Yet another question about Covid vaccine timing!

October 10, 2024 8:35 AM

I had Covid from August 13th to 24th. I’m traveling internationally the first week of November. Should I (and can I) get this year’s booster before going?

I’m just under 50 and not at super high risk of bad outcomes, and I dodged COVID for the whole pandemic before August. But I will be swimming in a sea of new germs for a week. Should I and can I get boosted a bit early?

posted by centrifugal to Health & Fitness (8 answers total)

I am guessing you mean getting it before the recommended two months have passed. I would, and I don’t think there is any requirement to wait. A new wave is starting in the UK.
posted by mai at 8:45 AM on October 10

IANAD but my PCP told me (age 38, also low risk and very mild symptoms when infected) to get it whenever. I had covid the last week of July and had my physical in early September, and she would have preferred that I just get it at the appointment (because in fairness probably a lot of people will forget to go back and get it later). I asked about the three-month waiting period and she was very shruggy guy about it, and said the most important thing was just getting it. YMMV. Worth asking your doctor, since they know you specifically?
posted by goodbyewaffles at 8:46 AM on October 10

Per Your Local Epidemiologist, I would get the vaccine in the New Year if I were you. I had COVID in June and plan to get vaccinated in early December. Getting a shot before your trip won't hurt, but the evidence we have is that it won't help because your infection was very recent.
posted by caek at 8:53 AM on October 10

Hm, so similar to me (July covid for the first time ever). I was planning to get the vax in early November, but if I were traveling in early November I'd for sure get it before that.
posted by Dashy at 9:26 AM on October 10

Your protection from having recently been infected will still be relatively strong in the first week of November, so the booster is not going to offer you a whole lot more than what you already have. Agreed that it would make more sense to wait until later and spread your protection out. It's not going to hurt, but it just won't really help much (while it would help more later).
posted by ssg at 9:28 AM on October 10

I just had it last month (for the 1st time) and my primary care doc just told me last week to wait until the new year since it's too soon since infection to make any difference.
posted by archimago at 9:31 AM on October 10

Wait for the COVID shot. But I would get the Flu shot before going.
posted by coffeecat at 1:55 PM on October 10

Your protection from having recently been infected will still be relatively strong in the first week of November, so the booster is not going to offer you a whole lot more than what you already have.

Immunity from the recent variants does not last that long.
posted by ellieBOA at 8:54 PM on October 10