than the impact of Covid illness and death, I think. Human beings are very good at dismissing and rationalizing their actions (myself included, obviously).
Me, I’m up to 5 shots now and I’ve already done my flu shot so hurrah! If I was American I could be a 7 percenter.
It’s an Atlantic link btw so you might have to search for an alternate link to read the whole thing
posted by ashbury at 11:42 AM on November 4, 2023 [10 favorites]
Me, I’m up to 5 shots now and I’ve already done my flu shot so hurrah! If I was American I could be a 7 percenter.
It’s an Atlantic link btw so you might have to search for an alternate link to read the whole thing
posted by ashbury at 11:42 AM on November 4, 2023 [10 favorites]
Serves me right for not doing a preview. Thanks for the link, primrose
posted by ashbury at 11:43 AM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by ashbury at 11:43 AM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
(Here's an Atlantic gift link that might work for folks.)
posted by box at 11:46 AM on November 4, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by box at 11:46 AM on November 4, 2023 [5 favorites]
I had an appointment for the booster for today. I tested positive for COVID19 on Thursday. I am visiting my sister’s family but have managed to stay isolated in her basement. No one else has test positive or has symptoms so that is good.
I am on the moderate end of being sick but very much hoping that I am turning the corner. Definitely recommend the booster over this.
posted by ugf at 11:46 AM on November 4, 2023 [15 favorites]
I am on the moderate end of being sick but very much hoping that I am turning the corner. Definitely recommend the booster over this.
posted by ugf at 11:46 AM on November 4, 2023 [15 favorites]
It's weird - In October I saw multiple articles about how the latest vaccine rollout had a lot of hiccups and many people found it hard to get. Now we're barely into November and suddenly it's the public's fault that so few people have gotten it??
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:48 AM on November 4, 2023 [79 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:48 AM on November 4, 2023 [79 favorites]
Yeah, I’m no different either. Getting my flu and Covid shots on Monday, but tonight I’m gonna go out and drink/smoke my face off in crowded bars. It’ll probably be fine, unless there are longer-term consequences I’m not seeing yet!
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:49 AM on November 4, 2023
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:49 AM on November 4, 2023
There's been absolutely no public awareness (that I'm aware of) in my area, either. I only found out that the booster was available through my mom, who follows news about Covid very attentively. If you're not actively looking for information about Covid, it's almost completely disappeared from the radar.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 11:52 AM on November 4, 2023 [20 favorites]
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 11:52 AM on November 4, 2023 [20 favorites]
The updated booster had only been available to me as a hospital employee through my employer for two weeks.I got my flu and need to go grab my covid next. It hasn't been available very long and I'm definitely not alone in that.
posted by AlexiaSky at 12:02 PM on November 4, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 12:02 PM on November 4, 2023 [8 favorites]
Yeah, our pediatrician's office just got the booster, and it's not even available at our usual location. Getting this for adults hasn't been too bad, but getting your kids vaccinated remains bullshit.
posted by phooky at 12:03 PM on November 4, 2023 [18 favorites]
posted by phooky at 12:03 PM on November 4, 2023 [18 favorites]
I had COVID in July. A few weeks ago I read an article that quoted some doctor saying one should wait 6 months after an infection to get the booster. Elsewhere in the same article, it said not to wait so long. Thanks once again, public-health-journalism complex, for the clear and unambiguous guidance.
posted by jerome powell buys his sweatbands in bulk only at 12:03 PM on November 4, 2023 [27 favorites]
posted by jerome powell buys his sweatbands in bulk only at 12:03 PM on November 4, 2023 [27 favorites]
I'm glad the article talked about the chaotic rollout. In the US, the first two years of vaccination were all single payer public health. You went and got a shot and it was effectively free and bureaucracy-free. The federal government covered the cost. Now we're back to the terrible private healthcare system where you personally, the pharmacy or clinic, your insurance, and the state and federal governments are all involved in arguing about who pays and how much. It's made getting a shot way harder for people in practice.
Every civilized country in the world has a system more like what we had the last 2 years with Covid vaccines. The one that worked for us. Why don't we just go back to it?
posted by Nelson at 12:06 PM on November 4, 2023 [81 favorites]
Every civilized country in the world has a system more like what we had the last 2 years with Covid vaccines. The one that worked for us. Why don't we just go back to it?
posted by Nelson at 12:06 PM on November 4, 2023 [81 favorites]
I'm fully vaxxed and boosted and got infected last week. I had to travel a lot for work, so had plenty of opportunities to be exposed.
Second infection. Not so rough as the first.
posted by doctornemo at 12:10 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
Second infection. Not so rough as the first.
posted by doctornemo at 12:10 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
It must be where you live. I’m in San Francisco, and I and my friend’s eight year old, went together to Kaiser and got both flu and Covid shots just by walking in and baring our arms, almost a month ago. His mother did this the day before at a different Kaiser while at work. Loads of prior notification about getting the jabs. This was the Pfizer jab, like we got before, as the Moderna one wasn’t available yet. Easy peasy. And free.
posted by njohnson23 at 12:12 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by njohnson23 at 12:12 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
(Mild derail: for folks who use browser plugins like uBlock Origin, or folks who are considering using them, the Atlantic is one of those sites whose paywall can be bypassed by just toggling off Javascript and reloading the page. This also works on many NYT pages and other sites. Just remember to support the journalism you want to see more of in whatever way you can.)
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 12:12 PM on November 4, 2023 [21 favorites]
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 12:12 PM on November 4, 2023 [21 favorites]
A few weeks ago I read an article that quoted some doctor saying one should wait 6 months after an infection to get the booster.I've definitely been considering just get it as the standard I'm going for, and have given up on trying to optimise timings. I have gotten COVID boosters with the flu shot a couple of years in a row now, around October, and it seems to be working.
posted by pulposus at 12:14 PM on November 4, 2023 [9 favorites]
I'm getting my flu shot this week but I'm waiting until I have a few days off in December to get the new COVID-19 vaccine. Every COVID vaccine/booster made my lymph nodes swell so badly on the side I got my shot that I couldn't put my arm down for two days. It's extremely painful and I can't work until it passes. I'm a fan of modern medicine and happy we have a COVID vaccine, but I have to plan around it.
posted by Stoof at 12:16 PM on November 4, 2023 [9 favorites]
posted by Stoof at 12:16 PM on November 4, 2023 [9 favorites]
what jerome powell buys his sweatbands in bulk only said - I just got through my first infection. I saw three months on a CDC website but it was also caveated with "up to..." and "check with your doctor" so I don't really know what to do, once again.
posted by stevil at 12:31 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by stevil at 12:31 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
I think it is due to three things:
1) non-availability over the past month or so
2) "waiting" to get closer to the holidays
3) "I thought COVID was over"...
I still always wear a mask in public, but I am in group #2 and #1. Will get one soon. As I'm heading off on a road-trip to LA on monday, and will be in way more public situations than in a long while, wish I could have gotten it a few weeks ago.
posted by Windopaene at 12:39 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
1) non-availability over the past month or so
2) "waiting" to get closer to the holidays
3) "I thought COVID was over"...
I still always wear a mask in public, but I am in group #2 and #1. Will get one soon. As I'm heading off on a road-trip to LA on monday, and will be in way more public situations than in a long while, wish I could have gotten it a few weeks ago.
posted by Windopaene at 12:39 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
It took quite a while after there were announcements about the new vaccine being available for it to become actually available in the local pharmacies here, due to whatever mystery of our health system. Once it was actually here, it was easy to get an appointment. Or at least, it was easy if you had a computer and were good with dealing with clunky online portals. Good luck if you were a person who doesn't have good internet, or aren't technologically savvy. By now we should be doing so much better.
All that said, I was surprised to see the headlines that uptake was so low this year. I would have thought there would be solid demand from people over 60 or 65, at least, even if everyone else ignored it.
posted by Dip Flash at 12:48 PM on November 4, 2023 [7 favorites]
All that said, I was surprised to see the headlines that uptake was so low this year. I would have thought there would be solid demand from people over 60 or 65, at least, even if everyone else ignored it.
posted by Dip Flash at 12:48 PM on November 4, 2023 [7 favorites]
It must be where you live. I’m in San Francisco, and I and my friend’s eight year old, went together to Kaiser and got both flu and Covid shots just by walking in and baring our arms,--njohnson23
It is hit and miss. I live down the peninsula from San Francisco, and went to Kaiser only to be met by a sign saying they ran out of Covid shots. Tried again, and it happened again--this time they put up the sign at the end of the line of people just as I was walking up.
I persevered and went a third time, but I can understand why many might not.
But there are more people in this area who want to get vaccinated (and can wear masks without being attacked), which led to early shortages. There's always the Patton Oswald trick (he used for the first Covid shot), where you go to a rabid anti-vax area and there is plenty of vaccine stock available.
posted by eye of newt at 1:00 PM on November 4, 2023 [9 favorites]
It is hit and miss. I live down the peninsula from San Francisco, and went to Kaiser only to be met by a sign saying they ran out of Covid shots. Tried again, and it happened again--this time they put up the sign at the end of the line of people just as I was walking up.
I persevered and went a third time, but I can understand why many might not.
But there are more people in this area who want to get vaccinated (and can wear masks without being attacked), which led to early shortages. There's always the Patton Oswald trick (he used for the first Covid shot), where you go to a rabid anti-vax area and there is plenty of vaccine stock available.
posted by eye of newt at 1:00 PM on November 4, 2023 [9 favorites]
It must be where you live. I’m in San Francisco ...
I too live in San Francisco. And also Grass Valley, where I got my shot. I got my shot at a local pharmacy the first or second day they were available. Went great for me! Three days later they were cancelling appointments and turning people away. My friends in SF all had a hard time getting the shot that first few weeks. No appointments, cancelled appointments. Kaiser also delayed getting shots to people, they were a week or two behind other pharmacies. Folks with Kaiser were not allowed to get reimbursed if they went to other pharmacies, Kaiser was insisting you get the shots at their facilities even as they didn't have them. This is all well documented, right where you live. And also in the Atlantic article we're talking about here. It happened.
Kaiser even explained the problem they had specifically being related to what I said, the shift to private healthcare payments.
I too live in San Francisco. And also Grass Valley, where I got my shot. I got my shot at a local pharmacy the first or second day they were available. Went great for me! Three days later they were cancelling appointments and turning people away. My friends in SF all had a hard time getting the shot that first few weeks. No appointments, cancelled appointments. Kaiser also delayed getting shots to people, they were a week or two behind other pharmacies. Folks with Kaiser were not allowed to get reimbursed if they went to other pharmacies, Kaiser was insisting you get the shots at their facilities even as they didn't have them. This is all well documented, right where you live. And also in the Atlantic article we're talking about here. It happened.
Kaiser even explained the problem they had specifically being related to what I said, the shift to private healthcare payments.
