To be unsure about getting a booster 5 months after 2nd jab

[Laughingstock91]

I feel uneasy about having another jab so soon after my 2nd moderna jab 5 months ago. I had a fairly extreme reaction to my 2nd jab and was ill for 8 days after.

I have also had covid in the early days of the pandemic and was in bed for 2 weeks so surely I must have SOME protection? We just had covid in the house and I was the only person to stay negative when my partner & 2 kids had it (this was couple weeks ago)

I am happy to be vaccinated and happy to do my public health duty but I feel uneasy for some reason about getting a booster so soon after the last jab. I have tried to get an antibody test to see if I have any!

But happy to be told otherwise - Aibu?

I feel the same way. I might have this booster but I have no intention of having a booster every year going forward.

YANBU. You've just been exposed to COVID, presumably high viral load from contact with your kids. And you haven't caught it again - so you are clearly, at least right now, immune.

One would assume that this recent clear exposure to the virus has also boosted your immunity?

The immunity you have from catching covid is superior too, and more long-lasting than the immunity from a vaccine.

@Playgrind

The immunity you have from catching covid is superior too, and more long-lasting than the immunity from a vaccine.

This was my assumption too; do you have any evidence you can point me towards please? I'm delaying my booster - having had two jabs April and July and then a natural 'booster' by getting COVID in the second half of October. But the general message I'm getting from the media and from many on MN is that I should basically just be sticking as much COVID into myself as possible!

@Playgrind

The immunity you have from catching covid is superior too, and more long-lasting than the immunity from a vaccine.

Real world data from Israel

Effectiveness (vaccine vs infection) depends on when did you get it

Vaccine + infection > vaccine or infection

I'm in the same boat, took a month to get over Moderna dose 2. I'm delaying as i'm 5 months in too and have had covid twice.

I'd like to wait till we have more information on the new variant and am also travelling this week, so I can't really afford to be ill for weeks on end. I know people who have had no side effects with booster but I know I am prone to reacting given my over active immune system.

I'll take preventative measures for now in terms of keeping us safe and secure for next few weeks and decide on the new year.

Regarding natural immunity and omicron. There is one study that shows two doses plus natural infection is fairly good and comparable to three doses. However these studies are all based on laboratory tests and real world data from over next few weeks will give us the real indication.

i've also read some anecdotal article in Guardian which was encouraging in that even those who are double dosed had fairly mild omicron infection.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/12/how-omicron-appears-to-be-infecting-britain-despite-the-vaccine?CMP=ShareAndroidAppp_Other

Thanks everyone- this is really useful and interesting info- glad i am not the only one anxious!