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Original poster

Which booster, Pfizer or Moderna?

18 replies

Overthebow · 13/12/2021 11:26

My first and second doses were AZ. I am looking at walk in centres for the booster and have a choice of going to either a Pfizer or Moderna centre. Has anyone seen or heard which is better after AZ vaccination or does it not make a difference?

OP posts:
PickAChew · 13/12/2021 11:28

Surely you get what they're supplied with on the day.

WhatHaveIFound · 13/12/2021 11:32

I'm not sure you get a choice. DH and I both had AZ first time around and Pfizer boosters. My dad was the same but my mum/MIL have had 3 x Pfizer.

milly74 · 13/12/2021 11:33

ypu just get whatever is in on the day,

CovidCurious · 13/12/2021 11:33

Better in what way? Protection levels or side effects? I think I have seen reports to the effect that protection is the same but I got what I was given so didn't research much, since there was no choice.

I had 2 AZ followed by a Pfizer booster after 6 months.

I felt rough after AZ 1 - just crushing fatigue for about 24 hours max. Also a bit of a sore arm, but not terrible to move it, only if I touched or knocked it.

I felt nothing after AZ 2 other than a bit of tenderness at the injection site.

I had a sore arm after Pfizer for a couple of days. I also slept badly the night after having it. Felt tired but couldn't sleep. Otherwise fine.

No idea about protection levels but I had close contact with someone ten days after the booster. They tested positive 2 days later. I feel fine and LFTs negative.

gamerchick · 13/12/2021 11:34

I didn't get a choice OP. It doesn't matter anyway, they work the same way don't they?

rubyslippers · 13/12/2021 11:34

Apparently Pfizer booster gives better protection
I had first two jabs as AZ and Pfizer as my booster
There was no choice when booking or at the centre

SickAndTiredAgain · 13/12/2021 11:34

@PickAChew

Surely you get what they're supplied with on the day.
If you search for walk in centres, it tells you what availability they have - if they have booster availability, plus availability for Pfizer second doses but not Moderna, I’d guess the boosters would also be Pfizer. And some (like these two) are specifically called “Moderna” or “Pfizer”
Which booster, Pfizer or Moderna?
SickAndTiredAgain · 13/12/2021 11:36

And I know those two I posted above are at the same place, but the Pfizer centre only lists Tuesday as it’s open day, whereas if you click on the Moderna one it’s open today and says Pfizer second doses are unavailable.

Cookerhood · 13/12/2021 11:40

I would just get whatever you can. They are likely to be similar as they are very similar vaccines & no-one really knows how they are going to work against Omicron anyway.

Cookerhood · 13/12/2021 11:42

Apparently Pfizer booster gives better protection

It gives better protection as a booster compared to AZ, but I'm not sure that this is true for Moderna. What data are you looking at? I'm happy to be wrong but I haven't seen this.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 13/12/2021 11:45

There has been some research on pfizer after AZ but I haven't seen anything on moderna after AZ. I would expect they are similar in terms of protection as they work the same way. Also, the booster for moderna is half the original dose so is now the same amount as pfizer (moderna was tested using a higher dose originally so that's what was authorised).

I got 2 moderna and have recently had pfizer as my booster. I didn't have a choice though.

Flapjacker48 · 13/12/2021 11:51

Please no more of these threads. You will be offered what is being given on the day. As has been stated on previous threads, even centres with both vaccines, you were sent to one queue - no choice.

Original poster
Overthebow · 13/12/2021 13:52

@Flapjacker48

Please no more of these threads. You will be offered what is being given on the day. As has been stated on previous threads, even centres with both vaccines, you were sent to one queue - no choice.
That’s not necessarily true, I have the option to go to two locations, or be labelled Pfizer and one Moderna. I am asking which one I should go to as I do have a choice.
OP posts:
Original poster
Overthebow · 13/12/2021 13:54

Thanks to everyone who gave useful thoughts, I think I’ll go for Pfizer.

OP posts:
SarahMused · 13/12/2021 13:57

Flapjacker48 it’s not correct everywhere. At the centre I went to last Thursday they had both. I asked if you could choose and was able to ask for Pfizer. I did this because I had bad side effects after the first AZ dose and have read that the side effects from the Moderna booster have been worse than Pfizer for some people. I would have taken either if there was no choice but happy with only a slightly bruised arm from my Pfizer booster.

IndigoC · 13/12/2021 13:59

I went to a centre marked online as having both. My husband wanted Moderna, I wanted Pfizer as I’d had Moderna for the primary vaccines and didn’t enjoy the nasty side effects. When we got there they were only offering Moderna. I don’t think I’d have gotten a choice anyway based on what the vaccinator said when I asked. I don’t recommend querying it as I got rather forcefully jabbed after asking. Grin

So don’t rely on the online walk-in info.

Icenii · 13/12/2021 14:05

You can choose if you want to, as in you can choose where to go. I choose Pfizer for all 3. My first and booster were at walk in clinics advertising Pfizer.

AnnaSW1 · 13/12/2021 14:05

Yep the online info isn't often accurate

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