“All of this is temporary,” said Jen Kates, a senior vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation who is tracking vaccine access. “It is the first time they’re being commercialized. There are things that have to be put in place, so it is temporary. It is also the case that insurers have known this was going to happen for quite a while.”posted by Nelson at 1:05 PM on November 4, 2023 [8 favorites]
Just booked my husband's flu and Covid booster; I got mine in late June when I came across a public health pop-up vaccine tent during one of my Stupid Little Mental Health walks. I will likely be due again by the end of the year and will not hesitate to book. Because winter is coming here in Canada, I have resumed masking in public spaces because soon there will be so many people indoors bringing their crud with them.
posted by Kitteh at 1:07 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 1:07 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
I signed up for a COVID shot as soon as I could. First appoint was canceled because they didn’t have supply. Managed to get it about a week later. Most of my friends have reported getting the vaccine too. I still need to get my flu shot though because I wasn’t able to get that at the same time.
posted by jzb at 1:07 PM on November 4, 2023
posted by jzb at 1:07 PM on November 4, 2023
It was almost immediately available in our area, but if you weren’t a person who kept up to date with booster progress and news the release was so quiet. I have a parent that keeps (non-Fox) news and talk programs on all of the time and she learned about the new booster from me on September 12.
Then I had to nag her to make an appointment because she wasn’t keen on the side effects. And then she had trouble scheduling an appointment through the pharmacy portal and gave up. And on September 30 she tested positive. She got through just fine but this didn’t have to happen.
posted by kimberussell at 1:09 PM on November 4, 2023 [5 favorites]
Then I had to nag her to make an appointment because she wasn’t keen on the side effects. And then she had trouble scheduling an appointment through the pharmacy portal and gave up. And on September 30 she tested positive. She got through just fine but this didn’t have to happen.
posted by kimberussell at 1:09 PM on November 4, 2023 [5 favorites]
Got ours with flu shots a coupla weeks ago, made the appts a week or so before that, was easy as ever and free. Had seen the shitty numbers so was surprised when the pharmacist said they'd been steady busy every day giving boosters. It did lay us both low the next day, same as last time, just felt generally kinda shitty and low energy, but we'd planned accordingly so had a movie/naps/movie/naps day and felt fine the next morning.
posted by thecincinnatikid at 1:10 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by thecincinnatikid at 1:10 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Interestingly my 89 yrs old mother was told by her MD to first do her long-delayed shingles vax, then the RSV and then COVID, so her COVID shot probably won't happen until early Dec given the recommended spacing. No problem with appts though.
posted by beaning at 1:11 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by beaning at 1:11 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Been three or four weeks since I got my booster here in Savannah GA.
Only hiccup I ran into was that CVS wouldn't take my insurance for it so I had to reschedule to another pharmacy a day later.
High population of older folx in the area so maybe that's why it's been available her for 6 weeks?
posted by djseafood at 1:14 PM on November 4, 2023
Only hiccup I ran into was that CVS wouldn't take my insurance for it so I had to reschedule to another pharmacy a day later.
High population of older folx in the area so maybe that's why it's been available her for 6 weeks?
posted by djseafood at 1:14 PM on November 4, 2023
Oof. I don't think people are great at preventative health care, but I was expecting "low" to mean 20-30%, which I think is flu shot range (don't quote me on this). If people have gotten flu shots and not updated COVID shots, well, that feels like a real problem. The article had data that suggested only 8 percent of nursing-home residents got boosted. Absolutely wild.
I also wonder how much of a regional problem this is going to be. Like several other people in the thread, I live in the Bay Area and there was quite a bit of clamor for the shot rollout. I'm a Kaiser person so I just waited until they had it (start of October), but I know plenty of people who were eager to get the shots when they came out in September. And I know moms who drove an hour to get their kids vaccinated when they couldn't find the child vaccine locally. There's no way we're at 7%/2% where I live, so there must be a lot of places at 0%/0%.
posted by grandiloquiet at 1:23 PM on November 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
I also wonder how much of a regional problem this is going to be. Like several other people in the thread, I live in the Bay Area and there was quite a bit of clamor for the shot rollout. I'm a Kaiser person so I just waited until they had it (start of October), but I know plenty of people who were eager to get the shots when they came out in September. And I know moms who drove an hour to get their kids vaccinated when they couldn't find the child vaccine locally. There's no way we're at 7%/2% where I live, so there must be a lot of places at 0%/0%.
posted by grandiloquiet at 1:23 PM on November 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
Kaiser even explained the problem
Apologies if I created confusion. The quote is from someone at the Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-profit research organization. That is unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente, the HMO healthcare organization.
posted by Nelson at 1:25 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Apologies if I created confusion. The quote is from someone at the Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-profit research organization. That is unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente, the HMO healthcare organization.
posted by Nelson at 1:25 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Waited 40 minutes in a desperately understaffed CVS a few weeks ago for my vaccine. (Got covid and flu shots in one go, which alas didn't stop me from getting bronchitis this week.)
It seems like "desperately understaffed CVS" is more the norm than the exception these days, which makes getting vaxxed significantly more of a hassle than it ought to be - and perhaps more of a hassle than a person with a more complicated life and schedule can deal with.
posted by Jeanne at 1:30 PM on November 4, 2023 [12 favorites]
It seems like "desperately understaffed CVS" is more the norm than the exception these days, which makes getting vaxxed significantly more of a hassle than it ought to be - and perhaps more of a hassle than a person with a more complicated life and schedule can deal with.
posted by Jeanne at 1:30 PM on November 4, 2023 [12 favorites]
Given that it took me weeks of "yup, we have appointments available" ... "Canceling your appointment, we never actually got the vaccine shipment delivered, they aren't telling us why" to get mine (staying on top of it each day), and friends of mine are still unable to find a pharmacy with it in stock in Seattle... I'm not surprised it's this low. Even without all the insurance trouble, dismantling the civic system in favor of the famously operational "CVS or Walgreens, don't even think of trying to get it via primary care" approach has been a disaster.
(Online vaccine locators have been no help at all, to say the least)
posted by CrystalDave at 1:37 PM on November 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
(Online vaccine locators have been no help at all, to say the least)
posted by CrystalDave at 1:37 PM on November 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
desperately understaffed CVS
Aka CVS.
People really should start shoplifting more, maybe that will spur them to hire more people. Walgreens is only 5% better.
Anyway, I agree that the privization is the problem. All online info is non valid. You have to find the employee at the CVS pharmacy who knows the truck schedule, then got on the internet on your phone and make the (20 page long application) for an appointment according to that information l.
posted by eustatic at 1:57 PM on November 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
Aka CVS.
People really should start shoplifting more, maybe that will spur them to hire more people. Walgreens is only 5% better.
Anyway, I agree that the privization is the problem. All online info is non valid. You have to find the employee at the CVS pharmacy who knows the truck schedule, then got on the internet on your phone and make the (20 page long application) for an appointment according to that information l.
posted by eustatic at 1:57 PM on November 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
I got mine with my flue shot, but since I work for a hospital and get it through Occupational Health, my experience was identical to all my other covid shots.
posted by joannemerriam at 2:07 PM on November 4, 2023
posted by joannemerriam at 2:07 PM on November 4, 2023
Aren't CVS and Walgreens going on strike recently?
I hate to say this, but I'm so glad the Kaiser Family Foundation's finally changed their name. I'm soooooooooo sick of the confusion between the two Kaisers in every news article KFF gets quoted in.
My experience was to try to schedule a shot at CVS literally as soon as they allowed shots, then I found out the whole (a) Kaiser won't let you go elsewhere any more and (b) they wouldn't have shots for weeks thing, then was steaming mad. I finally got flu and covid shots at Kaiser around the beginning of October. So far, so good *knocks wood*
I think nobody cares if they get covid any more because they can't avoid getting covid and getting vaccinated a bunch of times does nothing to stop you from getting it, nobody cares if they get the booster/whatever it's called now, and it really doesn't help it if the cost and/or difficulty level has escalated to get them, because only the most driven are going to keep plugging away at it. I note my employer "requires" flu shots and covid shots, but they've decided to let people decline getting the boosters now, which, ughhhhhhhhh.
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:10 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
I hate to say this, but I'm so glad the Kaiser Family Foundation's finally changed their name. I'm soooooooooo sick of the confusion between the two Kaisers in every news article KFF gets quoted in.
My experience was to try to schedule a shot at CVS literally as soon as they allowed shots, then I found out the whole (a) Kaiser won't let you go elsewhere any more and (b) they wouldn't have shots for weeks thing, then was steaming mad. I finally got flu and covid shots at Kaiser around the beginning of October. So far, so good *knocks wood*
I think nobody cares if they get covid any more because they can't avoid getting covid and getting vaccinated a bunch of times does nothing to stop you from getting it, nobody cares if they get the booster/whatever it's called now, and it really doesn't help it if the cost and/or difficulty level has escalated to get them, because only the most driven are going to keep plugging away at it. I note my employer "requires" flu shots and covid shots, but they've decided to let people decline getting the boosters now, which, ughhhhhhhhh.
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:10 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
The pharmacists' 3-day walk-out ended (having begun Monday, Oct. 30).
My first booster appointment didn't happen. Made the appointment online, called ahead to see if the new formulation was in stock; was told, we don't have the new booster, and don't expect it in... um, we don't have the old booster, either... actually, we're closing, in four days.
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:26 PM on November 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
My first booster appointment didn't happen. Made the appointment online, called ahead to see if the new formulation was in stock; was told, we don't have the new booster, and don't expect it in... um, we don't have the old booster, either... actually, we're closing, in four days.
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:26 PM on November 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
I'm up to Covid booster....I dunno, five? Six? I kind of depend on my primary doctor to keep track of which one I need next, if any, and I couldn't quote you as to whether I've gotten the absolute latest or not.
There's a small chance that I could have slipped into a slightly-unvaccinated demographic due to the shuffle.
posted by gimonca at 2:44 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
There's a small chance that I could have slipped into a slightly-unvaccinated demographic due to the shuffle.
posted by gimonca at 2:44 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
I have not taken it because I cannot find it
Previously there were events at locations I could go to, or I could get it from my primary care doctor
Now, I have to make an appointment with either the one location of my medical provider that does it or make an appointment at a drug store
I still intend to get it but I can't just drop everything at work to go get it
People are taking it less because the powers that be have made it harder to get so they can pretend it's over
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:50 PM on November 4, 2023 [8 favorites]
Previously there were events at locations I could go to, or I could get it from my primary care doctor
Now, I have to make an appointment with either the one location of my medical provider that does it or make an appointment at a drug store
I still intend to get it but I can't just drop everything at work to go get it
People are taking it less because the powers that be have made it harder to get so they can pretend it's over
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:50 PM on November 4, 2023 [8 favorites]
Here in Vermont it has been very hard to find the booster. I got it the first week it came out, but I have friends who have been trying to book appointments for nearly a month. And, we just had a new article about how availability to clinicians has not yet kept up with demand. This is on the poor American health care system, not individuals who are looking to do something which should be simple (get the shot) but isn't.
posted by meinvt at 2:51 PM on November 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by meinvt at 2:51 PM on November 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
Our Nebraska CVS inside Target had them at the end of September, which was great as I was able to walk in and get it and the flu shot before I traveled internationally. Since then I’ve seen a few lines of people there waiting to get it, but I suspect it’s not a huge percentage of the population, despite being a purple spot in a red state.
posted by PussKillian at 2:56 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by PussKillian at 2:56 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
It must be where you live. I’m in San Francisco, and I and my friend’s eight year old, went together to Kaiser and got both flu and Covid shots just by walking in and baring our arms, almost a month ago.
