My turn in the barrel
In August 2020, I got my first jab of the Moderna COVID vaccine as part of their Phase III trial. One month later, I got the booster. 12 hrs after that, I had the classic symptoms–headache, fever, muscle and joint pain–indicating that I was in the vaccine arm of the trial and not the control. I went on to get a blood draw and have myself tested to confirm the inference. Since then, I’ve had three additional jabs, most recently about three weeks ago. I’ve been pretty assiduous about social distancing.
Last night, I slept fitfully with congestion and a mild cough. No fever or headache, but that may be because I took an ibuprofen. Since I was scheduled for a dental checkup, I tested myself with a home kit and came up mildly but unambiguously positive. So my luck ran out. Guess I was overdue. Probably was exposed during our Thanksgiving trip to Colorado.
The COVID vaccine doesn’t keep you from getting COVID, but it can keep you out of the ED and the morgue. So far, things aren’t any worse and I still have my sense of smell. Age is a co-morbidity for COVID, and I’m over 65, so I’m glad to be vaccinated. I’m hoping I don’t get long COVID.
Be sure your shots are up to date, peeps!
Last night, I slept fitfully with congestion and a mild cough. No fever or headache, but that may be because I took an ibuprofen. Since I was scheduled for a dental checkup, I tested myself with a home kit and came up mildly but unambiguously positive. So my luck ran out. Guess I was overdue. Probably was exposed during our Thanksgiving trip to Colorado.
The COVID vaccine doesn’t keep you from getting COVID, but it can keep you out of the ED and the morgue. So far, things aren’t any worse and I still have my sense of smell. Age is a co-morbidity for COVID, and I’m over 65, so I’m glad to be vaccinated. I’m hoping I don’t get long COVID.
Be sure your shots are up to date, peeps!
Please know that you are being thought of, with the best of wishes extended.
Thank you.
Also thinking about with best wishes, the 70 million people that have natural immunity. A sizeable portion over 70.
Over a year ago I got covid from my spouse. Me unvaxed, they vaxed and boosted once or twice. Me mostly staying isolated, they: faculty at a university that was fully vaxed, masked and distanced. Me 68, they 58 and symptoms were mild and about same for us both with 5-6 day lag. I never make vax suggestions to others (those that do are nothing but an irritation), but if I did, it would be to take my route.
@yeah,
I routinely make vax suggestions to others, but then again I’m a medical school professor, so my job is to learn the facts and educate others about them. It’s true that some people are irritated when confronted by facts and evidence. Some of them end up dying from preventable causes. Their loss.
“Be sure your shots are up to date…”
Absolutely; thankfully.
I give no advice, but I would advise you to do it my way? Seems a little too cute.
The decision to take a vaccine is similar to deciding to get on an airplane vice driving a car to destination, something I know about. I was around USAF aircraft/equipment maintenance for years. I never worried about riding an USAF aircraft.
Wanting the help, I participated in the AZN test, I was informed I got the vaccine when they had to inform as Moderna/Pfizer were available. I provided blood samples for 2 years. AZN has faded.
I subsequently had the two shot Moderna series for the over 65. Mostly to get my ticket punched and had not seen data available.
I got a very mild, fever no other complaint, case in June 22. Positive tests! Negative test about day 8.
In the past two months I have been exposed to two cases (both tested w/in a day or two) and have not been infected.
I am over 70, in generally good health. Clean (prior non issue/elective) cardio work up post AZN shots, but not repeated since mRNA.
Based on risk/side effects and failure to prevent infection. I have not boosted.
My conclusion (for me) is the risk of infection is less than risk of the mRNA vaccines.
mRNA for viruses has roots in the pentagon’s bio-war defense research Pandemic Prevention Program (PPP), which Mocerna researched (2013) and never went ‘anywhere’.
Maybe Novovax.
@paddy,
“My conclusion (for me) is the risk of infection is less than risk of the mRNA vaccines.”
LOL! That’s pure solipsism. The plural of anecdote is not data. The data show overwhelmingly that risk of severe illness, long COVID and death are all higher among the unvaccinated. The data show that the risk of the mRNA vaccines are miniscule.
“mRNA for viruses has roots in the pentagon’s bio-war defense research Pandemic Prevention Program (PPP), which Mo[d]erna researched (2013) and never went ‘anywhere’.”
So what? The mRNA vaccines for COVID have been an unalloyed success.
“Maybe Novovax.”
The Novovax vaccine is no longer authorized for use in the US, except for emergency use. It was way behind the mRNA vaccines.
Links….
https://www.factcheck.org/2023/04/scicheck-no-evidence-excess-deaths-linked-to-vaccines-contrary-to-claims-online/
“The FDA has determined that the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (2023-2024 Formula) has met the statutory criteria for issuance of an EUA [emergency use authorization]
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-updated-novavax-covid-19-vaccine-formulated-better-protect-against-currently
You’re welcome.
LOL ~ as irrational as religion; humorous, it is, to this Old Outlaw, the Outsider who hadn’t been vaccinated since before being dishonorably discharged from the Army fifty years ago
I had it. Twice. The first time they were still calling it the vape-flu. Sickest I’ve ever been, still have a know at the back of my neck. I know because when I got vaxxed and boosted, those were the side-effects; that I experienced again with the P-town variant. And my wife got it ~ from a doctor’s office ~ this past spring, did the Pax treatment. Now, having been pre-Trump-flu been somewhat of an anti-vaxxer, I’m fully vaxxed with an extra booster, and a double case of natural immunity
People are welcome to make smart-assed remarks till the cows come home
It has always been my position that this isn’t the one that’s gonna’ kill us all, but there’s a real good chance the next one, perhaps thawing out of the thawing tundra a virus that hasn’t seen a human since before we were human (if not ‘escaping’ from a bio-weapons facility in Tel Aviv, St Petersburg or Cincinnati), will be
You can keep that flu-shot though, still …
Ten Bears:
Covid is a virus. It does not necessarily just give you serious reparatory issues. It can settle in other places and cause some serious issues. Just a layman’s comment here. And would hate to lose a serious commenter . . .
Have you written something we can post here at AB?
Mrs Fred & I have been lucky. Many we know, who been vaxed but were not current/up-to-date, came down with covid. If you don’t stay current with boosters, you are taking your chances. The virus doesn’t seem to care how ‘healthy’ you are.
But even you are current, covid seems wily enough to get you anyway, alas. Odds are better, though, if you are vaxed & current.
@Fred,
Yeah, the vaccines don’t keep you from getting COVID, they only keep you out of the ED and the morgue.
Yeah, right. But we like to believe that staying up-to-date on boosters, and minimizing contact with the general public minimizes our risk. So far so good.
Of course. It worked for me until now.
Joel:
I would guess the vaccine is only part of the answer. One must practice other methods of avoiding the Covid virus too.
@Bill,
Social distancing worked for us from March 2020 until now. We both agree that we were likely infected on (a) a shuttle from the car rental to the CO airport, (b) a shuttle from the airport to the hotel, (c) a shuttle the next morning from the hotel to the airport, or (d) the shuttle from the RI airport to long-term parking. There could be other mechanisms, but they are less likely.
I’ve not flown during the pandemic until now. Linda has several times, but never used a shuttle for ground transportation until this trip.
Joel:
Good info. too, for all of us to know. Thank you for it.
How Bad Is a Second (or Third or Fourth) Case of Covid?
NY Times – August 17
A buzzy paper that was published in Nature Medicine last fall
@Fred,
I’ve known Ziyad for many years from my time in St. Louis. His science is solid.
Joel:
I have no way of upvoting you on this comment.