Deciding which booster shot to take can feel like a choose-your-own-adventure book – you have three choices, but you have no idea which one leads to the best outcome.
The Food and Drug Administration recently authorized a mix-and-match booster shot strategy that allows eligible adults to choose a supplement from one of three Covid-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson). an initially
But many people are confused about whether they should switch vaccines for a booster dose or stick to what they know. And if they decide to mix and match, which should they choose?
Public health officials refused to recommend a specific shot, leaving the decision up to individuals. So what should you do? Take a look at the science behind mix-and-match boosters and some expert advice to help you decide.
Why do experts approve of mixing and matching supporting shots?
One reason is convenience. Since the goal was to vaccinate as many people as possible and help the vulnerable get reinforcements quickly, expert committees allowed a mix-and-match strategy. This means that if you have Johnson & Johnson or Moderna, but the local pharmacy only offers Pfizer, you can get any available medicine without delay.
But the committee was also pursuing science. Early studies have shown that the mix-and-match strategy is not only safe and effective, but mixing vaccines can sometimes elicit a broader, stronger response than taking multiple doses of a single vaccine.
Why isn’t a specific booster shot recommended?
Scientific studies did not show a clear winner, but showed that all booster shots, regardless of combination, offered strong antibody response.
A professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Dr. “Part of the beauty of the mix and match is that it allows people to have a choice wherever they are – in the countryside or in the city,” said Kirsten E. Lyke. Presenting early results of a booster shot trial to the FDA vaccine panel. “All are safe, all will support you, and all will protect you from serious illness and death.”
So what did the studies show?
It depends on which workgroup you are considering. In June, the National Institutes of Health began its own study looking at what happens when people fully vaccinated with Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson get a boost from the same vaccine or switch to a new one. The study looked at nine different combinations of vaccines and boosters, with 50 volunteers in each group.
Early results looked at neutralizing antibodies, which are specific antibodies that stop the virus and protect you from getting sick. All booster shots induced a neutralizing antibody response, but there were differences. Those who received the Moderna vaccine for the first two doses and the Moderna booster had the highest antibody levels. Second place went to those who took two doses of Pfizer, followed by Moderna.
However, it’s important to note that small study groups were not designed to compare which shot was best, and early studies used a full dose (100 micrograms) of Moderna, not an approved half dose. It is possible that differences in study subjects may lead to differences in results. And while the difference in antibody levels may sound impressive, it probably isn’t all that significant in terms of protecting you in the real world.
The greatest differences in antibody levels were seen in Johnson & Johnson recipients, who showed a fourfold increase in neutralizing antibodies after J.&J. however, it increased 76 times after the Moderna booster and 35 times after the Pfizer booster.
Does this mean that if I had Johnson & Johnson, should I definitely switch to Moderna or Pfizer?
Not necessarily. For J.&J There is another study to consider for recipients who will receive a single initial dose. This included 30,000 people and did not measure antibodies. Instead, he looked at overall protection from the coronavirus. This study included a second J.&J. dose, resulted in 94 percent Protection against mild to severe cases of Covid-19.
The intriguing thing about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is that it seems to trigger a different part of the immune system, stimulating not only neutralizing antibodies but also T cells, possibly providing more durable protection. The NIH study will eventually look at T-cell response after various combinations of booster shots, but data are not yet available.
So how should I decide which one to choose?
All booster vaccines stimulate the immune system, so the answer to which vaccine to get depends on your priorities and personal risk. Here are some examples to help you decide.
Talk to your doctor: Depending on your personal health conditions – whether you have underlying health problems or are prone to blood clots or heart problems, or are being treated for cancer – your doctor may be able to get an idea of which vaccine is best for you. Different vaccines, for example, there are different possible side effects.
Ease: If you only want convenience, choose the shot that is easiest to obtain. My 80-year-old mother-in-law, who lives in New Mexico, actually drew Johnson & Johnson because that’s what she was offered in her small village. His plan is to get everything offered by his local provider because finding a different attraction will take a long drive. My advice to him is to do his best as soon as possible. There will probably be a J.&J. I know the booster will give him more protection than he does now.