I'm in Oakland, signed up at CVS the day they were available as I was going on a trip with 8 other people in a couple weeks. Kaiser said it wasn't available from them until the first week in October- after my trip. CVS cancelled on me the day before, though I was able to get a Walgreens appointment the same week. This was pretty much the same story for everyone I knew who got an immediate appointment at CVS. Of course because I have Kaiser I had to pay 150 bucks for the Covid vax at Walgreens. So yeah, it was not fun or easy to get a Covid vaccination right away in the Bay Area.
posted by oneirodynia at 3:12 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'm in Oakland, signed up at CVS the day they were available as I was going on a trip with 8 other people in a couple weeks. Kaiser said it wasn't available from them until the first week in October- after my trip. CVS cancelled on me the day before, though I was able to get a Walgreens appointment the same week. This was pretty much the same story for everyone I knew who got an immediate appointment at CVS. Of course because I have Kaiser I had to pay 150 bucks for the Covid vax at Walgreens. So yeah, it was not fun or easy to get a Covid vaccination right away in the Bay Area.
posted by oneirodynia at 3:12 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Here in Maryland, I was able to snag a shot for myself by walking into a Rite Aid, and my husband did the same.
My daughter's pediatrician had some boosters in stock, so I pulled her out of school early and rushed down.
We got our shots the week they came out.
There are definitely issues with both supply and sticker shock.
I know families who haven't been able to find the shot, and others who changed their minds when told it wasn't covered by insurance and the cost would be $150.
posted by champers at 3:17 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
My daughter's pediatrician had some boosters in stock, so I pulled her out of school early and rushed down.
We got our shots the week they came out.
There are definitely issues with both supply and sticker shock.
I know families who haven't been able to find the shot, and others who changed their minds when told it wasn't covered by insurance and the cost would be $150.
posted by champers at 3:17 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
I tried to get my COVID shot this week. I made an appointment for flu at CVS. No other options. A day later they sent me a text, 'get your covid, schedule here'. So I tried. And weirdly it only had an option for Tdap, which I already had last year. I give up. Next day, they text me again! "Get your flu shot!" Now this one I found weird as well I was already scheduled. I click anyway. Now I can see a whole list of shots to get including Moderna and Pfizer but the appointment times are all late afternoon on the day I have the flu shot. BUT at the top there's a box that says 'Looking for the Novavax shot? All our stores are fully stocked and no appointment needed' There was not option to pick it so I cancelled.
I go to CVS, check in, and ask about getting Novavax, and I'm told 'Did you make an appointment? ( The website wouldn't let me ) 'I only have vials of Novavax for those who made an appointment.'
So yeah. I'll try again for next weekend.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 3:20 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
I go to CVS, check in, and ask about getting Novavax, and I'm told 'Did you make an appointment? ( The website wouldn't let me ) 'I only have vials of Novavax for those who made an appointment.'
So yeah. I'll try again for next weekend.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 3:20 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
Oh and my Mom, who was not getting COVID this year because she had one last year, goes into her flu appointment at Rite-Aid, is offered Moderna COVID and gets both, no hassle.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 3:21 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 3:21 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
Here in Chicago there has been signage across the north sideo f the city since at least the beginning of October. My wife got her flu and COVID booster 2 weeks ago but couldn’t schedule them for my 3 kids.
Fast forward to this week Tuesday, I was able to make a group appointment at CVS for me and my 3 kids for both vaccines. The portal sucks, so many clicks and pages to work through, but I stuck with it. We ended up an hour early to the appointment but the pharmacist was able to get us in. Knocked me out for a day or so but glad to have protection before the busy holidays.
posted by photovox at 3:47 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
Fast forward to this week Tuesday, I was able to make a group appointment at CVS for me and my 3 kids for both vaccines. The portal sucks, so many clicks and pages to work through, but I stuck with it. We ended up an hour early to the appointment but the pharmacist was able to get us in. Knocked me out for a day or so but glad to have protection before the busy holidays.
posted by photovox at 3:47 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
If people have gotten flu shots and not updated COVID shots, well, that feels like a real problem
Obviously there’s a tremendous amount of individual variation in response but for me a flu shot is a “would I like a flu shot while I’m here? Sure, why not?” thing and a COVID booster is a “plan in advance which weekend I’d like to spend feeling like I’ve got the actual flu” thing so it’s not a massive surprise to me that it’s easier to talk people into one than the other, even ignoring the politicization and conspiracization.
posted by atoxyl at 3:49 PM on November 4, 2023 [6 favorites]
Obviously there’s a tremendous amount of individual variation in response but for me a flu shot is a “would I like a flu shot while I’m here? Sure, why not?” thing and a COVID booster is a “plan in advance which weekend I’d like to spend feeling like I’ve got the actual flu” thing so it’s not a massive surprise to me that it’s easier to talk people into one than the other, even ignoring the politicization and conspiracization.
posted by atoxyl at 3:49 PM on November 4, 2023 [6 favorites]
1) non-availability over the past month or so
2) "waiting" to get closer to the holidays
3) "I thought COVID was over"...
4) As usual not nearly enough messaging around it. A lot of people who don't particularly care don't know it's available and don't realize it's important (I know people who didn't even know that there were any boosters since the original one). And even here there was a recent AskMe where someone confidently claimed there was little added benefit in getting boosters - they believed the original vaccine provided enough protection, apparently indefinitely...
atoxyl, did you react badly to last year's booster? I got Moderna this year and last year, and even though I'd had pretty disruptive reactions for every shot before then, and was also used to scheduling them according to when I could have some downtime, I barely had any reaction at all to the latest two. I've heard similarly from a few other people too... Probably coincidence but it does seem like previous serious reactions don't predict future ones.
posted by trig at 4:07 PM on November 4, 2023 [5 favorites]
2) "waiting" to get closer to the holidays
3) "I thought COVID was over"...
4) As usual not nearly enough messaging around it. A lot of people who don't particularly care don't know it's available and don't realize it's important (I know people who didn't even know that there were any boosters since the original one). And even here there was a recent AskMe where someone confidently claimed there was little added benefit in getting boosters - they believed the original vaccine provided enough protection, apparently indefinitely...
atoxyl, did you react badly to last year's booster? I got Moderna this year and last year, and even though I'd had pretty disruptive reactions for every shot before then, and was also used to scheduling them according to when I could have some downtime, I barely had any reaction at all to the latest two. I've heard similarly from a few other people too... Probably coincidence but it does seem like previous serious reactions don't predict future ones.
posted by trig at 4:07 PM on November 4, 2023 [5 favorites]
I tested positive for COVID today. Got my booster three days ago. My husband and younger kid are also currently positive. My husband got his booster when I did, and tested positive the next day. Younger kid got her booster yesterday and tested positive today.
Older kid had tested positive last Saturday. One week ago. For a while the rest of us kept testing negative, I thought keeping our vaccine appointments might actually help keep it that way. Sadly, no. Too late, I guess.
I kept making and rescheduling appointments. I knew I could make my husband follow through better if I went with him (he doesn't love needles) and I knew it would be better to get my kids jabbed together because fairness/moral support/peer pressure etc. But one of the kids is under 12, and the vaccine for under 12 only JUST became available here. And I made mine and my husband's appointments for two weeks ago, because mid-October seemed like a good time... but my husband kept having meetings pop up that made me reschedule his. So -- too late!
I guess if I have a point it's that even some of us who had every intention of getting it have not managed yet. That it's still early in the season, and also... too late.
posted by OnceUponATime at 4:47 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
Older kid had tested positive last Saturday. One week ago. For a while the rest of us kept testing negative, I thought keeping our vaccine appointments might actually help keep it that way. Sadly, no. Too late, I guess.
I kept making and rescheduling appointments. I knew I could make my husband follow through better if I went with him (he doesn't love needles) and I knew it would be better to get my kids jabbed together because fairness/moral support/peer pressure etc. But one of the kids is under 12, and the vaccine for under 12 only JUST became available here. And I made mine and my husband's appointments for two weeks ago, because mid-October seemed like a good time... but my husband kept having meetings pop up that made me reschedule his. So -- too late!
I guess if I have a point it's that even some of us who had every intention of getting it have not managed yet. That it's still early in the season, and also... too late.
posted by OnceUponATime at 4:47 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
I've had, what - five, six? every single COVID shot at this point, all Moderna as it happens, and the most reaction I've had to any of them is feeling a little low on energy the next day. Generally the same goes for flu shots, and this year I got the flu and pneumonia shot at the same time with barely more reaction. It's made me wonder if I've been getting placebos all this time... I've yet to get COVID though, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:51 PM on November 4, 2023
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:51 PM on November 4, 2023
I've definitely been considering just get it as the standard I'm going for, and have given up on trying to optimise timings.
The attempt to optimize the timing is kind of like buying the dip. It's a foolish pipe dream to believe you can time your vaccination for just before you're exposed in order to be the safest. You can be exposed to covid-19 at any time! The optimal time for everyone to get the vaccine is right away. Even if you've had covid just a few months ago.
I believe the drive to try and time it is yet another a way establishing a sense of control over an essentially almost random invisible thing that is happening to people.
posted by srboisvert at 4:53 PM on November 4, 2023 [12 favorites]
The attempt to optimize the timing is kind of like buying the dip. It's a foolish pipe dream to believe you can time your vaccination for just before you're exposed in order to be the safest. You can be exposed to covid-19 at any time! The optimal time for everyone to get the vaccine is right away. Even if you've had covid just a few months ago.
I believe the drive to try and time it is yet another a way establishing a sense of control over an essentially almost random invisible thing that is happening to people.
posted by srboisvert at 4:53 PM on November 4, 2023 [12 favorites]
Obviously conditions are going to vary across the globe, but it's striking how many countries seem to be taking a different view of Covid risk at this point in the pandemic, especially for children. ATAGI in Australia doesn't think healthy people under 18 need this year's vaccine and only advises healthy adults under 65 to "consider" getting it. On the NHS in the UK only those over 65 or at high risk are eligible. Same for Ireland, where officials said “success of [previous] programmes has enabled us to live with Covid and, this year, we are able to scale back the number of people who require an autumn booster.” In France it's available to all but recommended only for those in high risk groups. Japan's health ministry is actively recommending it only to people over 65 and those with underlying health conditions. Canada's recommendations are the only ones I've seen so far that appear similar to the US.
