I went for my booster shot. About 3 weeks before I am departing for my trip to Israel. That way I should have the prime immunity against COVID, as I travel through the airport and am stuck on an airplane for 10 or 11 hours.
And, as you saw yesterday, this immunity should last 8 to 12 weeks, which means my other two business trips will be during my prime immunity.
But, I was even more excited about the booster shot. Because this time, instead of getting a fourth Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, I was able to obtain a Moderna vaccination.
Why is that exciting? Because the Moderna mRNA vaccine has demonstrated the ability to elicit a stronger immune response. This is especially true for those who are immunosuppressed (rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases and organ transplant recipients).
This study was effected by scientists at Johns Hopkins University (authors were Drs. CM Connolly, TPY Chiang, JL Alejo, WA Werberl, DL Segey, AB Massie, and Jonathan Mitchell). The research letter in JAMA Network explained that the immunocompromised patients- who had never provided a positive response to the SARS-CoV-2 test, were provided two doses of vaccine between 16 December 2020 and 6 July 2021. The antibody testing was effected between 15 and 45 days after the second vaccine. Some 1158 immunocompromised subjects and 697 transplant recipients were studied. Of these numbers, 657 of the immunocompromised and 220 transplant subjects received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines.
For those patients who were not receiving immunosuppression drugs, the titers between the two drugs were similar (91.5% for Pfizer/BioNTEch and 93.1 for Moderna).
For those receiving immunosuppression drugs, the Moderna response was significantly higher. (Moderna was 79.2% vs. 60.5% for Pfizer. Transplant recipient data yielded a 66.4% immune response compared to Pfizer/BioNTech’s 44.7% response.)
That should yield a great immune response for me.
WooHoo. I am looking forward to safe travels.
Woo-hop! Safe and healthy travels!
Thanks! I’m so hoping.
That’s great to know and probably explains why I am the only one in my family who was never infected. All my shots / boosters were Moderna. The downside was I suffered from bad side effects.
Have a safe trip, are you goint to Tel Aviv?
I will spend one night in Tel Aviv/Yafo; the rest in Jerusalem.
That’s very interesting. Hubby and I have each only received one booster (Phizer) but since Rich has RA and is immunocompromised, maybe he should look into Moderna. Thanks again for your expertise and safe travels!
I would definitely vote for Rich to get that booster shot now. And, then, one in October or so, when the variant omicron is included as a target.
Thanks for this information! I’ve had my first three shots, all Moderna, but am not eligible for the fourth yet. I will be able to get it in November after my birthday and I’m not sure but I will probably get the same brand again if possible.
My 91-year-old aunt has had all four – three Pfizer and the fourth Moderna.
That’s super. Are you sure you are currently barred from the fourth? If so, you may want to wait until September- when the newest version, one that also targets omicron variants, will be available.
Glad you have had a positive experience with it, the scientific stats are pretty impressive I guess, I don’t agree with the agenda behind the vaccines but you’ve put together a great piece here.
The “agenda” behind the vaccines is public health. How can you not agree with that objective?
safe travels. I, too, switched and did the alternative booster for the 2nd shot. I heard that there was a slight difference between them and I wanted to hedge my bets.
Glad you did, Cheryl! Go for it!
Wishing you a safe and wonderful trip to the Promised Land. I hope to get back there someday!
I will be thanking Hashem for navigating me through my 2.5 y illness.