OT :Question about the COVID booster shot….

Whart

Well-known member
Oct 8, 2021
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Howdy….my wife ( has allergic reaction tendencies) took the pfizer vaccine for both injections. She had quite severe leg pain and back of neck pain for 1.5 days post injection. A month later she had a colonoscopy and the same reaction occurred. In looking at the ingredients of the Pfizer vaccine and the colonoscopy prep kit the only common ingredient is PEG or Polyethylene Glycol. it Would seem that PEG just might be the culprit. That said, the J&J vaccine has no PEG as an ingredient. My question….can you mix your vaccine…meaning….can you substitute J&J for Pfizer for your “ Booster” to try to avoid the former reaction ? She will be traveling internationally in February and would like the Booster if possible. I have a call into her Doc….and waiting for a call back for an answer . Thought I would check with the Board as well for any similar reactions etc….Thanks !
 
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BrucePa

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Oct 12, 2021
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Had 3 Pfizer shots this year, plus a colonoscopy, with no problems. However, I had a flu shot and felt like I had the flu for about a day afterwards.
 
Oct 12, 2021
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Yes. Zenophile beat me to it.

I've had all three Pfizer shots. The first two left me with a sore arm, not nearly as sore as a tetanus shot though. That was it. When I had the booster, my arm got sore almost immediately. It was more sore than from the first two shots. Around 22 hours after the booster, I started to feel pretty funky. The thing that stood out most was how achy my body was. In any event, I felt better about seven hours later. It was as if somone had toggled a switch for me. I ate and felt great.
 
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bbrown

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Nov 1, 2021
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Yes. Zenophile beat me to it.

I've had the all three Pfizer shots. The first two left me with a sore arm, not nearly as sore as a tetanus shot though. That was it. When I had the booster, my arm got sore almost immediately. It was more sore than from the first two shots. Around 22 hours after the booster, I started to feel pretty funky. The thing that stood out most was how achy my body was. In any event, I felt better about seven hours later. It was as if somone had toggled a switch for me. I ate and felt great.
Pretty much the same for me, except I had all 3 Moderna shots. But this time with the booster it hit almost exactly 24 hours later, Sore red arm, headache, general body aches, chills and massive fatigue. I left work early and went home and slept for about 6 hours, got up ate and went back to bed till morning. It took about another 24 hours until I was feeling normal or whatever my normal is.
 

BobPSU92

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Oct 12, 2021
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Pretty much the same for me, except I had all 3 Moderna shots. But this time with the booster it hit almost exactly 24 hours later, Sore red arm, headache, general body aches, chills and massive fatigue. I left work early and went home and slept for about 6 hours, got up ate and went back to bed till morning. It took about another 24 hours until I was feeling normal or whatever my normal is.

A$$. BEATING. o_O


😉
 

indoorgolf

New member
Oct 25, 2021
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Howdy….my wife ( has allergic reaction tendencies) took the pfizer vaccine for both injections. She had quite severe leg pain and back of neck pain for 1.5 days post injection. A month later she had a colonoscopy and the same reaction occurred. In looking at the ingredients of the Pfizer vaccine and the colonoscopy prep kit the only common ingredient is PEG or Polyethylene Glycol. it Would seem that PEG just might be the culprit. That said, the J&J vaccine has no PEG as an ingredient. My question….can you mix your vaccine…meaning….can you substitute J&J for Pfizer for your “ Booster” to try to avoid the former reaction ? She will be traveling internationally in February and would like the Booster if possible. I have a call into her Doc….and waiting for a call back for an answer . Thought I would check with the Board as well for any similar reactions etc….Thanks !
You can mix vaccines in fact there are so née studies suggesting it may be better to take a different vaccine as your booster. As always CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR
 
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JohnJumba

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Oct 7, 2021
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Yes. Zenophile beat me to it.

I've had all three Pfizer shots. The first two left me with a sore arm, not nearly as sore as a tetanus shot though. That was it. When I had the booster, my arm got sore almost immediately. It was more sore than from the first two shots. Around 22 hours after the booster, I started to feel pretty funky. The thing that stood out most was how achy my body was. In any event, I felt better about seven hours later. It was as if somone had toggled a switch for me. I ate and felt great.
No problems.with the first 2. The booster was a killer for 3 days.
 
