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covid booster frequency?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/8/2022 11:46 AM (GMT -8)
Hi, folks. Hope you're all doing well.

No one had insights into LDN and biologics, which is okay--it was a very niche question! I'm still waiting for an appointment with my rheumatologist.

In the meantime, I'm trying to figure out best practice for covid boosters. I don't have access to a knowledgeable GP, and I'm hearing different things from different people. I'm wondering if anyone has received really good, trustworthy information on how frequently UC patients on biologics should get covid boosters.

For context: I had my fourth Pfizer shot in August, a few months before bivalent boosters came to my part of Canada. I'm on Entyvio. I have young children in school and teach at a university that is not requiring masking. I THINK I should probably try to get the bivalent booster ASAP? But are we going to keep doing this every three or four months?

Thanks for whatever help you can offer!
Posted 12/8/2022 1:11 PM (GMT -8)
Can't answer your question, however, doesn't Canada have a medical website like we have here in the US? Here we have the CDC, I would look for something like that in Canada, or check with your local pharmacy. Pharmacies here give the shots. I think getting the shots too soon is not a good idea, just my own personal belief.

Good luck with your search.
Posted 12/8/2022 4:06 PM (GMT -8)
Thank you, Susie. The Canadian government's suggestion is a booster every six months, with the caveat that "a shorter interval of at least 3 months may be warranted in the context of heightened epidemiologic risk, as well as operational considerations for the efficient deployment of the vaccine program." (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/canadian-immunization-guide-part-4-active-vaccines/page-26-covid-19-vaccine.html#t2) I don't see specific guidance on boosting folks with immunosuppression (and Entyvio is less systemically immunosuppressive anyway).

My understanding from the public health nurses is that I CAN get the booster after just three months, but some research suggests that a longer time between results in higher efficacy. I'm just hoping others might have received more explicit guidance from their care providers than I've been able to access. I plan to ask our pharmacy this weekend, but in the past they've tended to just shrug when I ask these kinds of questions.
Posted 12/8/2022 4:37 PM (GMT -8)
I don't think there's a definitive answer. The country where I live has a minimum interval of 3 months between shots. But they haven't called everyone for repeat boosters every 3 months, only the most vulnerable patients. They are offering and advising the new bivalent booster for all adults though.

There are a few studies showing that antibodies decline significantly within 3 months which is the justification for doing boosters as early as 3 months after the last.
Posted 12/8/2022 5:13 PM (GMT -8)
Get it .. it covers more variants than the original vax. Do it soon since the holidays are in a couple weeks. You need some time to develop antibodies before you falalalala too much smile
Posted 12/9/2022 12:28 PM (GMT -8)
Here in America the window is 2 months between for immunodeficiency. So I’ve had a total of 5 shots in 2 years. My last two being only 8 weeks apart.

I’ve now developed racing heart beats upon exertion (the highest was 136 bpm). My car is a the size of an old Volkswagen Beetle bug. When I washed it last week it took 2 hours. I would half to rest for 20 minutes every 5 minutes. The heart cath shows clear arteries. More tests to come.

I’m not sayin’ it’s the shots. I’m just saying, if I die it sure shouldn’t be from covid LOL.

On Humira
Posted 12/9/2022 2:17 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks, everyone! I'm actually an American expat, so it's always fascinating to see contrasts between the two countries.

CCinPA, we're still VERY cautious (and far away from family), so I won't be doing much unmasked falalalaing, but that's a good point.

island time, yikes! I've read some compelling reporting on the fact that while COVID-19 carries enormous risks, the vaccines aren't totally risk-free either, but it's hard for public health messaging (not to mention the general public) to find the right nuance in holding both those risks together. I really hope your heart rate stabilizes soon!
Posted 12/13/2022 11:06 AM (GMT -8)
I've had 2 boosters following my initial 2 doses of the vaccine. I recently started volunteering at our local humane society and this idiotic college student who was volunteering alongside me informed me that the covid vaccines can cause cancer--he even saw a "documentary" PROVING so. Oh, thank god he informed me. *eye roll.* I was thinking stay the hell away from me, dude. Then he said he did get the first 2 doses (I'm sure because his college required it). And this guy wants to become a veterinarian.
Posted 12/13/2022 11:57 AM (GMT -8)
Sara -- I just saw an article about Moderna developing an mRNA vaccine to prevent re-occurrence of skin cancer
Posted 12/13/2022 4:07 PM (GMT -8)
He was saying the COVID vaccines CAUSE cancer. I'm not sure if you understood that and were also just adding that for irony. If so, that's cool.
Posted 12/13/2022 4:19 PM (GMT -8)
yep .. just the irony. So weird that I read about that today and then I saw your post
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