Though I'm fortunate not to be in a high risk group, if there's a vaccine available I'll always be happy to get one. It was easy in NYC at Duane Reade last month. And I know it's great there are still lots of no-cost vaccine locations open to anyone here but that just speaks to the sheer number of vulnerable people in the city.
posted by theory at 4:53 PM on November 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
Though I'm fortunate not to be in a high risk group, if there's a vaccine available I'll always be happy to get one. It was easy in NYC at Duane Reade last month. And I know it's great there are still lots of no-cost vaccine locations open to anyone here but that just speaks to the sheer number of vulnerable people in the city.
posted by theory at 4:53 PM on November 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
I've had bad reactions with every COVID shot and continued to have a bad one this time around. (Moderna every time.) So although past reactions don't predict future ones, it's definitely not something those of us who get sickly feeling can just "wing it" if we have jobs or other obligations that aren't accommodating.
I've never gotten a reaction for a flu shot but the COVID ones knock me on my ass every time. COVID itself, the one time I got it, also knocked me on my ass for probably 4-5 days.
Regardless, I got my booster nearly as soon as they came out, though there were some supply issues. Haven't done the flu shot yet but will soon. (Doubled up last year but given my reaction to the COVID shot it seemed more prudent to spread them out... not sure if that was a good idea as now I'm struggling to get my shit together for the flu shot.)
posted by misskaz at 4:55 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
I've never gotten a reaction for a flu shot but the COVID ones knock me on my ass every time. COVID itself, the one time I got it, also knocked me on my ass for probably 4-5 days.
Regardless, I got my booster nearly as soon as they came out, though there were some supply issues. Haven't done the flu shot yet but will soon. (Doubled up last year but given my reaction to the COVID shot it seemed more prudent to spread them out... not sure if that was a good idea as now I'm struggling to get my shit together for the flu shot.)
posted by misskaz at 4:55 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
I felt fine after my last booster, maybe the last couple. My partner had a very sore arm and a hard lump at the injection site, but was relieved when I pointed out that the lump was a small ball of cotton under the bandaid. We joked about it becoming “cottonized.” I am not in the US, but we were traveling in late September, so we got boosted in early September, just before the latest version was available. It is interesting to keep an eye on the low uptake of the new vaccine, but it’s not obvious to me how problematic it really is.
posted by snofoam at 5:02 PM on November 4, 2023
posted by snofoam at 5:02 PM on November 4, 2023
Called my PCP as soon as the vaccine was out. "We won't have it until the middle of next month, soonest."
Got my flu shot from my employer; the COVID vaccine wasn't available from them either. Finally my employer announced COVID vaccine clinics, and I signed up immediately.
Then I got real sick with not-COVID, landed in the hospital for a week, and had to cancel my appointment.
I've made another appointment. I hope I can make it this time.
posted by humbug at 5:21 PM on November 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
Got my flu shot from my employer; the COVID vaccine wasn't available from them either. Finally my employer announced COVID vaccine clinics, and I signed up immediately.
Then I got real sick with not-COVID, landed in the hospital for a week, and had to cancel my appointment.
I've made another appointment. I hope I can make it this time.
posted by humbug at 5:21 PM on November 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
Obviously conditions are going to vary across the globe, but it's striking how many countries seem to be taking a different view of Covid risk at this point in the pandemic, especially for children. ... Canada's recommendations are the only ones I've seen so far that appear similar to the US.
Additionally, meanwhile much of the globe still has limited access to any of the current vaccines. That inequity remains pretty stark even as guidelines relax.
Saying this descriptively, with zero judgment or criticism: The difference in precautions and concern about covid described in comments in a lot of online spaces, especially in some of the AskMe threads that have happened, versus the general level of precaution and concern in the population is really striking. Most people really have moved on mentally. I flew the other week, and I'd be shocked if there were five people on the airplane with masks on, for example.
So with that little general concern, even the smallest of barriers to getting a vaccine would be enough to stop people, and clearly most of us are encountering larger barriers.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:26 PM on November 4, 2023 [6 favorites]
Additionally, meanwhile much of the globe still has limited access to any of the current vaccines. That inequity remains pretty stark even as guidelines relax.
Saying this descriptively, with zero judgment or criticism: The difference in precautions and concern about covid described in comments in a lot of online spaces, especially in some of the AskMe threads that have happened, versus the general level of precaution and concern in the population is really striking. Most people really have moved on mentally. I flew the other week, and I'd be shocked if there were five people on the airplane with masks on, for example.
So with that little general concern, even the smallest of barriers to getting a vaccine would be enough to stop people, and clearly most of us are encountering larger barriers.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:26 PM on November 4, 2023 [6 favorites]
Boosted, both Covid and Flu 💪
posted by bluesky43 at 5:43 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 5:43 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
I got busy and boy howdy what do you know? This time around the infection is hitting me like a truck. Get your boosters!
posted by tmt at 5:48 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by tmt at 5:48 PM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
Up here in Canada, the new variant wasn't available to the general public until this week. The at-risk population has had access for few weeks, so my whole family got it along with our flu shots.
Is it feasible at all to have a covid/flu vaccine cocktail? Merging it into the annual flu shot instead of being an additional shot that might not be on the same schedule would help with continued usage
posted by thecjm at 5:53 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Is it feasible at all to have a covid/flu vaccine cocktail? Merging it into the annual flu shot instead of being an additional shot that might not be on the same schedule would help with continued usage
posted by thecjm at 5:53 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
They had covid and flu shots going on at the same time at Kaiser. I got both at the same time. My impression is that the marketing of these things is that you get two shots every year instead of one, now.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:04 PM on November 4, 2023
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:04 PM on November 4, 2023
... it's striking how many countries seem to be taking a different view of COVID risk at this point in the pandemic, especially for children. ... On the NHS in the UK, only those over 65 or at high risk are eligible.
This point also was made in response to this question about whether to have young children get the booster shot. MeFites from the UK said that this policy has more to do with budget shortfalls and austerity measures in the UK government than with best COVID practices.
posted by virago at 6:16 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
This point also was made in response to this question about whether to have young children get the booster shot. MeFites from the UK said that this policy has more to do with budget shortfalls and austerity measures in the UK government than with best COVID practices.
posted by virago at 6:16 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
According to UKHSA data, it would take nearly one million boosters administered to people under 50 prevent a single hospitalization, at a cost of about 100 million GBP. It doesn’t take austerity measures to think that’s a bad value proposition.
posted by gngstrMNKY at 6:35 PM on November 4, 2023
posted by gngstrMNKY at 6:35 PM on November 4, 2023
I got mine today - had been putting it off until I had two consecutive days off. I usually feel like crap the day after so can’t do it if I have to be at work the next day. So far, so good!
posted by honeybee413 at 7:14 PM on November 4, 2023
posted by honeybee413 at 7:14 PM on November 4, 2023
My PCP’s office didn’t have the booster yet when I got my flu vaccine last month. Hopefully I will be able to get it at my next appointment on the 15th.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 7:20 PM on November 4, 2023
posted by Horace Rumpole at 7:20 PM on November 4, 2023
According to UKHSA data, it would take nearly one million boosters administered to people under 50 prevent a single hospitalization, at a cost of about 100 million GBP. It doesn’t take austerity measures to think that’s a bad value proposition.
I think you've confused number needed to vaccinate to prevent a death or severe hospitalization with hospitalization alone. Here's the report. You can see that for people from 15-50, assuming we're excluding immunosuppressed people, the number needed to vaccinate to prevent one hospitalization is somewhere around 1 in 37,000 on average.
But also, this analysis does not account for population level effects due to lower transmission. Although vaccination does not reduce transmission as much as we'd like, it certainly does lower the risk that a) you'll be infected if exposed and b) you'll pass it on to others if infected. Both of these lower the risk for everyone else.
Finally, being sick, even if you aren't hospitalized, is bad. People miss work, they miss school, they are miserable. Importantly, some of them get Long Covid. Reducing those outcomes is very valuable, both economically and to people's wellbeing. These kinds of calculations and arguments based solely on hospitalizations or deaths miss the major burdens of Covid and are designed to reach a certain conclusion by ignoring what's actually important.
posted by ssg at 7:36 PM on November 4, 2023 [33 favorites]
I think you've confused number needed to vaccinate to prevent a death or severe hospitalization with hospitalization alone. Here's the report. You can see that for people from 15-50, assuming we're excluding immunosuppressed people, the number needed to vaccinate to prevent one hospitalization is somewhere around 1 in 37,000 on average.
But also, this analysis does not account for population level effects due to lower transmission. Although vaccination does not reduce transmission as much as we'd like, it certainly does lower the risk that a) you'll be infected if exposed and b) you'll pass it on to others if infected. Both of these lower the risk for everyone else.
Finally, being sick, even if you aren't hospitalized, is bad. People miss work, they miss school, they are miserable. Importantly, some of them get Long Covid. Reducing those outcomes is very valuable, both economically and to people's wellbeing. These kinds of calculations and arguments based solely on hospitalizations or deaths miss the major burdens of Covid and are designed to reach a certain conclusion by ignoring what's actually important.
posted by ssg at 7:36 PM on November 4, 2023 [33 favorites]
Costco pharmacy offers covid vaccines, including Novavax. No membership needed. I imagine availability varies by location, but had no problem getting an appt or my choice of manufacturer.
posted by gryphonlover at 8:13 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by gryphonlover at 8:13 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
I can honestly state, getting a covid booster for my kids was a tremendous pain in the ass. But, after over a month of trying, we managed to get them each one yesterday. Walgreens was borked and wasn't scheduling kids, CVS was borked and wasn't scheduling kids, the regional hospitals / doctors didn't have any child doses until last Tuesday.
So, yeah, availability has been an issue, 2% seems right given the effort required.
posted by pan at 8:23 PM on November 4, 2023 [6 favorites]
So, yeah, availability has been an issue, 2% seems right given the effort required.
posted by pan at 8:23 PM on November 4, 2023 [6 favorites]
atoxyl, did you react badly to last year's booster?
They all knocked me out pretty good except the very first dose. Which would be three Moderna (including the first one) and one Pfizer (last year, thought I’d see if it made any difference but it didn’t seem to). Haven’t had the most recent one yet. I didn’t actually realize there was a Novavax targeting the XBB variants available too, now. Maybe I’ll try changing it up again.
(Have not, to my knowledge, had COVID, so I can’t do that comparison!)
posted by atoxyl at 9:13 PM on November 4, 2023
They all knocked me out pretty good except the very first dose. Which would be three Moderna (including the first one) and one Pfizer (last year, thought I’d see if it made any difference but it didn’t seem to). Haven’t had the most recent one yet. I didn’t actually realize there was a Novavax targeting the XBB variants available too, now. Maybe I’ll try changing it up again.
