YANMD, but I have a COVID vaccine question anyway
July 30, 2021 12:21 PM   Subscribe

I got the J&J shot in early March. On June 30, wary of the delta variant and the lack of data on J&J’s efficacy against it, I went ahead and got the first shot of the Pfizer vaccine at a local pharmacy. Should I get the second Pfizer dose?

That’s it, that’s the question. I know there’s not really any data on this particular situation. I’m vaguely concerned about possible autoimmune weirdness though I know it’s extremely unlikely (I’ve had on again off again weird autoimmune symptoms that never show up in bloodwork but do fuck with me, and recently), but I’m also in a red county with a vaccination rate in the low 40s (and holding) and I’m already in a high risk category for COVID. I isolate pretty well, but Christ I would like to be able to go to the gym to lift weights (while masked, obviously), although this is becoming increasingly unlikely no matter what I do.

Anyway. With apologies to MeFites who do not have the absurd privilege of just waltzing into a pharmacy and getting vaccinated (which, btw, easy to do with no appointment, because red county)…should I go full double vaccine or stay with the Johnson and a half Pfizer?
posted by schadenfrau to Health & Fitness (6 answers total)
 


Unlikely to be necessary, you are probably as well protected as any double vaccinated person.

BBC: Mixing Covid jabs has good immune response, study finds
posted by knapah at 12:57 PM on July 30, 2021


just go full double.
posted by entropone at 1:15 PM on July 30, 2021 [1 favorite]


I'd say yes, not so much for medical reasons, but because as we're finding out here in Canada, one dose of two different vaccines is often not recognized as a valid approach by other countries, so you might not count as "vaccinated" according to some authorities. That might limit options for travel or attending events.
posted by FishBike at 1:29 PM on July 30, 2021 [2 favorites]


Response by poster: Just to clarify: the J&J shot is a one shot vaccine, so I've technically been fully vaccinated since March. But it's also not nearly as effective as the mRNA (Pfizer and Moderna) vaccines.
posted by schadenfrau at 1:32 PM on July 30, 2021


J&J is a viral vector vaccine. So is AstraZeneca.
Canada has approved both for use. However due to screwups at the Baltimore plant.,
J&J has not been used in Canada. but Astra has been used

Canada does allow vaccine mixing. And in the case of Astra, it is recommended that the second dose be either Phizer or Moderna. This is due to concerns about clotting with Astra , and the increased protection a second dose of Phizer or Moderna offers.

Canada does NOT recommend a third shot .
The guidance is quite clear on this point.
No third shot required or desired.

The province of Quebec recently will reluctantly allow a third shot at the patients risk if it is necessary to comply with travel restrictions.
( this is a separate and future can of worms. For travel do we recognize Sinovac, will the USA recognize Astra ? etc etc)
posted by yyz at 2:44 PM on July 30, 2021 [2 favorites]


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