No Booster Shot Before Eligibility

[Jonathan Fairfield]

 

By Silada Rojratanakiat

 

To combat fear of Omicron’s spreading, Thailand said on Tuesday that it would immediately reimpose tight international travel restrictions. Strengthening entry restrictions is one solution while accelerating the booster vaccination rollout program is another. Last week, a seminar hosted by Thailand’s National Vaccine Institute on "How to Cope with the Emergence of a New Virus Strain" confirmed that Omicron has not outwitted the protection provided by vaccines, but boosters are also necessary to prevent Omicron infection. Booster shots are now widely used to promote COVID-19 protection, raising issues regarding why and when they should be given.

 

Are booster shots common for vaccines

 

Immunity against a virus is rarely absolute. Getting three shots is a common option. Objecting to or criticizing a booster is unreasonable. Boosters are common. The most often mentioned boosters are flu boosters. Each year, the vaccine is modified to account for new strains of flu. Additionally, boosters for measles, mumps, and rubella are accessible to the general population. COVID-19 vaccines will very certainly be altered in the future to accommodate a variant, much like a flu shot is. That is to be anticipated.

 

People will continue to get booster doses for the duration of the disease’s presence in the community. If the disease is eliminated, there will be no need for COVID-19 boosters. Smallpox is an ideal example. For decades, the world administered smallpox vaccines, but individuals no longer get them since the virus was mostly wiped from the population owing to the vaccine.

 

However, no booster shot before you are eligible.

 

Waiting a few months between doses helps the immune system "remember". After creating crude antibodies to a new opponent, the body focuses on making stronger antibodies that may be amplified swiftly when triggered by another dose of vaccination or natural infection. After two COVID-19 vaccine shots, patients have freshly formed B and T cells ready to create antibodies and target the coronavirus. To fight against an invasion, those cells need to develop in the body. A dosage delivered too early may restart something that was already functioning.

 

When to get it

 

The timing of the third dosage will likely be determined by the virus’s circulating levels. Experts advise sacrificing peak responsiveness to acquire protection faster if many viruses are spreading. It may come down to a trade-off between optimum protection and acute infection risk. The first two shots of vaccine should also help determine the time, as the time between the second and third doses varies by vaccination type.

 

The Thai government has decided on booster dose timing. Those who had their first two doses of Sinovac or Sinopharm may choose AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Moderna for their booster four weeks later. Those who had two AstraZeneca doses may choose Pfizer or Moderna for their booster three months later, while those who received two Pfizer or two Moderna doses can choose either vaccine for their booster six months later.

 

Those who received mixed vaccines, such as Sinovac and AstraZeneca or Sinopharm and AstraZeneca, may choose AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Moderna as their third shot, three months after the second shot. People who have received Sinovac and Pfizer or Sinopharm and Pfizer may select either Pfizer or Moderna for their booster shot, three months after their second jab. Six months after their second jab, those who had AstraZeneca and Pfizer may decide between Pfizer or Moderna for their third injection.

 

Is there a post-booster breakthrough case for COVID-19

 

Any vaccine is not perfect. People do get breakthrough infections. Some may claim, "I received a booster, but I got COVID anyway." That affects how people perceive the vaccine’s effectiveness.

 

Yes, vaccinated people can become sick, but they do not usually die. That is the vaccine in action. Even though antibody levels naturally decline over time, vaccines continue to protect against severe sickness, hospitalization, and mortality caused by COVID-19, despite the presence of variants such as Delta or Omicron.

 

Kindly keep in mind that immunizations are not intended to completely prevent illness. Rather, the purpose of immunization is to protect against serious illness. It is impractical to expect the vaccine to prevent all symptoms. What to anticipate is the effective prevention of severe instances and hospitalizations. That is the toll taken in terms of human life. It is the economic cost, as well as the cost of the healthcare system.

 

It is also important for unvaccinated people to get vaccinated.

 

Get in line for boosters. They boost immunity and help people avoid becoming sick during an Omicron surge. Nevertheless, the vital point here is that Thailand urgently needs to vaccinate and boost everyone eligible. People must be safeguarded to the greatest extent possible against these novel variants since data on their severity and long-term effects are currently insufficient.

 

People want their freedom restored, and they hope boosters will accomplish this. Boosters, on their own, will not achieve such a thing. Yet, vaccinating those who are not already immunized will ensure that this occurs. As long as the virus persists in unprotected communities in Thailand, new variants may evolve and spread, highlighting the need to put injections into unvaccinated people’s arms.

 

 

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-12-26

 

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[Gsxrnz]

What's next? Is the medical and scientific world yet zealot enough to recommend vaccinations of the embryo?

 

I would have thought not, but at the moment all bets are off in our Huxley's and Orwell's dystopian nightmare come true.

 

 

[mahtin]

Very well written.

Thank you.

[RAZZELL]

Where can people get the booster?

 

RAZZ

[Doctor Tom]

1 minute ago, RAZZELL said:

Where can people get the booster?