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psu31trap

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Oct 29, 2021
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Work is mandating Flu shot and for now leaving the booster shot optional. I’m trying to space both shots a month apart.
 

kgilbert78

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Oct 25, 2021
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I did moderna for my first two and Pfizer for the booster, as Moderna was not available at the time. I as a little bit headachy after the booster. But that was about it.
 
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CoaltownLion1952

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Oct 30, 2021
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Howdy….my wife ( has allergic reaction tendencies) took the pfizer vaccine for both injections. She had quite severe leg pain and back of neck pain for 1.5 days post injection. A month later she had a colonoscopy and the same reaction occurred. In looking at the ingredients of the Pfizer vaccine and the colonoscopy prep kit the only common ingredient is PEG or Polyethylene Glycol. it Would seem that PEG just might be the culprit. That said, the J&J vaccine has no PEG as an ingredient. My question….can you mix your vaccine…meaning….can you substitute J&J for Pfizer for your “ Booster” to try to avoid the former reaction ? She will be traveling internationally in February and would like the Booster if possible. I have a call into her Doc….and waiting for a call back for an answer . Thought I would check with the Board as well for any similar reactions etc….Thanks !
I’ve had 3 Maderna shots with no reaction. However my brother with the same gnome got somewhat sick from the first two shots.
 

bbrown

Well-known member
Nov 1, 2021
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Funny, I got crushed by a tetanus booster. No issues with Covid shot (done after the tetanus).
Way back when (ok 1980) I had to get a tetanus shot to get into Penn State...Hmmm but I digress. ;)
Anyway that thing made me sicker than a dog.
 
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bbrown

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Nov 1, 2021
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Work is mandating Flu shot and for now leaving the booster shot optional. I’m trying to space both shots a month apart.
thats interesting. Have they always mandated a flu shot? Not sure I've ever heard that before.
My boss had both booster and flu and had the same reaction I did to the booster. Actually 3 of us in the Art Room and the Digital press operator all had virtually the same reactions at exactly 24 hours apart. All were Moderna.
I had my flu shot about a month before the booster and had no effects from that at all.
 
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TiogaLion

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Oct 31, 2021
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To answer the OP's question, Yes you can get a booster shot that varies from your original vaccine. Here is the CDC information that was released on October 21st. BTW, I had Pfizer initially and got a Moderna booster which kicked my butt for 2 days but I also got the Flu vaccine at the same time.

"Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots."

 
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LionJim

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Oct 12, 2021
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thats interesting. Have they always mandated a flu shot? Not sure I've ever heard that before.
My boss had both booster and flu and had the same reaction I did to the booster. Actually 3 of us in the Art Room and the Digital press operator all had virtually the same reactions at exactly 24 hours apart. All were Moderna.
I had my flu shot about a month before the booster and had no effects from that at all.
Yeah, my former workplace mandated flu shots this semester, a first-time thing for them.
 

psu31trap

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Oct 29, 2021
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thats interesting. Have they always mandated a flu shot? Not sure I've ever heard that before.
My boss had both booster and flu and had the same reaction I did to the booster. Actually 3 of us in the Art Room and the Digital press operator all had virtually the same reactions at exactly 24 hours apart. All were Moderna.
I had my flu shot about a month before the booster and had no effects from that at all.
Staff resisted until 2017. By 2018 the legal department got its ducks in order and mandated flu shots with very limited exceptions. Still, I stood my ground and refused the shot. Two weeks later my immediate supervisor and an executive level director walked into my office with a tentative termination notice. I succumbed to the pressure and agreed to get the flu shot. I hope to get my flu shot by the end of this month and my booster shot by early January.
 

lions1995

Member
Oct 29, 2021
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One J & J and I do not plan to get a booster. If the vaccine works the way it is suppose to your body should have a memory to fight Covid now, just like it will if you actually get Covid.
 
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BobPSU92

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Oct 12, 2021
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One J & J and I do not plan to get a booster. If the vaccine works the way it is suppose to your body should have a memory to fight Covid now, just like it will if you actually get Covid.

Except that it is believed that COVID vaccine protection wanes with time. Hence the booster six months after completing the initial vaccination.
 