(Have not, to my knowledge, had COVID, so I can’t do that comparison!)
posted by atoxyl at 9:13 PM on November 4, 2023
Only hiccup I ran into was that CVS wouldn't take my insurance for it so I had to reschedule to another pharmacy a day later.
yeah taquito boyfriend & I had gotten used to going together for our boosters, we had a flight coming up so I booked an appointment at Walgreens based on "how early can we get in somewhere beforehand"
didn't realize they actually care about your insurance covering it now until we were at the appointment; my plan is CVS-only
fortunately the pharmacist on duty did some bureaucracy magic with the computer system that I did not understand at all & got me a shot, but uh yeah heads up to anyone else with an inflexible pharmaceutical plan that this is a thing now
posted by taquito sunrise at 10:51 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
yeah taquito boyfriend & I had gotten used to going together for our boosters, we had a flight coming up so I booked an appointment at Walgreens based on "how early can we get in somewhere beforehand"
didn't realize they actually care about your insurance covering it now until we were at the appointment; my plan is CVS-only
fortunately the pharmacist on duty did some bureaucracy magic with the computer system that I did not understand at all & got me a shot, but uh yeah heads up to anyone else with an inflexible pharmaceutical plan that this is a thing now
posted by taquito sunrise at 10:51 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Additionally, meanwhile much of the globe still has limited access to any of the current vaccines. That inequity remains pretty stark even as guidelines relax.
Yep.
Here in South Africa we got the initial vaccines in 2021, and 1 booster early in 2022.
Nothing since then. We never got the bivalent vaccine at all.
The government websites promise that certain age groups can get boosters, but in practice it's not possible. The listed places are either closed, or don't have any vaccines.
posted by Zumbador at 10:56 PM on November 4, 2023 [6 favorites]
Based on comments, questions, and confusion above, here are a couple of articles from the Your Local Epidemiologist substack:
Regarding how long to wait after a bout of Covid or another vaccination:
posted by flug at 11:15 PM on November 4, 2023 [14 favorites]
- Considerations for your fall Covid-19 vaccine - has good-sense discussion of topics like how long to wait after a bout of Covid or your last vaccination, which type might be best or whether the specific type or brand of vaccine is going to make any difference, etc.
- About the newly released Novavax Covid vaccine/booster The interesting thing here is that the new Novavax vaccine covers the newest variants just like the mRNA vaccines, and seems at least as effective BUT has a noticeably lower side-effect profile than the mRNA vaccines.
Regarding how long to wait after a bout of Covid or another vaccination:
How long after infection/vaccination should I wait?So short answer is, there is not one easy simple straightforward answer. Read the full article for more details - they are helpful in clarifying your thinking.
This is tricky.
We have frustratingly scarce scientific guidance on timing. What we do have tells us this:
Minimum wait: 2-3 months. A Covid-19 vaccine doesn’t add much benefit within 2-3 months of infection. . . .
Maximum wait 8-12 months: The longer we wait, the more we get out of the vaccine. One study found that waiting 8 months increased neutralizing antibodies 11 times more than waiting 3 months after infection. Another study found a 12-month interval improved vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization.
BUT waiting is a gamble. Even if a vaccine sooner is not as good as it could be, it’s better than waiting too long and catching Covid with limited protection . . .
posted by flug at 11:15 PM on November 4, 2023 [14 favorites]
I travel a lot with work so got a booster in January and got Covid about a month later while my un-boosted spouse and daughter stayed healthy. Since then I picked up another bout in the beginning of August and managed to not infect them, and got the year's third case of Covid a little over a week ago. This time the rest of of the family got sick too, so we're having a grand old time. My daughter throrizes that the booster wiped out the antibodies my body had built up. I dunno but I would hope that I've been exposed enough now to make it through the rest of the winter.
posted by St. Oops at 11:37 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by St. Oops at 11:37 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Ha! Well, more not-getting-COVID for me! Oh? That’s not how it works? Aw rats.
posted by aubilenon at 1:00 AM on November 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by aubilenon at 1:00 AM on November 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
... it's striking how many countries seem to be taking a different view of COVID risk at this point in the pandemic, especially for children. ... On the NHS in the UK, only those over 65 or at high risk are eligible.
I wouldn't use the UK practice as any sort of guideline because I have been following their currently ongoing covid inquiry and it is just a wild shitshow and their current PM is the business megabrain who came up with Eat Out to Help Out restaurant subsidy which facilitated the infections of lots of people.
Finally, being sick, even if you aren't hospitalized, is bad. People miss work, they miss school, they are miserable. Importantly, some of them get Long Covid. Reducing those outcomes is very valuable, both economically and to people's wellbeing. These kinds of calculations and arguments based solely on hospitalizations or deaths miss the major burdens of Covid and are designed to reach a certain conclusion by ignoring what's actually important.
This! I'll pay $$$ to get vaccinated if I have to. One round of seven months of long covid and the still lingering knock on effects is something I would prefer to experience only once thanks. I'd also rather live in a world were large numbers of people are not brainfogged.
posted by srboisvert at 1:49 AM on November 5, 2023 [15 favorites]
I wouldn't use the UK practice as any sort of guideline because I have been following their currently ongoing covid inquiry and it is just a wild shitshow and their current PM is the business megabrain who came up with Eat Out to Help Out restaurant subsidy which facilitated the infections of lots of people.
Finally, being sick, even if you aren't hospitalized, is bad. People miss work, they miss school, they are miserable. Importantly, some of them get Long Covid. Reducing those outcomes is very valuable, both economically and to people's wellbeing. These kinds of calculations and arguments based solely on hospitalizations or deaths miss the major burdens of Covid and are designed to reach a certain conclusion by ignoring what's actually important.
This! I'll pay $$$ to get vaccinated if I have to. One round of seven months of long covid and the still lingering knock on effects is something I would prefer to experience only once thanks. I'd also rather live in a world were large numbers of people are not brainfogged.
posted by srboisvert at 1:49 AM on November 5, 2023 [15 favorites]
My daughter throrizes that the booster wiped out the antibodies my body had built up.
That is absolutely not how the immune system works. Each infection and each vaccination increase your immunity.
posted by hydropsyche at 3:01 AM on November 5, 2023 [12 favorites]
That is absolutely not how the immune system works. Each infection and each vaccination increase your immunity.
posted by hydropsyche at 3:01 AM on November 5, 2023 [12 favorites]
My son had Covid a few weeks ago, literally 7 days before the vaccine was available to us in Canada (technically I’m now high-risk but we were going to go as a family). So now he’s on a different schedule and I’m not even sure if we should get it (we have appointments next week) because we know the tests aren’t great for the new strain. I’m not worried getting boosted will hurt us, but not sure it will be effective and then we won’t be eligible for another 6 months.
This kind of confusion is probably contributing to low numbers.
We’re all getting the flu shot. In that sense it’s kind of a weird contrast because we don’t worry if we’ve had the flu already etc.
posted by warriorqueen at 3:44 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
This kind of confusion is probably contributing to low numbers.
We’re all getting the flu shot. In that sense it’s kind of a weird contrast because we don’t worry if we’ve had the flu already etc.
posted by warriorqueen at 3:44 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
It's sort of blowing my mind that insurance is involved at all in the US, but being from there originally, I shouldn't be. It is still free for you guys, yeah? Please tell me that.
Edited to add: warriorqueen, I am told by healthcare people I know (nurses, doctors) that a PCP test is the most accurate instead of the rapid ones. But then, it's not easy to find PCP tests anymore.
posted by Kitteh at 3:46 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Edited to add: warriorqueen, I am told by healthcare people I know (nurses, doctors) that a PCP test is the most accurate instead of the rapid ones. But then, it's not easy to find PCP tests anymore.
posted by Kitteh at 3:46 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Getting the family vaxed was a clown show again. The HMO says you gotta do it there for it to be covered, then realizes they have no reliable supply and allows coverage for some, but not all, off site vaccination. And the peds supply chain is a total embarrassment. Really glad Little e will have aged into the adult formulation the next time I expect her to be offered a dose.
I remain unsurprised that uptake sucks, for so many reasons. And enraged that we’re apparently not getting supplies to South Africa. Didn’t we think at one time that persistent infections in immunocompromised hosts were responsible for generating variants like omicron? Southern Africa has the highest prevalence of HIV in the world. Shouldn’t we vaccinate Southern Africa first?
posted by eirias at 3:56 AM on November 5, 2023 [5 favorites]
I remain unsurprised that uptake sucks, for so many reasons. And enraged that we’re apparently not getting supplies to South Africa. Didn’t we think at one time that persistent infections in immunocompromised hosts were responsible for generating variants like omicron? Southern Africa has the highest prevalence of HIV in the world. Shouldn’t we vaccinate Southern Africa first?
posted by eirias at 3:56 AM on November 5, 2023 [5 favorites]
I have wanted to get a Covid booster and a flu shot for 2 months now but I can't get transportation. (I live out in the boondocks and can't drive). A family member usually provides transportation but their social lives and hobbies are more important to them than helping me out when I need it.
posted by GiantSlug at 4:13 AM on November 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by GiantSlug at 4:13 AM on November 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
Seconding flug to say that Novavax seems to have minimal side effects for most people (and gave me absolutely none; not even a sore arm). It's pretty widely available, including at Rite Aid and Costco (you don't need to be a member).
posted by metasarah at 4:40 AM on November 5, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by metasarah at 4:40 AM on November 5, 2023 [4 favorites]
In the US, almost everbody has gotten 3+ shots or had Covid. Those folks don't need a booster, at least most of them don't. As far as I know, there have been no studies reporting that people who got three shots in 2021-2022 are being hospitalized at rates suggesting their immunity has waned.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:41 AM on November 5, 2023
posted by SemiSalt at 4:41 AM on November 5, 2023
Family of 4: CVS had the 2023-2024 Pfizer adult doses ready for us within a couple of days of federal approval, and they were free in our red state. It took a lot more doing to find a 5-11 dose, including CVS having to cancel our appointment once, and then us having to find a farther flung CVS location a few days later.
Glad our 4 get to be among the 7&2 percenters! And super duper glad to be among the even smaller percentage of Americans who have never had a Covid infection (**to their knowledge, anyway.) We never stopped masking everywheres, and have gotten every available dose as soon as we reasonably could.
People don’t take the risk of Long Covid seriously enough.
posted by edithkeeler at 4:42 AM on November 5, 2023 [7 favorites]
Glad our 4 get to be among the 7&2 percenters! And super duper glad to be among the even smaller percentage of Americans who have never had a Covid infection (**to their knowledge, anyway.) We never stopped masking everywheres, and have gotten every available dose as soon as we reasonably could.
People don’t take the risk of Long Covid seriously enough.
posted by edithkeeler at 4:42 AM on November 5, 2023 [7 favorites]
I tried to get the booster but was turned away over a month ago now. Check with your doctor for your particular insurance they said. My doctors office still doesn't have shots.
I've been boosted with all the others so far, and had covid. The booster won't prevent illness. So it does feel hard to try to put this at the forefront of mind. And a terrible time of year, with the holidays looming, to ask people to maybe risk paying hundreds of dollars to maybe not get sick.
Doesn't really feel like anyone in charge gives a shit any more.
posted by tiny frying pan at 4:47 AM on November 5, 2023
I've been boosted with all the others so far, and had covid. The booster won't prevent illness. So it does feel hard to try to put this at the forefront of mind. And a terrible time of year, with the holidays looming, to ask people to maybe risk paying hundreds of dollars to maybe not get sick.
Doesn't really feel like anyone in charge gives a shit any more.
posted by tiny frying pan at 4:47 AM on November 5, 2023
a lot more doing to find a 5-11 dose,
What is that?
posted by tiny frying pan at 4:48 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
What is that?
posted by tiny frying pan at 4:48 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
a lot more doing to find a 5-11 dose,
What is that?
