Vaccine Megathread No 2 - Read OP before posting

odyssey06

New Covid-19 vaccine boosters which protect against strains of the Omicron variant will be rolled out from next month. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has recommended authorised adapted bivalent vaccines for all those aged 12 years and older who are eligible for a booster vaccination. The new boosters include components of the original virus strain of Sars-CoV-2 and the Omicron variant.

First booster doses continue to be offered to people aged 12 and older and people aged 5 to 11 with a weak immune system who have yet to receive one.

Second boosters are being offered to the following:

• People aged 50 to 64
• People aged over 12 who are at high risk of severe illness
• People aged over 12 in a long-term care facility
• Healthcare workers
• Pregnant women (over 16 weeks)

Anyone who is eligible for both a flu vaccine and a Covid booster vaccine can receive them at the same time from participating GPs and pharmacies from next month once its been at least four months since their last Covid-19 vaccine or infection.

https://www.thejournal.ie/new-covid-booster-jabs-omicron-strain-next-month-5868741-Sep2022/

Russman

So, if you are under 50 with no underlying conditions etc, and had both doses, plus a booster last year, are you eligible for this new bivalent vaccine ? I'm reading it as no, because you've already had your booster and you're not on the list for a second one ?

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119650028#Comment_119650028

Are the second boosters being offered the new omicron specific one? If not then I wouldn't bother with another alpha booster

Russman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119650190#Comment_119650190

Dunno. I'm not sure if the second boosters being offered currently are being replaced with omicron specific ones, or if its a new booster campaign, so to speak.

Chris_5339762

There are two boosters on the cards at the moment.

Original / BA1 - Likely the one they are talking about as it is authorised. TBH I see no point in this one.

Original / BA4/5 - I don't think this is approved yet but is certainly more current. This is the one I'd go for

opus

A colleague went for their 2nd booster shot to the centre in Cork city earlier, they were saying it was almost empty with the staff hanging around looking at their phones & laptops. They got the Pfizer vaccine this time round.

kazamo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119655752#Comment_119655752

I got mine two weeks ago in Punchestown and there was no one there. Talking to one of the staff, he said it was typical of every day they’re open. Last December I stood in the cold for four hours, this time in and out in less than 10 minutes.

I found it quite depressing as we have quickly forgotten the hardship others felt with previous strains and some never made it.

corkie

What a cocktail of vaccines I have received.

• First was janssen in June 2021 (Single shot).
• Second was Moderna in Dec 2021 (First Booster).
• Third was Pfizer, received today Sept 2022 (Second Booster).

Got in the chemist today, after putting my name down, when they announced over 50's could get it.

Probably not a bivalent vaccine.

The HSE will include adapted bivalent booster vaccines in the Vaccination Progamme from early October. The HSE also plans to commence its influenza vaccine programme at this time. From October, anyone who is eligible for both a flu vaccine and a COVID-19 booster vaccine can receive them at the same time from participating GPs and pharmacies, so long as they are at least 4 months since their last COVID-19 vaccine or infection.

I probably should have done more research in advance and applied for it and the flu vaccine together.

Still need to arrange the Flu vaccine.

walus

Dr. Aseem Malhotra (cardiologist) one of the early proponents of vaccines who originally dismissed vaccine hesitancy and called it an anti-vax propaganda, has just made a U-turn and calls for an immediate pause and reappraisal of global vaccination policies for COVID-19. Based on a thorough research he claims that there is a significant risk associated with Pfizer mRNA vaccine as he points specifically at the cardiovascular issues.

He claims that there is a greater risk of suffering a serious life changing injury from the mRNA vaccine than from the disease itself. He calls for an immediate end to covid -19 vaccination program and a thorough investigation. Mentions 2021 vs 2020 14,000 unexplained out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in UK alone and Israel with its 25% more cardiac deaths in 16-39 year old cohort.