 

RAZZ

If you have had two already, under the government scheme, I am told that the hospital will contact you (us) in Spring to come forward for a booster.  I for one will be taking up that offer, but that will be the last one for me, no forth or subsequent vaccines for me. 

[Chris.B]

5 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

but that will be the last one for me, no forth or subsequent vaccines for me. 

Up to you, matey!

[ThailandRyan]

8 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

If you have had two already, under the government scheme, I am told that the hospital will contact you (us) in Spring to come forward for a booster.  I for one will be taking up that offer, but that will be the last one for me, no forth or subsequent vaccines for me. 

But for those that have had two shots of AZ already many of us are at 3 months plus already.  Waiting until spring puts us out 6 to 8 months from the last jab.  Yet MedPark indicated that I needed to wait until they were notified they could start giving boosters at 3 months.

[Chris.B]

2 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

But for those that have had two shots of AZ already many of us are at 3 months plus already.  Waiting until spring puts us out 6 to 8 months from the last jab.  Yet MedPark indicated that I needed to wait until they were notified they could start giving boosters at 3 months.

Sorry but you had them to early. ????????

[StayinThailand2much]

30 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

Sorry but you had them to early. ????????

... and you might grow an extra leg.

[rbkk]

22 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

But for those that have had two shots of AZ already many of us are at 3 months plus already.  Waiting until spring puts us out 6 to 8 months from the last jab.  Yet MedPark indicated that I needed to wait until they were notified they could start giving boosters at 3 months.

Perhaps you need to travel further afield? Lower Isaan (Buriram/Surin/Sisaket/Khon Khan  at least to my knowledge perhaps others) have availability for interprovincial walk-ins. (Example: Surin Rajaphat University vaccine station) You can chose your vaccine or booster; Pfizer, Moderna etc. I had a Moderna Booster on the 16th December after 2 x AZ (3+ months). My wife had a full 1st dose of Moderna. Both were free. The problem is a low take-up of the vaccines on offer.

[Jingthing]

They have made it too hard to actually get the boosters for many of us that are eligible. If it was easy for you great. Note the word many does not mean all. 

 

As for many its difficult to actually make this happen for those that want it imagine the reaction of the vaccine hesitant! They definitely won't bother. 

 

Not only does the government need to persuade the hesitant they need to make it much easier and much more convenient to actually get it.

 

Anything short of that is failure.

 

 

Edited December 26, 2021 by Jingthing

[rbkk]

5 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

They have made it too hard to actually get the boosters for many of us that are eligible. If it was easy for you great. Note the word many does not mean all. 

For those that make the effort there is a way. This is not a postcode lottery like when the Pfizer first arrived and was restricted to certain areas. Anyone from any province in Thailand is accepted.

[richard_smith237]

MedPark will issue (paid for) Moderna Boosters whenever you want (if you have paid for them)

 

Brother in Law (owns a restaurant) had his first booster on 10th Nov, he had another Booster on 24th Dec - No one stopped him and informed him that he wasn’t eligible (he’s 40 yrs old). 

 

I am having my Moderna booster at MedPark (paid for) tomorrow (brother in Law booked that one for me) at 4.5 months since my last Pfizer Vax. 

 

 

-----

 

 

I’m not worried about the Omicron variant other than the consequences to the convenience of travel if I do catch Covid-19 and which would impact my travel to work. I am hoping the ‘booster’ makes the difference between contracting and not contracting the virus.

 

People would argue that this vaccine does not stop us catching Omicron, I disagree... if 100,000 un-vaccinated people vs 100,000 vaccinated people come into contract with someone who contagious with Covid-19 (Omicron variant or any other) significantly more un-vaccinated people would contract Covid-19. 

 

 

 

 

[ThailandRyan]

19 minutes ago, rbkk said:

Perhaps you need to travel further afield? Lower Isaan (Buriram/Surin/Sisaket/Khon Khan  at least to my knowledge perhaps others) have availability for interprovincial walk-ins. (Example: Surin Rajaphat University vaccine station) You can chose your vaccine or booster; Pfizer, Moderna etc. I had a Moderna Booster on the 16th December after 2 x AZ (3+ months). My wife had a full 1st dose of Moderna. Both were free. The problem is a low take-up of the vaccines on offer.

Possibilities loom large, but when you live in one of the populous city centers of Thailand like Bangkok, you would have figured they would be on board here.  The outer provinces still are at a fraction of what Bangkok has as far as fully vaccinated folks.

[rbkk]

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

MedPark will issue (paid for) Moderna Boosters whenever you want (if you have paid for them)

 

Brother in Law (owns a restaurant) had his first booster on 10th Nov, he had another Booster on 24th Dec - No one stopped him and informed him that he wasn’t eligible (he’s 40 yrs old). 

 

I am having my Moderna booster at MedPark (paid for) tomorrow (brother in Law booked that one for me) at 4.5 months since my last Pfizer Vax. 

 

 

-----

 

 

I’m not worried about the Omicron variant other than the consequences to the convenience of travel if I do catch Covid-19 and which would impact my travel to work. I am hoping the ‘booster’ makes the difference between contracting and not contracting the virus.

