Why are we focusing on boosters instead of the unvaccinated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First, I am skeptical boosters will make any difference in the course of the pandemic compared to vaccinating more people for a variety of reasons:

-Though studies show efficacy at preventing infection wanes, the two vaccines in question were still 95% effective at preventing hospitalization. And most infections are still in the unvaccinated. The unvaccinated are the driver of the pandemic.
-There is likely to be confusing government messaging about boosters
-I think uptake will be lower than for the vaccine. For people who had access issues in the first place it may be too much of a hassle. And I think there will be a camp of people who gladly took the vaccine but will have "booster hesitancy." I think the messaging will contribute to this. They will say now it is just not a one time thing but something I have to do every 6 months for the rest of my life.

Second, the idea of COVID boosters seem to be more in line with a COVID zero mentality than with COVID is endemic mentality. People have unreasonable expectations about vaccines. No one said they were 100 percent effective. They greatly reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. What is the marginal benefit for a fully vaccinated person? Preventing mostly mild breakthrough infections?

The WHO is not recommending boosters. Obviously unlike the CDC they are concerned about much of the world's population not being vaccinated at all.

Pffft. I realized I'm still part of a FB group that was all about helping people find vaccine appointments (back when it first came)... I realized I'm still in this group because there was an uptick in posting that moved it up on my feed. Lots of posts asking if this CVS or that Walgreens is asking for any kind of verification of someone being immunocompromised when getting the 3rd shot. Why? Because all these people want it NOW not in a few months when it is time for it. Here are a few

I'm a teacher in high school and will be around hundreds of probably unvaccinated kids in 2 weeks. Does anyone know if the CVS at _____ or ______ need proof of conditions to get a booster? I would feel safer teaching if I had my booster now. My 8 mos mark for my booster is December! that is a long time to teach with waning vaccination coverage plus in the heat of flu season too.

My parents have no pre-existing conditions that make them compromised but I would feel safer getting them a booster shots now instead of waiting until November when they will be eligible because I fear another shortage will happen and then instead of them being able to wait outside on an ok spring day in March they will be waiting outside on a cold day in November. i don't understand why the U.S. ca't get their vaccine rollouts down better. This is going to be another disaster like the first round I'm sure of it because all the seniors who got their shots in March and April will be able to get them in November and December which is the coldest months full of the flu plus other cold weather germs. It would be better if the CDC said that you need a 3rd booster shot this many days after your second and we got to schedule them that way so then we'd have doses reserved you know? Just saying a broad 8 months is not helpful so my question is what will happen if I take them to get theirs earlier than 8 months? Should i make up conditions they have or just wait to see if I'm asked? I know a lot of people have posted that the Safeway in _______ is not asking questions. Do you need an apointment? My mom is worried if I get them their shots early then when it is time for booster number 4 they will be too far out. Does anyone know if there is any documented harm in getting as many vaccination shots as someone wants? Like a tetnus shot? I couldn't remember when i last had one of those when I cut my finger and the doctor said it was fine another wouldn't hurt me, so is the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters like this? Just more shots is more coverage?

That last one is amazing! More shots = more coverage, duh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am unvaccinated but have already had covid. My blood is still showing antibodies, 9 months later. Pretty sure I don't need a vaccine.

Those antibodies are only going to protect you against the strain of Covid you had. If you want protection from delta or any other strain, you need a vaccine.

+ 1,000. Google is your friend, PP. Your theory on natural immunity has been widely debunked by science.

[Anonymous]

I disagree with your premise. We have focused and continue to focus a tremendous amount of attention and resources on the unvaccinated. Nothing wrong with adding another focus at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am unvaccinated but have already had covid. My blood is still showing antibodies, 9 months later. Pretty sure I don't need a vaccine.

This isn't meant to be a snarky question I promise. What harm do you see in getting the vaccine even if you might not need it as much as others due to your antibody status? If having had covid already your body is already somewhat protected, why not get the vaccine and get extra extra protected?

To me it's likes someone giving you $1000 free money and you saying nah I'm good, the $100 I already have is plenty for me.

What's your reasoning?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:do you remember in high school when you would be assigned a group project and only 3/5 of the group would even show up to work on it?