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canuckhal

Member
Oct 31, 2021
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Howdy….my wife ( has allergic reaction tendencies) took the pfizer vaccine for both injections. She had quite severe leg pain and back of neck pain for 1.5 days post injection. A month later she had a colonoscopy and the same reaction occurred. In looking at the ingredients of the Pfizer vaccine and the colonoscopy prep kit the only common ingredient is PEG or Polyethylene Glycol. it Would seem that PEG just might be the culprit. That said, the J&J vaccine has no PEG as an ingredient. My question….can you mix your vaccine…meaning….can you substitute J&J for Pfizer for your “ Booster” to try to avoid the former reaction ? She will be traveling internationally in February and would like the Booster if possible. I have a call into her Doc….and waiting for a call back for an answer . Thought I would check with the Board as well for any similar reactions etc….Thanks !
Granted I live in another country, but mixing vaccines encouraged. Many countries have mixed vaccines, primarily to vaccinate pop. faster. I had AZ for first shot and Moderna for second. Here boosters are half doses, so not sure how that would impact J&J. There are some countries that do not yet accept mixed vaccines, but she already two Pfizers, so think she would be okay to switch for booster. The US accepts mixed vaccines as being fully vaccinated. I think eventually it will be like flu vaccines, where no one asks what batch you had.
 

canuckhal

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Oct 31, 2021
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Except that it is believed that COVID vaccine protection wanes with time. Hence the booster six months after completing the initial vaccination.
Not believed, but it is proven that the effectiveness wanes around the 6 month mark. J&J shot has been less effective than other vaccine types.
 
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Pennst8

Active member
Oct 25, 2021
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Howdy….my wife ( has allergic reaction tendencies) took the pfizer vaccine for both injections. She had quite severe leg pain and back of neck pain for 1.5 days post injection. A month later she had a colonoscopy and the same reaction occurred. In looking at the ingredients of the Pfizer vaccine and the colonoscopy prep kit the only common ingredient is PEG or Polyethylene Glycol. it Would seem that PEG just might be the culprit. That said, the J&J vaccine has no PEG as an ingredient. My question….can you mix your vaccine…meaning….can you substitute J&J for Pfizer for your “ Booster” to try to avoid the former reaction ? She will be traveling internationally in February and would like the Booster if possible. I have a call into her Doc….and waiting for a call back for an answer . Thought I would check with the Board as well for any similar reactions etc….Thanks !
Yes. Mixing was approved a few weeks ago.
 
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GTACSA

New member
Oct 13, 2021
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One J & J and I do not plan to get a booster. If the vaccine works the way it is suppose to your body should have a memory to fight Covid now, just like it will if you actually get Covid.
After 6 months the effectiveness of the J&J shot drops from 86% to 13%. Ask your doctor if you should get the booster.

 
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JWB389

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Oct 7, 2021
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can you substitute J&J for Pfizer for your “ Booster” to try to avoid the former reaction ?
You can mix. No problem. I had Pfizer for first round (2 shots) felt like garbage for 2 days. I had the Moderna as the booster last week and felt like garbage for 3+ days.
 
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Catch1lion

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Oct 12, 2021
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Except that it is believed that COVID vaccine protection wanes with time. Hence the booster six months after completing the initial vaccination.
IIRC , B cells- IgG and IgM typically do wane over 6 months for most any vaccine. These cells can ramp up production after exposure , but there will be a delay since the total number drops off after 6 months. T-cells, CD-4, and CD-8 don't drop off so much. Not fully buying into the booster for most people, unless you are in a higher risk category.
Longer time between shots one and two have shown a more robust response. Mixing seems to be better with Moderna and Pfizer. If you got the J&J one shot, the booster can be either of the two M-RNA vax.
If and when they come out with a Delta specific vax, I would say get it. After a recent golf trip, just had 5 friends out of 28 test COVID positive. Cold to flu like symptoms were reported. All 5 had a two shot vax. Assume all new cases are Delta unless proven otherwise, since studies are reporting over 94% are Delta.h
Side note addendum- My wife visited our PCP today. I think he is a very bright internist. He recommends the booster because of the drop off in IgG, and IgM makes you more susceptible to acquiring COVID. The hospitalization and death reduction is still there (more of a T-cell related function. T cells are the heavy hitters, and the IgG and IgM are the infantry. They are the first into the battle, and hold the line until the T-cells and the other immune processes take over.)
 
