[conspire] CA.US COVID-19 booster shots widely available for adults as of 2021-11-18

[Michael Paoli]

> From: "Rick Moen" <rick at linuxmafia.com>
> Subject: Re: [conspire] CA.US COVID-19 booster shots widely  
> available for adults as of	2021-11-18
> Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2021 12:36:54 -0800

> Quoting Akkana Peck (akkana at shallowsky.com):
>
>> I've learned so much COVID info on this list ... Has anybody seen
>> anything yet suggesting any advantage for getting a booster of the
>> "other" vaccine, e.g. getting a Pfizer booster if you got Modernas
>> the first time, or vice versa?
>
> There's (reportedly) almost no difference between the two mRNA vaccines,
> though each has some secret-sauce small details.[1]  But there's a
> dosage difference.  The Pfizer booster has the same dosage as the
> dose1/dose2 shots: 30 micrograms of mRNA particles in a lipid enclosure.
> The J&J booster likewise is identical to the original J&J single-shot
> dose, at 0.5 ml.  Moderna, by contast, chose to cut the dosage of its
> booster from the original regime's 100 micrograms to 50 micrograms.
>
> As an aside, the difference in dosage between Pfizer shot1/shot2 and
> Moderna shot1/shot2 is speculated to account for the recent surmise that
> Moderna's stimulation of antigens has lasted longer, even in the
> immunodeficient and age 65+ (immunosenescent) subpopulations:  You got
> more than 3x as many mRNA particles as with Pfizer, during their
> respective two-dose regimens.  _However_, there's been a tradeoff:  The
> much greater dosage is claimed to increase the likelhood of short-term
> side effects from a shot:  fever, fatigue, headache, etc., the sort of
> "I feel sucky and am going to bed early" 1-2 day effect some people get.
>
> And that brings us back to comparing the boosters:  Pfizer 30
> micrograms of mRNA particles, vs. Moderna 50 micrograms of mRNA
> particles.
>
> I think the Moderna's on that basis the better choice.  Stronger
> topping-up of antigens, slightly greater chance of needing to go to bed
> early for 1-2 days.

Yeah, that's about what I figured/guestimated too.  My shots 1 & 2 were
Pfizer.  I figure Moderna booster, bit more mRNA to it - but possibly
higher risk of side effects.  But I figured I got about zilch on the side
effects on shorts 1 & 2, so I'd go for Maderna on the booster ... and
that's what I in fact got, yesterday.  I also figure the "mix and match"
might give a wee bit more in coverage - maybe slightly broader ...
but on that front they're probably "so close", it may not make any
non-negligible difference.

And I went to the San Mateo site ... major efficient large operation
there, was able to get appointment right away - went on the
myturn.ca.gov site quite early in the morning, scheduled my
booster - of my preferred flavor - for same morning.  Their site,
though, is really set up for drive thru.  They figured out to handle us
few pedestrians ... but it was a bit odd.  Bicycle might work pretty well,
except for keep your windows rolled up ... and the event center itself, I'd
be quite cautious of bits of oil and such on the smooth concrete where
the cars drive and sit/wait.
I could've alternatively scheduled preferred flavor of booster much closer
in location - like a few miles ... but ... first available appointment
wasn't 'till January ... didn't really feel inclined to wait that long, so
I checked other locations for sooner ... and got much sooner (same morning).