This is the biggest group project ever, and the unvaccinated aren’t doing their work, so we are doing even more than we were supposed to in the first place.

So true. Except the other two include someone who thinks the assignment doesn’t even exist and someone who is actively trying to destroy the work you did.

[Anonymous]

Offering boosters does not mean that there will still not be a push to vaccinate the unvaccinated. What is moving the needle on the unvaccinated is a combination of mandates and community clinics.

The CDC is out gunned on reaching the idiots who have fallen for the anti vaccine scam. The anti vaccine machine uses far more sophisticated and manipulative techniques to scam people into believing their crap. It’s been fed by nation state, political operative and profit driven scam artists. The anti vaccine pushers tell people what they want to hear not what they need to hear, they stoke their fears and feed off distrust. You add in the crapheads like DeSantis, Marjorie Taylor Green and other ambitious scum looking for free media and there are simply more communication resources on the anti vaccine side operating under a more advantageous rule set. Even if the CDC sunk its entire budget into communication it can’t operate the same way peddling lies, using aI and bots to drive fake wedges, lying about data and information, intentionally misleading, using troll farms to amplify the message and all the other nefarious crap pulled by political and profit driven anti vaccine people.

The answer is not to enable the unvaccinated idiots. It’s to take action like mandates and easy access to the vaccine. It’s in person out reach from local leaders. It’s also protecting the responsible people who have gotten vaccinated through boosters.

Anti vaccine groups will be out in force against boosters because their dream would be lots of vaccinated people getting seriously sick from COVID. If the bad outcomes continue to be limited to the unvaccinated it’s bad for their brand , political support or desired outcome to hurt the US.

[Anonymous]

Thought this editorial raised some good points- was expecting the administration to have more evidence about the need for a 3rd shot before recommending. Makes me wonder if they just feel like they need to do “something.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/08/18/why-biden-administrations-recommendation-booster-shots-is-mistake/

[Anonymous]

Because we can encourage and help smart and reasonable people, but clearly--CLEARLY--stupid people are a lost cause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First, I am skeptical boosters will make any difference in the course of the pandemic compared to vaccinating more people for a variety of reasons:

-Though studies show efficacy at preventing infection wanes, the two vaccines in question were still 95% effective at preventing hospitalization. And most infections are still in the unvaccinated. The unvaccinated are the driver of the pandemic.
-There is likely to be confusing government messaging about boosters
-I think uptake will be lower than for the vaccine. For people who had access issues in the first place it may be too much of a hassle. And I think there will be a camp of people who gladly took the vaccine but will have "booster hesitancy." I think the messaging will contribute to this. They will say now it is just not a one time thing but something I have to do every 6 months for the rest of my life.

Second, the idea of COVID boosters seem to be more in line with a COVID zero mentality than with COVID is endemic mentality. People have unreasonable expectations about vaccines. No one said they were 100 percent effective. They greatly reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. What is the marginal benefit for a fully vaccinated person? Preventing mostly mild breakthrough infections?

The WHO is not recommending boosters. Obviously unlike the CDC they are concerned about much of the world's population not being vaccinated at all.

Pffft. I realized I'm still part of a FB group that was all about helping people find vaccine appointments (back when it first came)... I realized I'm still in this group because there was an uptick in posting that moved it up on my feed. Lots of posts asking if this CVS or that Walgreens is asking for any kind of verification of someone being immunocompromised when getting the 3rd shot. Why? Because all these people want it NOW not in a few months when it is time for it. Here are a few

I'm a teacher in high school and will be around hundreds of probably unvaccinated kids in 2 weeks. Does anyone know if the CVS at _____ or ______ need proof of conditions to get a booster? I would feel safer teaching if I had my booster now. My 8 mos mark for my booster is December! that is a long time to teach with waning vaccination coverage plus in the heat of flu season too.

