General COVID-19 Vaccine Discussion

[I love to travel]

Does anyone have the latest research on the optimum gap between Pfizer injections. Qld Health are saying between 3 to 6 weeks so was wondering where I should be aiming for when I book second appointment. Thanks

 

[trevella]

Does anyone have the latest research on the optimum gap between Pfizer injections. Qld Health are saying between 3 to 6 weeks so was wondering where I should be aiming for when I book second appointment. Thanks

Three weeks or six weeks will make only a trivial difference to the amount of protection you have until the first booster arrives. So you may as well go for three weeks to get protected as soon as possible given that pretty much anything could happen in Queensland over the next couple of months.

 

[jakeseven7]

Does anyone have the latest research on the optimum gap between Pfizer injections. Qld Health are saying between 3 to 6 weeks so was wondering where I should be aiming for when I book second appointment. Thanks

Honestly I’d forget all that and just get it ASAP. What if there is an outbreak (again) tomorrow in QLD? What if something happens and interrupts the supply of vaccines? You would be kicking yourself if you missed out.

We are all going to need boosters anyway (and the people who take mRNA will probably need sooner as the protection falls away more quickly).

Just my opinion and I’m wary of pointing people to specific research as although I work in healthcare I’m not an expert on vaccines.

 

[trevella]

The US seems to be definitely going down the path of booster shots. A very interesting comment made about the Pfizer vaccine -

"Biden administration officials are particularly concerned about data from Israel suggesting that the Pfizer-BioNTech’s protection against severe disease has fallen significantly for elderly people who were vaccinated in January or February."

and

"The latest data from Israel, posted on the government’s website on Monday, shows what some experts describe as continued erosion of the efficacy of the Pfizer vaccine over time — both against mild or asymptomatic Covid-19 infections in general and against severe disease among the elderly."

U.S. to Advise Boosters for Most Americans 8 Months After Vaccination (Published 2021)

Nursing home residents and health care workers will most likely be the first to get booster shots, as soon as September, followed by other older people who were vaccinated last winter.

www.nytimes.com

A good explanation of how to properly interpret the Israeli data:

Israeli data: How can efficacy vs. severe disease be strong when 60% of hospitalized are vaccinated?

A surge involving the rapidly-transmitting Delta variant in heavily vaccinated countries has led to much hand-wringing that the vaccines are not effective against Delta, or vaccine effectivenss wanes after 4-6 months. This has fueled anti-vaccine sentiment suggesting the vaccines are not...

www.covid-datascience.com

Basically, when a higher proportion of the elderly are vaccinated and it’s the elderly who tend to get sick anyway, you’ll get a misleading impression of vaccine effectiveness unless you break down the data appropriately.

 

[Flashback]

My understanding based on trials being done in the UK is that the booster will mix and match i.e. if your first jabs were AZ then Pfizer or Moderna for your booster and vice versa.

I don't agree with the above posts re: spacing between Pfizer jabs but each to their own and we're all allowed to have our own opinions without being attacked.

It makes me rather glad I've been on a short break from here and only just catching up after all the sniping had finished.

 

[Lat34]

It makes me rather glad I've been on a short break from here and only just catching up after all the sniping had finished.

I find judicious use of "ignore content" on various threads improves both reading time and my mental health. Can always show individual comments if required.

 

[jakeseven7]

I find judicious use of "ignore content" on various threads improves both reading time and my mental health. Can always show individual comments if required.

Yes and an imposed ‘holiday’ on two ‘content generators’ was very welcome but unfortunately that has expired! Back to the usual

 

[sinophile888]

I find judicious use of "ignore content" on various threads improves both reading time and my mental health. Can always show individual comments if required.

I have only ignored one poster, but, I agree, it has vastly improved my reading pleasure.