 

People would argue that this vaccine does not stop us catching Omicron, I disagree... if 100,000 un-vaccinated people vs 100,000 vaccinated people come into contract with someone who contagious with Covid-19 (Omicron variant or any other) significantly more un-vaccinated people would contract Covid-19. 

 

 

 

 

Exactly! Why would MedPark give it out free when they are making money.

[Enzian]

I have nothing against the shots. To me it is just a numbers game; being over 80 the numbers are way in favor of getting the shots, and if bad things happen, well, life isn't fair anyway. 

I had a Thai government shot of AZ in June, then in California a Pfizer in July and another Pfizer mid-August. So I'm only 4 months out, 6 is February. But I'm tempted to start looking next month. (I'm back in LOS.) Anyone have any reading or links regarding 5 months out in such a case? I can't see much difference in one month over that stretch of time.

[rbkk]

2 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Possibilities loom large, but when you live in one of the populous city centers of Thailand like Bangkok, you would have figured they would be on board here.  The outer provinces still are at a fraction of what Bangkok has as far as fully vaccinated folks.

The availability of vaccines is better away from the masses.

[Jingthing]

7 minutes ago, rbkk said:

For those that make the effort there is a way. This is not a postcode lottery like when the Pfizer first arrived and was restricted to certain areas. Anyone from any province in Thailand is accepted.

It shouldn't require much effort. You missed my point entirely. 

[richard_smith237]

5 minutes ago, rbkk said:

15 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

They have made it too hard to actually get the boosters for many of us that are eligible. If it was easy for you great. Note the word many does not mean all. 

For those that make the effort there is a way. This is not a postcode lottery like when the Pfizer first arrived and was restricted to certain areas. Anyone from any province in Thailand is accepted.

6 months ago a lot of people were complaining that they couldn’t secure vaccinations... they spent of their time complaining and arguing instead of doing their research and finding solutions...   

 

The same goes for now.... There are ‘booster’ solutions and have been for a while now....  

 

Some just want to complain instead.

 

 

 

 

[Chris.B]

6 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

6 months ago a lot of people were complaining that they couldn’t secure vaccinations... they spent of their time complaining and arguing instead of doing their research and finding solutions...   

 

The same goes for now.... There are ‘booster’ solutions and have been for a while now....  

 

Some just want to complain instead.

 

 

 

 

6 months ago was 26th June 2021, Outside of Bangkok and Chonburi, there were no vaccines available for foreigners. I know because I was being told "only for Thai people". ☹️

 

Edited December 26, 2021 by Chris.B

[Liverpool Lou]

16 minutes ago, rbkk said:

Exactly! Why would MedPark give it out free when they are making money.

Probably because they had to pay for it.   They are not currently supplied with an allocation from the government to provide free of charge.

[ramrod711]

2 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Kindly keep in mind that immunizations are not intended to completely prevent illness.

If they work well enough to prevent the need for someone sticking a tube down my throat to enable breathing, that's effective enough for me.

[rbkk]

11 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Probably because they had to pay for it.   They are not currently supplied with an allocation from the government to provide free of charge.

MedPark are doing Covid-19 vaccines for a profit. The Thai government are giving the same away for free.

[ThailandRyan]

Just now, rbkk said:

MedPark are doing Covid-19 vaccines for a profit. The Thai government are giving the same away for free.

Got both my AZ jabs at Medpark free of charge.

[rbkk]

6 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Got both my AZ jabs at Medpark free of charge.

Correction: MedPark are doing Moderna boosters for a profit. They are not able to do for free. The Thai government are giving the same away for free from their various donated supplies.

Edited December 26, 2021 by rbkk

[Neeranam]

Nonsense, that person hasn't a clue. 

[Liverpool Lou]

9 minutes ago, rbkk said:

23 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Probably because they had to pay for it.   They are not currently supplied with an allocation from the government to provide free of charge.

MedPark are doing Covid-19 vaccines for a profit. The Thai government are giving the same away for free.

That's not accurate, MedPark has been heavily involved in the free 1st and 2nd vaccination programme. 

 

This is about booster shoots and they do not have booster allocations to provide free from the government as they did with the initial vaccines.  Those who want to go private (MedPark is a private hospital!) can do so if they choose or can wait until the private hospitals are provided with government booster allocations that those hospitals will distribute free of charge.

[Liverpool Lou]

9 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Nonsense, that person hasn't a clue. 

Which person?!

[LiamB80]

The the article said “objecting to or criticizing a booster is unreasonable”. These vaccines and boosters are not risk free. Speaking the truth about what’s really going on with the shots is not being unreasonable. Get vaccinated and boosted so you can still catch covid and spread it. 

[rbkk]

5 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

That's not accurate, MedPark has been heavily involved in the free 1st and 2nd vaccination programme. 

 

This is about booster shoots and they do not have booster allocations to provide free from the government as they did with the initial vaccines.  Those who want to go private (MedPark is a private hospital!) can do so if they choose or can wait until the private hospitals are provided with government booster allocations that those hospitals will distribute free of charge.

Or can go to certain government hospitals now.