My parents have no pre-existing conditions that make them compromised but I would feel safer getting them a booster shots now instead of waiting until November when they will be eligible because I fear another shortage will happen and then instead of them being able to wait outside on an ok spring day in March they will be waiting outside on a cold day in November. i don't understand why the U.S. ca't get their vaccine rollouts down better. This is going to be another disaster like the first round I'm sure of it because all the seniors who got their shots in March and April will be able to get them in November and December which is the coldest months full of the flu plus other cold weather germs. It would be better if the CDC said that you need a 3rd booster shot this many days after your second and we got to schedule them that way so then we'd have doses reserved you know? Just saying a broad 8 months is not helpful so my question is what will happen if I take them to get theirs earlier than 8 months? Should i make up conditions they have or just wait to see if I'm asked? I know a lot of people have posted that the Safeway in _______ is not asking questions. Do you need an apointment? My mom is worried if I get them their shots early then when it is time for booster number 4 they will be too far out. Does anyone know if there is any documented harm in getting as many vaccination shots as someone wants? Like a tetnus shot? I couldn't remember when i last had one of those when I cut my finger and the doctor said it was fine another wouldn't hurt me, so is the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters like this? Just more shots is more coverage?

That last one is amazing! More shots = more coverage, duh.

What was the consensus of the FB group? Are people not immunocompromised going to just get the shots, assuming they need to fudge the truth a little?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am unvaccinated but have already had covid. My blood is still showing antibodies, 9 months later. Pretty sure I don't need a vaccine.

This isn't meant to be a snarky question I promise. What harm do you see in getting the vaccine even if you might not need it as much as others due to your antibody status? If having had covid already your body is already somewhat protected, why not get the vaccine and get extra extra protected?

To me it's likes someone giving you $1000 free money and you saying nah I'm good, the $100 I already have is plenty for me.

What's your reasoning?

Don't fix what isn't broke. My odds of getting seriously sick from covid are pretty much slim to none at this point. Why would I get the vaccine?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with your premise. We have focused and continue to focus a tremendous amount of attention and resources on the unvaccinated. Nothing wrong with adding another focus at this point.

Same here. Why do you think both aren't happening? There are still campaigns and efforts to persuade the unvaccinated. Those aren't stopping because boosters are recommended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thought this editorial raised some good points- was expecting the administration to have more evidence about the need for a 3rd shot before recommending. Makes me wonder if they just feel like they need to do “something.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/08/18/why-biden-administrations-recommendation-booster-shots-is-mistake/

Many vaccines require multiple doses to stimulate a long-lasting immune response. The data is showing that the vaccine protection is waning, and since the most vulnerable were vaccinated first, you're going to create another surge of serious cases even in highly vaccinated areas without a booster. I posted this on another thread, but here's Peter Hotez's explanation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with your premise. We have focused and continue to focus a tremendous amount of attention and resources on the unvaccinated. Nothing wrong with adding another focus at this point.

I agree, and would add that I think that more targeted community-level efforts, along with mandates, are going to be the main tools of persuading the unvaccinated going forward. There's no one who doesn't know that the vaccine is recommended, and it's widely available now.

[Anonymous]

I don't think "we" are focusing on boosters, just that this is the new media narrative so it feels like the attention has moved in that direction. I think PH departments nationwide are obviously more interested in the unvaccinated.

My feeling, as a political scientist (not a biologist) is that:
1) It's much harder to convince unvaccinated people to get vaccinated right now, and it will only get harder;
2) Some vaccinated people are getting worried, and starting to curtail much needed economic activity like traveling and going out to eat (unvaccinated people have no such qualms about this);
3) and, there is some evidence that vaccination does wane after time, so it won't hurt to get vaccinated people back out living their normal lives if the "cost" is a simple booster;
4) The US doesn't care that much about the rest of the world getting shots (aside from perhaps the EU or Canada), as much as some of us might think they should. It is and always will be America First, no matter who is president.

I was absolutely ecstatic to get my first covid vaccine back in March and have been on the "moderate" end of the covid cautiousness scale throughout the pandemic. I will definitely not be first in line to get the booster; I think I'll let that happen naturally, like when I am in the doctor office for my next appointment, whenever that is. Or, if it becomes more clear that it's really necessary. I'm much more interested in getting my 6 year old vaccinated when that is available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am unvaccinated but have already had covid. My blood is still showing antibodies, 9 months later. Pretty sure I don't need a vaccine.

Those antibodies are only going to protect you against the strain of Covid you had. If you want protection from delta or any other strain, you need a vaccine.

+1. Friend of mine has now had covid twice. Second time around she had worse symptoms.