What You Need to Know About Covid-19 Booster Shots
The FDA has allowed booster shots for millions of buyers. Pfizer-BioNTech, modern and Johnson and Johnson vaccines. Pfizer and Moderna recipients who qualify for support include people aged 65 and over and young adults at high risk of serious Covid-19 due to medical conditions or where they work. Eligible Pfizer and Moderna recipients can receive a boost for at least six months after their second dose. All Johnson & Johnson recipients will be eligible for a second shoot at least two months after the first.
Yeah. The FDA has updated its mandate to allow medical providers to empower people with a different vaccine than the one they originally received. “Mix and Match.” You can get a booster for any other vaccine, whether you’ve received Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, or Pfizer-BioNTech. The regulators did not recommend any vaccine over the other as a booster. They also remained silent on whether it would be preferable to use the same vaccine whenever possible.
The CDC said conditions that qualify a person for a booster shot include: hypertension and heart disease; diabetes or obesity; cancer or blood diseases; weakened immune system; chronic lung, kidney, or liver disease; dementia and some disabilities. Pregnant women and current and former smokers are also eligible.
The FDA has allowed boosters for workers whose jobs put them at risk of exposure to potentially infectious humans. The CDC says the group includes: emergency health workers; education workers; food and agricultural workers; manufacturing workers; correction workers; US Postal Service employees; public transport workers; grocery workers.
Yeah. The CDC says the Covid vaccine can be administered regardless of the timing of other vaccines, and many pharmacy sites allow people to schedule a flu shot at the same time as a booster dose.
Concerns about risk: Individuals particularly concerned about Covid-19 may decide to base decisions on booster vaccines on preliminary research and choose Moderna, due to early research showing it stimulates higher levels of neutralizing antibodies.
Familiarity: Some people may make decisions based on their experience with their first shot. They already know that their body handles the first dose without any complications, so they may be inclined to choose the same vaccine for the booster shot.
Dr. Asaf Bitton, executive director of Ariadne Labs Working at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Dr. Johnson & Johnson advises patients taking it to mix and match with Moderna or Pfizer, based on preliminary study data showing a higher antibody response. But for patients who have received Moderna or Pfizer with mRNA vaccines, he recommends sticking with what you know if you haven’t had any complications with the first two doses.
Dr. “My pragmatic side says that if you’ve taken Pfizer and done well with it, then it makes sense to get a booster from the same,” Bitton said. “Tracking the pharmacy that’s Moderna instead of Pfizer – is it worth it? I’m not yet convinced that’s the case with the data we have. Unless you find yourself in a position to only get one particular strain, I’d say stick with what you have in the mRNA family.”
Does it matter that the moderna booster is only half a dose?
The NIH study of booster shots looked at whether there was a difference in response between those who received 100 micrograms of Moderna boosters and those who received a 50 microgram dose. These results are not yet available, but according to experts, it doesn’t look like there will be much of a difference, if any.
How long does the booster last? Will I need another one soon?
There is no answer to this question yet, but we will find out in the coming months as scientists continue to study large groups of people who have been vaccinated and have received supplements.
What if I’m not yet eligible for a boost?
depending on how current guidelines By interpreting reinforcers, roughly 85 percent of the adult population may already be eligible. But while the evidence is clear that older or immunocompromised people may benefit from additional vaccines, the original vaccine doses still do a good job of protecting people from serious illness and hospitalization. It’s also important to remember that booster shots alone will not end the pandemic.
Philadelphia Children’s Hospital Vaccine Education Center director Dr. “The question is to what extent all this empowering frenzy is really going to impact this epidemic,” said Paul A. Offit. “Probably not much. If you’ve been hospitalized with this virus, it’s not because you didn’t get a third dose; it’s because you didn’t receive any dose.”