Interview he gave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5uyYSkPVng

And publications he refers to:

https://insulinresistance.org/index.php/jir/article/view/71

https://insulinresistance.org/index.php/jir/article/view/72

It may make sense to think twice before taking more of these drugs.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119679813#Comment_119679813

Seems like a rant to me. Where is the actual data? Thorough research? Reads like a luke warm rehash of the same debunked nonsense about vaccines such as VAERS.

The same doctor comes out with thus sort of Twitter nonsense.

"The FDA is on the payroll of the industry it regulates."

https://twitter.com/draseemmalhotra/status/1497856550160977922

And the article references research by Gundy thoroughly debunked here:

https://www.respectfulinsolence.com/2021/11/24/how-antivaxxers-weaponized-an-abstract-by-a-goop-doctor-against-covid-19-vaccines/

Spudman_20000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119679932#Comment_119679932

How is it nonsense? Half of the FDA's funding comes from the companies seeking drug authorisation. You'd have to be very naïve to think there aren't conflicts of interests within that:

https://today.uconn.edu/2021/05/why-is-the-fda-funded-in-part-by-the-companies-it-regulates-2/#

There were also high level FDA officials who resigned around the time of booster shots authorisation:

https://www.ft.com/content/af8da7d4-43ea-41d6-90ee-f959b3675cc5

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119680054#Comment_119680054

They are not 'on the payroll', which has a different meaning. It's obvious when someone comes out with rubbish like this on Twitter you can almost predict what nonsense they will follow with. And they did.

ceadaoin.

Another FDA vaccine official, and literal inventor of vaccines, Paul Offit, has also come out and said young healthy people shouldn't take the new boosters, and that a risk-benefit analysis needs to be done and further shots only recommended to those actually at risk from covid. Guess he's a crank now too

https://www.wsj.com/articles/cdc-oversells-the-bivalent-covid-shot-hospitalizations-vaccine-booster-omicron-pandemic-pfizer-moderna-china-illness-death-11663793472

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2203329

Also, if you think that some fda board members aren't on the payroll of pharma companies then you should watch dopesick. Fda officials who worked with them to approve opioids for various non serious ailments went on to take very high paying jobs with Purdue pharma. And it didn't just happen in that instance. The fda commissioner who approved the moderna vaccines went to work for another of the founders companies. Totally not suspicious and the exact same as the corruption thats been happening for years 🙄

https://www.science.org/content/article/hidden-conflicts-pharma-payments-fda-advisers-after-drug-approvals-spark-ethical

That's besides the actual fact that almost half of their funding comes from the companies they are supposed to be regulating on behalf of the american people, as mentioned above

astrofool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119681851#Comment_119681851

It will be a yearly flu shot for most with a tweaked bi-valent or multi-valent vaccine coming out each year. The science is proven here and works very successfully and most importantly, very very safely.

If the same doctor is being consistent, he'll also be against the yearly flu vaccine.

And even then, at most he's saying it may not be better than the monovalent vaccine (it will be, unless something "magic" occurs or a new very different variant outpace Omicron and it's offshoots).

thejuggler

I received a Moderna vaccine booster yesterday (previous shots were Pfizer) Any way of knowing if it is the new bivalent version? Covid cert states Spikevax sars-cov-2 mRNA vaccine

corkie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119689337#Comment_119689337

The HSE will include adapted bivalent booster vaccines in the Vaccination Progamme from early October. The HSE also plans to commence its influenza vaccine programme at this time. From October, anyone who is eligible for both a flu vaccine and a COVID-19 booster vaccine can receive them at the same time from participating GPs and pharmacies, so long as they are at least 4 months since their last COVID-19 vaccine or infection.

