Will you get the booster shot?
What's a good neighbor to do?
If science is what we know right now, then what we know right now about the efficacy/need for COVID-19 booster shots is a little confusing.
A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine says get it.
FDA staff say not so fast. An article in The Lancet says the same thing. So far, the Biden White House is still saying get it.
An FDA advisory committee is meeting today to vote on recommendations.
So here is where fortitude and patience can serve you.
When the possibility of a booster shot was announced, I was enthusiastically on board. I’ve avoided COVID-19 by virtue of my Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination since mid-April. The FDA recently approved the Pfizer booster and hang on, lemme roll up my sleeve. Lemme roll up both of them.
On Wednesday, I received an email saying one of my local health providers is providing booster shots to immuno-compromised patients, who, according to the Centers for Disease Control, include, people who have, among other health challenges:
Been receiving active cancer treatment
Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
Are living with advanced or untreated HIV infection
I fall into none of those categories, and as an added wrinkle, the World Health Organization has suggested the rest of us vaccinated people wait on our boosters until countries where residents haven’t had opportunity to get their first round of shots can catch up.
We are not talking about American anti-vaxxers here, because waiting on them is a fool’s errand and I’m no fool. I am, however, talking about those of us who did due diligence to be good neighbors, got the shots, and now are awash in what appears to be conflicting information. I’ll sit tight. The vote today will help make my decision. When some people don’t have access to the basic vaccine, it seems…hoggish….to push on through for a third one.
You?
I totally agree. I won’t jump the line. I’m a 73 year old who has just started 30 days of radiation. I’m getting radiation right next to the room where Pfizer shots are being given, where I got mine in fact. It’s crossed my mind that it might be nice to have a little added protection. The hospital is calling people who are compromised and need the booster. If they call me, I’ll get one but not until then.
What's good for the hive is good for the bee.
As long as I'm not cutting in line, I'll gladly take a booster when it's available. Improving my own chances of staying healthy (virus free) improves everyone's chances.
Between self-medicated sterilization and outright dying from the "hoax," the ignorant unvaccinated folks are doing a fine job of reducing their influence.