 

[sinophile888]

Yesterday, I was talking to a 62yo Norwegian friend who hasn't had her first vaccine yet. She wants Pfizer as AZ is banned in Norway so she can't visit family in the future. She would also be happy with Moderna. My local GP vaccinates 40 - 60 yo with Pfizer. Hopefully, Pfizer will be open to all ages soon.

 

[mviy]

Yesterday, I was talking to a 62yo Norwegian friend who hasn't had her first vaccine yet. She wants Pfizer as AZ is banned in Norway so she can't visit family in the future. She would also be happy with Moderna. My local GP vaccinates 40 - 60 yo with Pfizer. Hopefully, Pfizer will be open to all ages soon.

There are millions of young people to do. Also even if 16-39 year old demand is not sufficient they may well open up Pfizer to 12-15 year olds before the elderly. Pfizer for the elderly in general is probably not till sometime in at least October.

In Sydney where the recommended gap between AZ doses is just 4 weeks due to the outbreak, the elderly may not be eligible for Pfizer for longer than elsewhere.

 

[Pushka]

Oxford studies are suggesting that the effictivenss of Pfizer wanes faster than AZ.

Pfizer effectiveness declines faster than AZ

The effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against Covid-19 declines faster than that of the AstraZeneca jab, according to a new study published on Thursday.

www.news.com.au

 

[mviy]

Oxford studies are suggesting that the effictivenss of Pfizer wanes faster than AZ.

Glad I have had AZ (well one dose so far).

Need more studies to verify these findings though.

 

[serfty]

Three weeks or six weeks will make only a trivial difference to the amount of protection you have until the first booster arrives. So you may as well go for three weeks to get protected as soon as possible given that pretty much anything could happen in Queensland over the next couple of months.

Not that some have the time, but 12 weeks with Pfizer may be better for longer term protection based on the real life comparison between Israel and UK vaccination regimes as mentioned upthread.
Couple of good videos on this by Dr John Campbell who is a great resource for COVID information:


The implication is that having 8 to 12 weeks between Pfizer doses provides for better (88%) longer term symptomatic protection than having just 3 to 4 weeks between doses (41%).

There is not so much disparity with the implication that in the longer term for Hospitalisation being 91% for 3 to 4 weeks against 96% for 8 to 12 weeks.

 

[I love to travel]

Not that some have the time, but 12 weeks with Pfizer may be better for longer term protection based on the real life comparison between Israel and UK vaccination regimes as mentioned upthread.
Couple of good videos on this by Dr John Campbell who is a great resource for COVID information:

The implication is that having 8 to 12 weeks between Pfizer doses provides for better (88%) longer term symptomatic protection than having just 3 to 4 weeks between doses (41%).

There is not so much disparity with the implication that in the longer term for Hospitalisation being 91% for 3 to 4 weeks against 96% for 8 to 12 weeks.

I ended up scheduling near on 6 week break for Pfizer. This was the GP recommendation on Monday.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Oxford studies are suggesting that the effictivenss of Pfizer wanes faster than AZ.

Pfizer effectiveness declines faster than AZ

The effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against Covid-19 declines faster than that of the AstraZeneca jab, according to a new study published on Thursday.

www.news.com.au

It’s turning out to be interesting and unfortunately somewhat amusing, that the European ( anti Brexit) and US campaigns of misinformation against the NFP AZ developers wrt to the profiteers of US and European developed vaccines are coming undone. AZ is proving to be one of the best vaccines for most and which is available to the world at cost not lining the coffers of certain pharma companies.

edit. Autocorrect spelling

 

[ethernet]

I ended up scheduling near on 6 week break for Pfizer. This was the GP recommendation on Monday.

Yes, Dr John C does have timely soundbites that are on the mark. And that real world effectiveness between AZ and PF are closer at the 8 month mark, leading to I guess is wait 9 months to get a booster as the Israel numbers pan out. Given the Sydney situation, short timeframes between doses are a necessary evil, although WA and Qld could space the shots further apart while things are quiet. The asymptomatic higher breakthrough infections in Pfizer shots will mean the elimination policy will be impossible in 7 months or so.