That’s the dosage for a child in the US who is between the ages of 5 and 11. Ages 12+ can get the “adult” dose.
posted by edithkeeler at 4:53 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
What is that?
That’s the dosage for a child in the US who is between the ages of 5 and 11. Ages 12+ can get the “adult” dose.
posted by edithkeeler at 4:53 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Ah OK thanks!
posted by tiny frying pan at 4:58 AM on November 5, 2023
posted by tiny frying pan at 4:58 AM on November 5, 2023
I assumed they meant a dose for a 5 to 11 year old kid
posted by eustatic at 5:05 AM on November 5, 2023
posted by eustatic at 5:05 AM on November 5, 2023
I read the article, and... I dunno. It's sad about the vaccination rate, but I'm not that surprised.
Covid has sadly and simply become a part of the individual risk calculus for life. Do you wear a seatbelt or not? Do you have insurance or not? Do you exercise or not? Do you carry a loaded firearm or not? Do you get a Covid booster or not? Some people, given the resources, will always make the protective, risk-averse, healthy, etc. choices. Some won't. My friend with the terrible respiratory situation only got the first shot series and nothing thereafter, and they're disinclined to get more. So it goes.
posted by cupcakeninja at 5:17 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Covid has sadly and simply become a part of the individual risk calculus for life. Do you wear a seatbelt or not? Do you have insurance or not? Do you exercise or not? Do you carry a loaded firearm or not? Do you get a Covid booster or not? Some people, given the resources, will always make the protective, risk-averse, healthy, etc. choices. Some won't. My friend with the terrible respiratory situation only got the first shot series and nothing thereafter, and they're disinclined to get more. So it goes.
posted by cupcakeninja at 5:17 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'm a fan of modern medicine and happy we have a COVID vaccine, but I have to plan around it
Same here, I had the booster about a month ago and I was in rough shape for three days. It was worse this time around, compared with previous shots. Sore and feverish. Not as bad as Covid itself, but I scheduled it for a Thursday so that I wouldn't have to take time off work; the pain ramps up Friday afternoon and I'm pretty much at home by the time it really gets bad. It's not as simple as going down to the drug store and getting pricked, I have to plan a three-day recovery after the day of the shot.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 5:37 AM on November 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
Same here, I had the booster about a month ago and I was in rough shape for three days. It was worse this time around, compared with previous shots. Sore and feverish. Not as bad as Covid itself, but I scheduled it for a Thursday so that I wouldn't have to take time off work; the pain ramps up Friday afternoon and I'm pretty much at home by the time it really gets bad. It's not as simple as going down to the drug store and getting pricked, I have to plan a three-day recovery after the day of the shot.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 5:37 AM on November 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
It's sort of blowing my mind that insurance is involved at all in the US, but being from there originally, I shouldn't be. It is still free for you guys, yeah? Please tell me that.
When I got mine, it was a long wait because it was just after they were released here, so there was more demand than a few weeks later, and on top of that the pharmacy booked more appointments than they could actually fill. (I am guessing they were assuming 2/3 would be no-shows, but instead everyone showed up and so there was a long line.)
And because it was a situation with everyone crowded into a small space (irony, no?), you could hear everything at the counter. While I was there, maybe 25% of people were like me, with insurance that was apparently straightforward, no fees and no fuss. About half of the people were older and on Medicaid, and each of those took forever for the counter staff to get things through the system but eventually they all got approved. And then there were people who made appointments but were told at the counter that there would be a fee, and all of those people left without getting shots.
So no, it's not all free anymore, and we're back to the usual dysfunction of that part of our healthcare system.
For what it is worth, I got it and the flu vaccine at the same time and had zero side effects, not even a sore arm. Last time I was kind of knocked out for a day, but this time was a non-event. But I was still careful to schedule it for late in the week in case I was laid low. Not everyone can rearrange their schedule that way.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:45 AM on November 5, 2023 [4 favorites]
When I got mine, it was a long wait because it was just after they were released here, so there was more demand than a few weeks later, and on top of that the pharmacy booked more appointments than they could actually fill. (I am guessing they were assuming 2/3 would be no-shows, but instead everyone showed up and so there was a long line.)
And because it was a situation with everyone crowded into a small space (irony, no?), you could hear everything at the counter. While I was there, maybe 25% of people were like me, with insurance that was apparently straightforward, no fees and no fuss. About half of the people were older and on Medicaid, and each of those took forever for the counter staff to get things through the system but eventually they all got approved. And then there were people who made appointments but were told at the counter that there would be a fee, and all of those people left without getting shots.
So no, it's not all free anymore, and we're back to the usual dysfunction of that part of our healthcare system.
For what it is worth, I got it and the flu vaccine at the same time and had zero side effects, not even a sore arm. Last time I was kind of knocked out for a day, but this time was a non-event. But I was still careful to schedule it for late in the week in case I was laid low. Not everyone can rearrange their schedule that way.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:45 AM on November 5, 2023 [4 favorites]
I mentioned this to Mr. eirias and he asked what flu vax uptake is so far. I hadn’t seen this upthread (sorry if I missed it) so went looking: 28.4% as of October 28. Flu vax does not usually get released before September and so this instantly made us much more pessimistic about the Covid coverage increasing very much.
posted by eirias at 5:51 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by eirias at 5:51 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
In the US, almost everbody has gotten 3+ shots or had Covid. Those folks don't need a booster, at least most of them don't. As far as I know, there have been no studies reporting that people who got three shots in 2021-2022 are being hospitalized at rates suggesting their immunity has waned.
There absolutely have been studies and it absolutely has waned.
Long-term COVID-19 booster effectiveness by infection history and clinical vulnerability and immune imprinting: a retrospective population-based cohort study (The Lancet, Mar 10 2023)
There absolutely have been studies and it absolutely has waned.
Long-term COVID-19 booster effectiveness by infection history and clinical vulnerability and immune imprinting: a retrospective population-based cohort study (The Lancet, Mar 10 2023)
Data were obtained for 2 228 686 people who had received at least two vaccine doses starting from Jan 5, 2021, of whom 658 947 (29·6%) went on to receive a third dose before data cutoff on Oct 12, 2022. There were 20 528 incident infections in the three-dose cohort and 30 771 infections in the two-dose cohort. Booster effectiveness relative to primary series was 26·2% (95% CI 23·6–28·6) against infection and 75·1% (40·2–89·6) against severe, critical, or fatal COVID-19, during 1-year follow-up after the booster. Among people clinically vulnerable to severe COVID-19, effectiveness was 34·2% (27·0–40·6) against infection and 76·6% (34·5–91·7) against severe, critical, or fatal COVID-19. Effectiveness against infection was highest at 61·4% (60·2–62·6) in the first month after the booster but waned thereafter and was modest at only 15·5% (8·3–22·2) by the sixth month. In the seventh month and thereafter, coincident with BA.4/BA.5 and BA.2·75* subvariant incidence, effectiveness was progressively negative albeit with wide CIs. Similar patterns of protection were observed irrespective of previous infection status, clinical vulnerability, or type of vaccine (BNT162b2 vs mRNA-1273).posted by hydropsyche at 5:51 AM on November 5, 2023 [14 favorites]
Evaluation of Waning of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine–Induced Immunity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (JAMA May 3 2023)
Question How does the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against laboratory-confirmed Omicron infection and symptomatic disease change at different times from last dose administration and number of doses, and how does this compare with previously circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and subvariants?posted by hydropsyche at 5:54 AM on November 5, 2023 [6 favorites]
Findings This systematic review and meta-analysis of secondary data from 40 studies found that the estimated vaccine effectiveness against both laboratory-confirmed Omicron infection and symptomatic disease was lower than 20% at 6 months from the administration of the primary vaccination cycle and less than 30% at 9 months from the administration of a booster dose. Compared with the Delta variant, a more prominent and quicker waning of protection was found.
Meaning These findings suggest that the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against Omicron rapidly wanes over time.
So no, it's not all free anymore, and we're back to the usual dysfunction of that part of our healthcare system.
Jesus Christ.
Like, I don't understand why your public health departments aren't running vaccine clinics or pop-up events for vaccination like they do where I am. (I mean, I won't give Canada too much credit in that it should have been available for all from the jump with this newer vaccine, and we have our anti-vaxxers too. Also, our numbers are low for overall boosters.) Having insurance involved at all with this makes me so upset.
Edited to add: even family doctors are running vaccine clinics for their patients here. They're not as big as they were in the beginning but at least they do. And if you can't make it to one of the clinics, the nurse or doctor will offer you a vaccine if you already have an appointment for unrelated reasons.
posted by Kitteh at 5:56 AM on November 5, 2023
Jesus Christ.
Like, I don't understand why your public health departments aren't running vaccine clinics or pop-up events for vaccination like they do where I am. (I mean, I won't give Canada too much credit in that it should have been available for all from the jump with this newer vaccine, and we have our anti-vaxxers too. Also, our numbers are low for overall boosters.) Having insurance involved at all with this makes me so upset.
Edited to add: even family doctors are running vaccine clinics for their patients here. They're not as big as they were in the beginning but at least they do. And if you can't make it to one of the clinics, the nurse or doctor will offer you a vaccine if you already have an appointment for unrelated reasons.
posted by Kitteh at 5:56 AM on November 5, 2023
even family doctors are running vaccine clinics for their patients here.
I can't speak to the full reasoning, and obviously the private/public health system divide is a huge factor, but of course many people were intensely, publicly aggressive during the pandemic. My family doctor may not be giving vaccines for some reasons I'm unaware of, but their office created all manner of barriers and steps even to enter the waiting room at the height of the pandemic. Both my spouse and I saw variously either extreme agitation or physical aggression toward staff by patients. Not offering the vaccine is, I would assume, a byproduct in some cases of those challenges and a desire to remove a possible flashpoint.
posted by cupcakeninja at 6:04 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I can't speak to the full reasoning, and obviously the private/public health system divide is a huge factor, but of course many people were intensely, publicly aggressive during the pandemic. My family doctor may not be giving vaccines for some reasons I'm unaware of, but their office created all manner of barriers and steps even to enter the waiting room at the height of the pandemic. Both my spouse and I saw variously either extreme agitation or physical aggression toward staff by patients. Not offering the vaccine is, I would assume, a byproduct in some cases of those challenges and a desire to remove a possible flashpoint.
posted by cupcakeninja at 6:04 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Believe me, I worked in healthcare from the beginning of the pandemic until a few months ago. I know how aggressive patients have gotten.
posted by Kitteh at 6:07 AM on November 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 6:07 AM on November 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
I signed up for this newest vaccine the first day it was available in Chapel Hill (Friday, September 15th) and ended up being sent from one CVS to another because of some sheduling mishaps. At the second location, I was in a long line of people, many of whom were furious to learn their insurance didn't cover it (as a wrinkle, briefly, it was unclear to Pharmacy staff that day whether Student Blue, the variation of BCBS available to NC college students, would cover the shot, and as a result a number of students were turned away--this was at a CVS location maybe 4 miles from the UNC Campus, and reasonably close to a Park and Ride lot). My insurance did cover it. I waited for 1.5 hours, due to pharmay staffing issues, but came out successfully vaxxed (and flu-shotted).
