Hello and thank you for all you are doing! We plan to be flying to Hawaii this winter 5 1/2 months after our 5th jab, all Pfizer. Our PCP recommended we get another boost before our trip. Do you know if that is possible or recommended? And if so, I’m guessing it should be Moderna? Thank you!
As of this morning -- one booster shot of bivalent vaccine has been approved for those who have received their primary shots (and associated boosters). There is no recommendation for getting an additional booster. And (MORE IMPORTANTLY) there is no data to support getting additional shots. On the flipside, CDC released data yesterday that demonstrates that the bivalent booster is effective at preventing severe illness and hospitalization caused by new subvariants of Omicron (think XBB.1.5). Your body is ready to fight should you be exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The likelihood of you becoming sick is high -- the vaccine is not designed to keep you healthy following exposure, but it will protect you from the severe health consequences of COVID. If your goal is to not get sick while traveling -- wear a mask (N95) while in the airport, (especially) during the boarding process, and while in crowded indoor spaces. Avoid crowded indoor restaurants, shopping malls, and movie theaters. Think of your previous shots as your defense system to fight off severe infection. To stay healthy, you need to avoid the virus -- this will require you to take action and change your behaviors so that you do not breathe in those viral particles.
NOTE -- this could all change after today's FDA meeting. We are expecting to see additional data about the effectiveness of the bivalent vaccine and hear more about policy changes to vaccine recommendations. Stay tuned...
Thanks very much for your answer Dr. Becky.
Hello and thank you for all you are doing! We plan to be flying to Hawaii this winter 5 1/2 months after our 5th jab, all Pfizer. Our PCP recommended we get another boost before our trip. Do you know if that is possible or recommended? And if so, I’m guessing it should be Moderna? Thank you!
As of this morning -- one booster shot of bivalent vaccine has been approved for those who have received their primary shots (and associated boosters). There is no recommendation for getting an additional booster. And (MORE IMPORTANTLY) there is no data to support getting additional shots. On the flipside, CDC released data yesterday that demonstrates that the bivalent booster is effective at preventing severe illness and hospitalization caused by new subvariants of Omicron (think XBB.1.5). Your body is ready to fight should you be exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The likelihood of you becoming sick is high -- the vaccine is not designed to keep you healthy following exposure, but it will protect you from the severe health consequences of COVID. If your goal is to not get sick while traveling -- wear a mask (N95) while in the airport, (especially) during the boarding process, and while in crowded indoor spaces. Avoid crowded indoor restaurants, shopping malls, and movie theaters. Think of your previous shots as your defense system to fight off severe infection. To stay healthy, you need to avoid the virus -- this will require you to take action and change your behaviors so that you do not breathe in those viral particles.
NOTE -- this could all change after today's FDA meeting. We are expecting to see additional data about the effectiveness of the bivalent vaccine and hear more about policy changes to vaccine recommendations. Stay tuned...
Thank you! I was confused and concerned. Really appreciate your update.