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K-Live

Well-known member
Oct 6, 2021
788
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Yes. Zenophile beat me to it.

I've had all three Pfizer shots. The first two left me with a sore arm, not nearly as sore as a tetanus shot though. That was it. When I had the booster, my arm got sore almost immediately. It was more sore than from the first two shots. Around 22 hours after the booster, I started to feel pretty funky. The thing that stood out most was how achy my body was. In any event, I felt better about seven hours later. It was as if somone had toggled a switch for me. I ate and felt great.
I had the exact same reaction as you. Sore arm after both Moderna shots, that was it. Booster shot, arm was sore within an hour and about 10 hours later, was achy all over. Went to bed, woke up the next day with a headache, by 2or 3 pm it was like nothing ever happened; I even worked out. I've heard this from several friends as well, fared pretty well with the first shots, booster shot kicked their asses for 12-24 hours.
 

TheGlovStillRules

Well-known member
Oct 14, 2021
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Two Pfizer shots and one flu shot, no side effects. My first shingles shot laid me out something fierce. I will get the COVID booster as soon as I can.

Jim, tell me more please about the first shingles shot.

I'm 62 and am heading that way sir. Going to wait 6-8 weeks after I get my Covid-J&J booster.
 

TheGlovStillRules

Well-known member
Oct 14, 2021
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IIRC , B cells- IgG and IgM typically do wane over 6 months for most any vaccine. These cells can ramp up production after exposure , but there will be a delay since the total number drops off after 6 months. T-cells, CD-4, and CD-8 don't drop off so much. Not fully buying into the booster for most people, unless you are in a higher risk category.
Longer time between shots one and two have shown a more robust response. Mixing seems to be better with Moderna and Pfizer. If you got the J&J one shot, the booster can be either of the two M-RNA vax.
If and when they come out with a Delta specific vax, I would say get it. After a recent golf trip, just had 5 friends out of 28 test COVID positive. Cold to flu like symptoms were reported. All 5 had a two shot vax. Assume all new cases are Delta unless proven otherwise, since studies are reporting over 94% are Delta.h
Side note addendum- My wife visited our PCP today. I think he is a very bright internist. He recommends the booster because of the drop off in IgG, and IgM makes you more susceptible to acquiring COVID. The hospitalization and death reduction is still there (more of a T-cell related function. T cells are the heavy hitters, and the IgG and IgM are the infantry. They are the first into the battle, and hold the line until the T-cells and the other immune processes take over.)

Excellent post sir.
 

Manofsteel200

Active member
Oct 27, 2021
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Pretty much the same for me, except I had all 3 Moderna shots. But this time with the booster it hit almost exactly 24 hours later, Sore red arm, headache, general body aches, chills and massive fatigue. I left work early and went home and slept for about 6 hours, got up ate and went back to bed till morning. It took about another 24 hours until I was feeling normal or whatever my normal is.
THIS. Slept for six hours after the above reactions and felt fine afterwards. I read that you can mix the vaccinations and maybe even get better protection.
 

LionJim

Well-known member
Oct 12, 2021
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Jim, tell me more please about the first shingles shot.

I'm 62 and am heading that way sir. Going to wait 6-8 weeks after I get my Covid-J&J booster.
There was a long thread on The Old Board about shingles shots, and people reported widely varying reactions. You need to get your shingles shots so, really, the fact that I felt as if I had been run over by a Buick is neither here nor there.
 

GTACSA

New member
Oct 13, 2021
3
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Jim, tell me more please about the first shingles shot.

I'm 62 and am heading that way sir. Going to wait 6-8 weeks after I get my Covid-J&J booster.
I had it a few years ago and my reaction was like the worst case of flu I ever had, but it only lasted a few days. Get it because no matter what your reaction, it will be a walk in the park compared to if you get a case of shingles.
 

lions1995

Member
Oct 29, 2021
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Except that it is believed that COVID vaccine protection wanes with time. Hence the booster six months after completing the initial vaccination.
The antibodies from the vaccine wanes, but the purpose of the vaccine or actually getting Covid is your T and B Cells learn about the virus allowing them to fight it the next time it invades your body when you don't have the antibodies anymore.
 
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