Roughly one month later I got Covd (my first ever case). The timing was pure bullshit, but it was a mild as hell case (I geniunely just thought it was my standard fall allergies). My GP sent Paxlovid owing to some preexistings, and I tested negative three days later. I had a teense Paxlovid rebound (also stupid timing) but still short lived and even milder, symptom-wise.
I credit that booster for Covid being essentially NBD (save screwing up some travel plans and leaving me at home alone) and honestly I credit the boosters/vaccines up to that point for keeping me Covid-free since this thing started. I have not always been so careful. And I have been to a lot of concerts/parties/events , espeially since late 2021.
I would tell anyome to get vaccinated. It still absolutely boggles my mind that people would pass this up.
posted by thivaia at 6:21 AM on November 5, 2023 [8 favorites]
Roughly one month later I got Covd (my first ever case). The timing was pure bullshit, but it was a mild as hell case (I geniunely just thought it was my standard fall allergies). My GP sent Paxlovid owing to some preexistings, and I tested negative three days later. I had a teense Paxlovid rebound (also stupid timing) but still short lived and even milder, symptom-wise.
I credit that booster for Covid being essentially NBD (save screwing up some travel plans and leaving me at home alone) and honestly I credit the boosters/vaccines up to that point for keeping me Covid-free since this thing started. I have not always been so careful. And I have been to a lot of concerts/parties/events , espeially since late 2021.
I would tell anyome to get vaccinated. It still absolutely boggles my mind that people would pass this up.
posted by thivaia at 6:21 AM on November 5, 2023 [8 favorites]
It boggles my mind it's so hard to get
Hours wait, multiple locations, turning away students. Can't place this all on apathy.
posted by tiny frying pan at 6:31 AM on November 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
Hours wait, multiple locations, turning away students. Can't place this all on apathy.
posted by tiny frying pan at 6:31 AM on November 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
In the U.S. it really is so very situationally dependent. Many of our chain pharmacies that offer vaccinations are having severe staffing shortages. Lots of them are closing. With the government now out of the Covid vaccination game, each non-governmental health insurance provider is setting their own rules again as far as coverage. I happen to live in an area where pharmacy staffing shortages are a thing but it varies from location to location so I was able to schedule my shot at a store that generally has more staff than not. And my health insurance is excellent, so it was free for me. I also have a job and a life situation that allows me to be able to take a few days to feel crappy from a booster.
So. It depends.
posted by cooker girl at 6:52 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
So. It depends.
posted by cooker girl at 6:52 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
It is still free for you guys, yeah?
My understanding is that it is still free for everyone, at least in California, but it's a lot more complicated and you have to do paperwork and figure out who is going to give you the shots at no cost to you.
The easiest is if you have health insurance or Medicare, in which case any retail pharmacy will give you the shot at no cost to you. Medicaid will also cover it, probably, but details vary by state and how much paperwork you've done. If you have none of that you can still go to particular clinics, at least in California, and the state will pay for it.
The shots are not actually free: insurance or the government is paying for every one. They are paying $82–$85 a dose to Pfizer and Moderna. I'm not sure if a final price is settled but the negotiations are the European governments will pay about $26 a dose. On the flip side we got the new vaccine much earlier than other countries.
In the US it's standard recommendation to take paxlovid if you get Covid. That costs $1390 a course. My insurance covered mine earlier this year, I don't know the general situation with it. Nor how paxlovid is used and priced in Europe.
posted by Nelson at 6:56 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
My understanding is that it is still free for everyone, at least in California, but it's a lot more complicated and you have to do paperwork and figure out who is going to give you the shots at no cost to you.
The easiest is if you have health insurance or Medicare, in which case any retail pharmacy will give you the shot at no cost to you. Medicaid will also cover it, probably, but details vary by state and how much paperwork you've done. If you have none of that you can still go to particular clinics, at least in California, and the state will pay for it.
The shots are not actually free: insurance or the government is paying for every one. They are paying $82–$85 a dose to Pfizer and Moderna. I'm not sure if a final price is settled but the negotiations are the European governments will pay about $26 a dose. On the flip side we got the new vaccine much earlier than other countries.
In the US it's standard recommendation to take paxlovid if you get Covid. That costs $1390 a course. My insurance covered mine earlier this year, I don't know the general situation with it. Nor how paxlovid is used and priced in Europe.
posted by Nelson at 6:56 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Yes, part of the deal with it being recommended for everyone by CDC is that this means insurers must cover it, is my understanding — but they can set bounds on where you go to get it. My friends with a PPO plan had it in days. I had to wait six weeks and even had to scramble then.
posted by eirias at 7:02 AM on November 5, 2023
posted by eirias at 7:02 AM on November 5, 2023
It’s not a booster. And I have a theory that calling it a booster undermines its take rate.
posted by terrapin at 7:06 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by terrapin at 7:06 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Is it feasible at all to have a covid/flu vaccine cocktail?
Not sure I follow — do you mean literally in the same single injection? I suspect there might be pharmacological reasons why not, but I got both the booster and the flu shot thirty seconds apart last week at my local Rexall, and I am not far from you (out in 905).
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:04 AM on November 5, 2023
Not sure I follow — do you mean literally in the same single injection? I suspect there might be pharmacological reasons why not, but I got both the booster and the flu shot thirty seconds apart last week at my local Rexall, and I am not far from you (out in 905).
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:04 AM on November 5, 2023
I haven’t gotten mine yet because a) I keep getting sick - trying to remember which of the many illnesses of the last four months was COVID so I can time it - and b) apparently, despite several nightmare hours with the ACA marketplace both online and on the phone, I still don’t have health insurance. I will probably have to pay out of pocket anyway, because the ACA plans suck donkey balls in hell (not to put too fine a point on it) but I would like the credit against the giant deductible.
When my son tested positive for COVID this summer he called the local hospital urgent care to ask about paxlovid and was dismissively told that no, it was only for people 65 and older.
posted by mygothlaundry at 8:11 AM on November 5, 2023
When my son tested positive for COVID this summer he called the local hospital urgent care to ask about paxlovid and was dismissively told that no, it was only for people 65 and older.
posted by mygothlaundry at 8:11 AM on November 5, 2023
I'm sorry your son was told that he was too young for Paxlovid, mygothlaundry. I have three friends who have been prescribed it after testing positive for COVID. One was 29 years old; a second was 55, and a third was 58. I live in Maine, for reference.
I have had the newest COVID vaccine about a month ago, at my nearest Walgreens. On the same day, I received my flu shot and the first of two shingles shots. (I'm 58, and I had a serious case of chickenpox when I was 13: I spiked a fever of 103 and was out of school for three weeks. I don't want that virus to come back.)
Anyway, I had a sore arm and minor body aches -- probably in response to the flu shot -- but otherwise, things went smoothly, during and after. Nobody asked to see my insurance card, and I didn't pay anything. I'm disheartened that so many of my fellow MeFites are encountering roadblocks. Everyone's experience should be as free of obstacles as mine has been.
posted by virago at 8:31 AM on November 5, 2023
I have had the newest COVID vaccine about a month ago, at my nearest Walgreens. On the same day, I received my flu shot and the first of two shingles shots. (I'm 58, and I had a serious case of chickenpox when I was 13: I spiked a fever of 103 and was out of school for three weeks. I don't want that virus to come back.)
Anyway, I had a sore arm and minor body aches -- probably in response to the flu shot -- but otherwise, things went smoothly, during and after. Nobody asked to see my insurance card, and I didn't pay anything. I'm disheartened that so many of my fellow MeFites are encountering roadblocks. Everyone's experience should be as free of obstacles as mine has been.
posted by virago at 8:31 AM on November 5, 2023
Another vote for Novavax if you had side effects to the mRNA vaccines. I was sick for a couple weeks after the first two shots and a few days after #3 and #5, but had barely any reaction to my #4, which was Novavax. I do think some part of the low uptake might be that people remember their reactions and don't want to experience the same again, so it would probably help to promote Novavax more (here in Canada, the updated one is still not available, which is just silly).
posted by ssg at 8:37 AM on November 5, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by ssg at 8:37 AM on November 5, 2023 [5 favorites]
I don't want that virus to come back.
I should have said that I don't want my body to have to fight the chickenpox/shingles virus without assistance again.
posted by virago at 8:38 AM on November 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
I should have said that I don't want my body to have to fight the chickenpox/shingles virus without assistance again.
posted by virago at 8:38 AM on November 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
I'm sorry your son was told that he was too young for Paxlovid, mygothlaundry. I have three friends who have been prescribed it after testing positive for COVID. One was 29 years old; a second was 55, and a third was 58. I live in Maine, for reference.
For people I know personally, it is a complete crap-shoot as to whether or not they get prescribed Paxlovid. I know a lot of younger people who (to my knowledge) do not have major risk factors who got prescribed it, but also a number of older people who were told "no" for one reason or another. I don't know if the official guidance is shifting or if it is just different providers using their own criteria.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:41 AM on November 5, 2023
For people I know personally, it is a complete crap-shoot as to whether or not they get prescribed Paxlovid. I know a lot of younger people who (to my knowledge) do not have major risk factors who got prescribed it, but also a number of older people who were told "no" for one reason or another. I don't know if the official guidance is shifting or if it is just different providers using their own criteria.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:41 AM on November 5, 2023
In the US it's standard recommendation to take paxlovid if you get Covid.
This has not been the experience of many, as stated above. My daughter is 23 with no underlying health conditions and was told, unequivocally, when she got Covid that she could not have Paxlovid. The CDC is clear on who can get it: Paxlovid: Adults and children (12 years of age and older, weighing at least 88 pounds [40 kg]), who are at high risk for getting very sick from COVID-19 and who have mild to moderate symptoms.
posted by cooker girl at 9:22 AM on November 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
This has not been the experience of many, as stated above. My daughter is 23 with no underlying health conditions and was told, unequivocally, when she got Covid that she could not have Paxlovid. The CDC is clear on who can get it: Paxlovid: Adults and children (12 years of age and older, weighing at least 88 pounds [40 kg]), who are at high risk for getting very sick from COVID-19 and who have mild to moderate symptoms.
posted by cooker girl at 9:22 AM on November 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
Is it feasible at all to have a covid/flu vaccine cocktail?
I recieved both in two injections and both were pretty sizable syringes. Don't know if that is pharmaceutically required or to make dosing easier but if the former the syringe would have to be scary big.
Also a combined shot would have two production chains to produce a final product. If one gets delayed then so does the other. Logistically easier to just give two injections.
posted by Mitheral at 9:23 AM on November 5, 2023
I was able to get mine mid-October in Cleveland. I asked at the Sam's pharmacy out of curiosity if they were going to have them. Pharmacist asked if I wanted it there and then. I said, sure. Moderna or Pfizer? I went with Moderna since my previous had been Pfizer. Only reaction I had was a hella sore arm. Pharmacist told me to pass the word along that they have the vaccine and you don't have to be a member.
posted by kathrynm at 9:44 AM on November 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by kathrynm at 9:44 AM on November 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
Is it feasible at all to have a covid/flu vaccine cocktail?