 

[trevella]

Not that some have the time, but 12 weeks with Pfizer may be better for longer term protection based on the real life comparison between Israel and UK vaccination regimes as mentioned upthread.
Couple of good videos on this by Dr John Campbell who is a great resource for COVID information:

The implication is that having 8 to 12 weeks between Pfizer doses provides for better (88%) longer term symptomatic protection than having just 3 to 4 weeks between doses (41%).

There is not so much disparity with the implication that in the longer term for Hospitalisation being 91% for 3 to 4 weeks against 96% for 8 to 12 weeks.

Not sure why you're quoting me, unless you've succumbed to lyndastrawman disease.

But why try to tweak one's personal and societal survival strategy for the "longer term" when
(1) The difference between first-dose and second-dose protection is huge
(2) Leaving a longer gap leaves you exposed that much longer in the meantime
and
(3) The booster rollout might not be botched as badly as the initial vaccine rollout, in which case the "longer term" is vastly less important than the here and now?

Get everyone to their second jab as quickly as possible, then sweat the refinements later.

Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

And don't believe that pissing on the bacon makes the lettuce crisper or the bread tastier.

And let's not even mention the tomato.

¡Ay, caramba!

 

[MARTINE]

CHECK YOUR COVID VACCINE MEDICARE CERTIFICATE:

Hi AFF family.

I am fully vaccinated and happily downloaded my Covid vaccination proof but found month of my birthday out by one month

….so went into myGov and found medicare had my date of birth similarly one month out.. how? For how long? Given I’ve used it the card for years ++++ and it has always functioned .. ???

now the fun begins .. you cannot change it online ..must ring Medicare … I rang Medicare repeatedly (but ‘we are not taking calls due to volume abd cuts out’)… having been ‘in the profession’ a call to the doctors line of Immunisation Register revealed they can’t do it or even put me through to a section of Medicare that can (but kudos to the operator who did try but computer said no) ..she did reveal many calls about thiS very problem…..

so….every call to Medicare still no luck…incorrect vax proof even though I am fully vaccinated … wrong Medicare DOB …

I am raising this so that the group check this has not also happened to you
…. And it’s my lockdown project to get it fixed before we get to travel overseas where the date of birth on vax proof matching your passport will be critical

Any ideas would be appreciated - next step if another week of not getting through to Medicare - will be letter to fed member…

Have a feeling it will take as long to fix as it will to get on a plane for overseas holiday

 

[I love to travel]

CHECK YOUR COVID VACCINE MEDICARE CERTIFICATE:

Hi AFF family.

I am fully vaccinated and happily downloaded my Covid vaccination proof but found month of my birthday out by one month

….so went into myGov and found medicare had my date of birth similarly one month out.. how? For how long? Given I’ve used it the card for years ++++ and it has always functioned .. ???

now the fun begins .. you cannot change it online ..must ring Medicare … I rang Medicare repeatedly (but ‘we are not taking calls due to volume abd cuts out’)… having been ‘in the profession’ a call to the doctors line of Immunisation Register revealed they can’t do it or even put me through to a section of Medicare that can (but kudos to the operator who did try but computer said no) ..she did reveal many calls about thiS very problem…..

so….every call to Medicare still no luck…incorrect vax proof even though I am fully vaccinated … wrong Medicare DOB …

I am raising this so that the group check this has not also happened to you
…. And it’s my lockdown project to get it fixed before we get to travel overseas where the date of birth on vax proof matching your passport will be critical

Any ideas would be appreciated - next step if another week of not getting through to Medicare - will be letter to fed member…

Have a feeling it will take as long to fix as it will to get on a plane for overseas holiday

@MARTINE tried to start a pm with you but didn't work. PM me

 

[MARTINE]

@MARTINE tried to start a pm with you but didn't work. PM me

My thanks to @I love to travel for their assistance.