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/cd8a4-minister-for-health-announces-use-of-adapted-bivalent-vaccines-as-boosters-in-irelands-covid-19-vaccine-programme/

ceadaoin.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119688686#Comment_119688686

No he doesn't think its the same as the yearly flu shot because the flu is much more strain specific than covid, and changes yearly. having been infected with one strain or vaccinated against it offers no protection against other types. However, if you've been infected with covid, or vaccinated previously, then you have protection from severe disease through your t cells so he is questioning the need for anyone who has been infected or vaccinated to ever need another covid shot. It's not inconsistent, it's logical. The science around the need for these boosters or their efficacy is very much not 'proven' (mouse trials only). But sure, he just (co) invented the rotavirus vaccine, what does he know?

He explains this at 31.28 in the following video.

https://zdoggmd.com/paul-offit-10/

Goldengirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119689917#Comment_119689917

Yeah. There is a definite move that young people and children don't need any more vaccination unless they are at high risk.

Obviously that is assuming Covid does not mutate again to be more severe or attacking younger groups.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119689917#Comment_119689917

Actually, that's not necessarily true about the flu vaccine either.

https://www.marshfieldclinic.org/news/news-articles/prior-flu-season-vaccines-may-provide-residual-protection

It is possible flu vaccines also create an immune system effect against other strains.

Even if you are infected by a strain of the flu that isn’t covered by this year’s vaccine, studies show that your symptoms may be milder and that you may recover faster.

https://www.uabmedicine.org/-/flu-strains-explained-and-how-the-vaccine-works

And the protection against severe covid from T cells does wane also, at a much slower rate than antibodies, but that is the rationale for boosters for vulnerable groups. This has shown up in studies. If he has evidence to the contrary, then do share.

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119689975#Comment_119689975

I don't know what the stats are but I can't imagine many parents vaccinated their 5-11 year olds. Maybe I am wrong but there didn't seem to be much take up at the time. Guessing less than 20%.

Goldengirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119690013#Comment_119690013

Whatever about teens the lack of severe disease in younger children is the rationale behind it.

Unfortunately not protecting children from Covid however mild may lead to other issues but thats another story..

odyssey06

A tragedy, whether related to vaccine or not, but if you started trying to list the names of the people the vaccine protected from covid the thread would break boards.

jackboy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119690331#Comment_119690331

I’m not sure the vaccines protected many young healthy people.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119690375#Comment_119690375

They were at less risk but it still protected them against hospitalisation, long covid and importantly - the people around them.

Goldengirl

@Cluedo Monopoly not far off there.

Average vaccination rate for 5 to 11 year olds to Sept 22 acc to CSO was 21% countrywide, with rates of 5% in places to 54% in others usually related to population density.

jackboy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119690404#Comment_119690404

Significantly though? I’m not sure. I have never met a young healthy person that got long covid. I’m sure they are out there, but rare.

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119690404#Comment_119690404

Hold on. Are you saying they non immunocompromised 5-11 year olds were hospitalised in Ireland during Covid? I had the impression that they hardly got a sniffle in that age group. According to Goldengirl 79% of 5-11 year olds are not vaccinated. Parents don't see the need. Maybe the 21% were for travel reasons.

Goldengirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119690702#Comment_119690702

I just gave the statistics .

Looking at the map on the CSO site the highest level of child vaccinations were in mainly more densely populated areas .

Parents in high density areas saw the need to vaccinate their children by about 54% versus those in lower density areas like Donegal and Leitrim .

By your reckoning that it may be travel related does that mean they travel less in those areas ?

Or is it that their general vaccination levels are lower ?

Or do they see less of a risk to their children ?

I do know that both of these low vaccination areas had some of the highest levels of infection .

Now whether that resulted in higher infection rates in those younger age groups I don't know .

Edit have tried to post link from CSO unsuccessfully a few times now but my tech is acting up .

Goldengirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119690444#Comment_119690444

Probably less of a voice ...

Lots of studies showing seemingly insignificant Covid infections resulting in chronic illness in children and adolescents.

fun loving criminal

Does anyone know if they're giving the bivalent shot yet? Wanted to get bolstered a few weeks ago but I'm holding off until I get the bivalent vaccine. And does it cover the BA1 or BA5 variant, anyone know?