Being tested
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 9:57 AM on November 5, 2023
Being tested
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 9:57 AM on November 5, 2023
Seems like I'm an outlier here, because I was able to get my vaccine soon after it became available, without much issue. Blue area of a blue state and a comprehensive health plan probably helped a lot with that, though. Had to schedule a week or so in advance at a different local pharmacy than usual, but other than that (and the predictable side-effects from getting that and flu shot at the same time, ergh) no major problems. YMMV, etc.
posted by zbaco at 10:26 AM on November 5, 2023
posted by zbaco at 10:26 AM on November 5, 2023
Being tested
Yeah Moderna is in Phase 3 trials.
but don't expect regulatory approval until 2025.
Different countries have different guidelines.Tthey are all over the place
Canadian guidance for updated XBB 1.5 shot is
For individuals who have previously been vaccinated with a complete primary series that did not include an XBB.1.5-containing COVID-19 vaccine, a dose of XBB.1.5-containing COVID-19 vaccine is recommended 6 months following previous COVID-19 vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection (whichever is later). Shorter intervals (i.e., 3 months to less than 6 months) following previous vaccination or infection have also not been shown to pose a safety risk.
--
And they do not call it a booster but a XBB 1.5 vaccine.
I've had 7 shots now including the newest.
I think it's a shame that we have a surplus of vaccines while South Africa is lacking supply.
Canada pays Novavax $350 million for unused doses
We tried to give away 17 million Astrazeneca doses but we got no takers and they were ulitimately destroyed
posted by yyz at 10:31 AM on November 5, 2023
Yeah Moderna is in Phase 3 trials.
but don't expect regulatory approval until 2025.
Different countries have different guidelines.Tthey are all over the place
Canadian guidance for updated XBB 1.5 shot is
For individuals who have previously been vaccinated with a complete primary series that did not include an XBB.1.5-containing COVID-19 vaccine, a dose of XBB.1.5-containing COVID-19 vaccine is recommended 6 months following previous COVID-19 vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection (whichever is later). Shorter intervals (i.e., 3 months to less than 6 months) following previous vaccination or infection have also not been shown to pose a safety risk.
--
And they do not call it a booster but a XBB 1.5 vaccine.
I've had 7 shots now including the newest.
I think it's a shame that we have a surplus of vaccines while South Africa is lacking supply.
Canada pays Novavax $350 million for unused doses
We tried to give away 17 million Astrazeneca doses but we got no takers and they were ulitimately destroyed
posted by yyz at 10:31 AM on November 5, 2023
I hadn’t seen this upthread (sorry if I missed it) so went looking: 28.4% as of October 28.
This is the most interesting stat here, as flu and COVID weren't released that far apart and getting the flu shot means you actually did have some actual interaction with some health care provider who vaccinates, yet didn't get the COVID shot.
posted by praemunire at 11:30 AM on November 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
This is the most interesting stat here, as flu and COVID weren't released that far apart and getting the flu shot means you actually did have some actual interaction with some health care provider who vaccinates, yet didn't get the COVID shot.
posted by praemunire at 11:30 AM on November 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
I was reminded by the sight of this thread that it was past time I booked my flu shot and COVID booster (I had COVID shot no. 5 in April 2023). I used the Shoppers Drug Mart booking system to do it, and it took some persistence to get a slot. There were no appointments available at all at the two closest SDMs or at the closest Loblaws pharmacy. I finally managed to get an appointment for November 17th at the No-Frills I shop at.
This is in Toronto, and the shots are covered by OHIP. If availability is this poor here, I hate to think what it is elsewhere.
posted by orange swan at 11:43 AM on November 5, 2023
This is in Toronto, and the shots are covered by OHIP. If availability is this poor here, I hate to think what it is elsewhere.
posted by orange swan at 11:43 AM on November 5, 2023
orange swan Here's a link to City of Toronto clinics showing available appointments at city clinics.
It's for the flu shot but you can get covid shot at the same time
There's spots available sarting Nov 7.
I just walked in when I got mine no appointment.
posted by yyz at 12:30 PM on November 5, 2023
It's for the flu shot but you can get covid shot at the same time
There's spots available sarting Nov 7.
I just walked in when I got mine no appointment.
posted by yyz at 12:30 PM on November 5, 2023
Orange swan, the Metro Hall vax clinic allows walk-ins—got my double-shot two weeks ago. The roll-out of XBB1. 5 was weird because they were being widely administered to our age group despite no website explicitly saying that.
The other weird thing about Canada is that I know exactly one Canadian who got paxlovid, in NB. The vast majority of my American friends have received it.
posted by avocet at 1:23 PM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
The other weird thing about Canada is that I know exactly one Canadian who got paxlovid, in NB. The vast majority of my American friends have received it.
posted by avocet at 1:23 PM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I checked the web page for CVS, and their COVID vaccine splash page says:
*COVID-19 vaccine is no cost to eligible uninsured individuals through the Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Bridge Access Program. Further disclaimers mention that it's free if you are insured IF CVS is in-network for your plan.
I am quite interested in getting the booster; to my knowledge, I have not had COVID yet, or at least have had asymptomatic COVID if I have. But since I am without insurance at the moment, the word "eligible" is leaping out at me in the disclaimer, and I do not look forward to arguing it out with a pharmacy tech as to whether I am or not.
posted by delfin at 1:46 PM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
*COVID-19 vaccine is no cost to eligible uninsured individuals through the Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Bridge Access Program. Further disclaimers mention that it's free if you are insured IF CVS is in-network for your plan.
I am quite interested in getting the booster; to my knowledge, I have not had COVID yet, or at least have had asymptomatic COVID if I have. But since I am without insurance at the moment, the word "eligible" is leaping out at me in the disclaimer, and I do not look forward to arguing it out with a pharmacy tech as to whether I am or not.
posted by delfin at 1:46 PM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Follow-up: Evidently, you can search for pharmacies and clinics participating in said Bridge Access Program via vaccines.gov, and my local CVS says that it does. We'll see if they play nice with my wife's oddball insurance and my lack of it tomorrow.
posted by delfin at 1:59 PM on November 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by delfin at 1:59 PM on November 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
My husband teaches kindergarten and he has been sick 4 times with gastrointestinal, coughing, and weakness since the beginning of the year. 2 days after his COVID booster, it magically cleared up. I’m wondering now if he had a mild long COVID.
How we keep Kinder / preschool /daycare teachers safe in the long-term, I do not know. Vax your sweeties, please, it will help them avoid the h-e-double-hockey-sticks that is days and days with a substitute teacher (even the great ones)!
posted by beckybakeroo at 4:33 PM on November 5, 2023 [5 favorites]
How we keep Kinder / preschool /daycare teachers safe in the long-term, I do not know. Vax your sweeties, please, it will help them avoid the h-e-double-hockey-sticks that is days and days with a substitute teacher (even the great ones)!
posted by beckybakeroo at 4:33 PM on November 5, 2023 [5 favorites]
oh I think that's what the Walgreens pharmacist used to get me a shot with my CVS-only insurance, the Bridge Access Program! fingers crossed that it'll go smoothly for y'all
posted by taquito sunrise at 4:37 PM on November 5, 2023
posted by taquito sunrise at 4:37 PM on November 5, 2023
Currently having what appears to be my first reaction to a vaccine. I’ve had Moderna and Pfizer alternating (by happenstance rather than choice) and two bouts of very minor Covid in between.
It’s pretty available in DC, but missing work is missing work and I can understand why people aren’t prioritizing this one.
posted by aspersioncast at 5:20 AM on November 6, 2023
It’s pretty available in DC, but missing work is missing work and I can understand why people aren’t prioritizing this one.
posted by aspersioncast at 5:20 AM on November 6, 2023
I got both the flu and COVID shot the first day of my book tour in September; I was going to be in front of literally thousands of people for six weeks while there was a COVID upswing going on, and then being up close with them while I signed books, and I didn't want to screw up the tour by getting sick. The shots plus reasonable precautions like wearing a mask while on planes did the trick; I got through the tour without incident.
My plan is to get the booster whenever it is available basically for the rest of my life (along with the annual flu shot, etc). When I got COVID (for sure once, and I suspect once earlier), it didn't do much to me physically but messed up my higher-order cognition so that I couldn't write much of anything substantive for a couple of months each time. For someone who uses their brain for their work, is was simply not acceptable. The idea I would not try to protect my brain every single time such protection was offered and updated is nonsensical.
posted by jscalzi at 6:01 AM on November 6, 2023 [17 favorites]
My plan is to get the booster whenever it is available basically for the rest of my life (along with the annual flu shot, etc). When I got COVID (for sure once, and I suspect once earlier), it didn't do much to me physically but messed up my higher-order cognition so that I couldn't write much of anything substantive for a couple of months each time. For someone who uses their brain for their work, is was simply not acceptable. The idea I would not try to protect my brain every single time such protection was offered and updated is nonsensical.
posted by jscalzi at 6:01 AM on November 6, 2023 [17 favorites]
For up to date accurate guidance on COVID and vaccinations I recommend ‘This Week In Virology’s weekly clinical update, released every Friday.
posted by bq at 8:02 AM on November 6, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by bq at 8:02 AM on November 6, 2023 [2 favorites]
I just got my Covid and flu shots at the same time at a Toronto Shopper's Drug Mart. Scheduling an appointment was pretty easy, there seemed to be lots of times available, etc..
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:57 AM on November 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:57 AM on November 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
It took 5 appointments to get my 10-year-old vaccinated: 2 canceled Walgreens appointments (they actually called me beforehand to cancel the 2nd) and 2 canceled clinic appointments (1 called 20 minutes before our appointment, while my husband was on the highway enroute). I randomly found a different clinic system in a very red exurb 20 miles away that had dozens and dozens of pediatric appointments available, and that’s where my kid finally got his shot. The whole experience was unnecessarily terrible.
posted by Maarika at 11:44 AM on November 6, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by Maarika at 11:44 AM on November 6, 2023 [8 favorites]
i got mine in early october along with my flu shot. i am an at risk population. i have not yet had covid, despite many chances to get it. i am lucky.
i think part of the problem is there has not been a huge media push about this booster, unlike in the past. and, there were all the hiccups with insurance when it first became available which may have scared people off.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 12:48 PM on November 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
i think part of the problem is there has not been a huge media push about this booster, unlike in the past. and, there were all the hiccups with insurance when it first became available which may have scared people off.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 12:48 PM on November 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
Pfizer booster trip report: a few other people at the CVS also getting it, one day of feeling a little blah, mildly sore arm. The usual.
posted by delfin at 4:12 PM on November 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by delfin at 4:12 PM on November 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
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posted by The Card Cheat at 11:29 AM on November 4, 2023 [48 favorites]