Second booster ethical issue
April 9, 2022 9:45 AM Subscribe
Can I get a second covid booster even if I am not eligible?
I’m in my early 40s with a small child (less than 1 year old). I have an international work trip for a few days coming up soon (canceling that is no longer an option). I am dreading getting on a plane full of people who care so little about covid. I’ll do my part (N95, distance, not eat on planes) but there is still a risk. I have 2 Pfizer shots and a Pfizer booster from October. I really really want a second booster, at the very least to get me through the next 3 months.
Very few Americans took the booster. So I suspect there is not a strong demand for the second one. So I’m not worried I would be depriving anyone of their shot.
I could lie on the form and say I’m immune compromised. Does that go back to my insurance and impact future coverage or create additional complications? (I work for a large employer if that matters).
This is in Alameda county.
I’m in my early 40s with a small child (less than 1 year old). I have an international work trip for a few days coming up soon (canceling that is no longer an option). I am dreading getting on a plane full of people who care so little about covid. I’ll do my part (N95, distance, not eat on planes) but there is still a risk. I have 2 Pfizer shots and a Pfizer booster from October. I really really want a second booster, at the very least to get me through the next 3 months.
Very few Americans took the booster. So I suspect there is not a strong demand for the second one. So I’m not worried I would be depriving anyone of their shot.
I could lie on the form and say I’m immune compromised. Does that go back to my insurance and impact future coverage or create additional complications? (I work for a large employer if that matters).
This is in Alameda county.
Is this an ethical question (as alluded to in your title) or a logistical question (as alluded to in your question text)?
Ethically? The cost of a Pfizer dose is about $20, and the labor to administer it is trivial (even at medical compensation rates). Even a small error in your favor on your taxes is likely to cost the US government more than that. There is no lack of supply of vaccines in the USA. I don't like to make ethical calls for other people, but if this is unethical, the magnitude of the impact is quite low.
Logistically? Sure, there's no barrier to getting vaccines - deliberately. You will not be the only person doing this.
I could lie on the form and say I’m immune compromised. Does that go back to my insurance and impact future coverage or create additional complications?
Yes. If you provide insurance information, your insurance company will be billed for the dose, and they will detect either now that you are getting a dose that you're not qualified for, or later, if a different/fifth/whatever dose is recommended, you may not be able to get it very easily. If you do this, you will want to say you have no insurance, so that the federal government picks up the tab.
posted by saeculorum at 9:54 AM on April 9, 2022
Ethically? The cost of a Pfizer dose is about $20, and the labor to administer it is trivial (even at medical compensation rates). Even a small error in your favor on your taxes is likely to cost the US government more than that. There is no lack of supply of vaccines in the USA. I don't like to make ethical calls for other people, but if this is unethical, the magnitude of the impact is quite low.
Logistically? Sure, there's no barrier to getting vaccines - deliberately. You will not be the only person doing this.
I could lie on the form and say I’m immune compromised. Does that go back to my insurance and impact future coverage or create additional complications?
Yes. If you provide insurance information, your insurance company will be billed for the dose, and they will detect either now that you are getting a dose that you're not qualified for, or later, if a different/fifth/whatever dose is recommended, you may not be able to get it very easily. If you do this, you will want to say you have no insurance, so that the federal government picks up the tab.
posted by saeculorum at 9:54 AM on April 9, 2022
There is no shortage of vaccine in the US or your county. Go for it. Sign up or check the drop in calendar here. If they ask you can say you're immune compromised. I give vaccines in your county and would not attempt to verify.
posted by latkes at 9:54 AM on April 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by latkes at 9:54 AM on April 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
I have no answer about the insurance impact. The only shot where I had to identify myself was the first one, after that for the next two I went to walkup clinics where you just showed your covid card, no forms filled out, so if that's still possible, that's probably the lowest risk for adding anything to your medical records that will negatively impact you.
Ethically I don't see any issue at this point. Vaccination clinics are shutting down for lack of demand. Basically everyone who was going to get a shot has gotten one or two or three at this point, you're not taking spots away from anyone.
Practically, the booster is probaby unnecessary at this point unless you in fact *are* immunocompromised. I'm waiting on shot 4 until the fall, I think, since the boost in immunity is not significant enough from another shot (especially against these new variants) and the protection from serious disease, as far as I understand, has not waned much yet for booster recipients. So if you have a 3rd shot and a healthy immune system, you're still well protected, and a fourth is not going to do you much good yet (but will probably be important in another 6-8 months)
posted by dis_integration at 9:55 AM on April 9, 2022 [13 favorites]
Ethically I don't see any issue at this point. Vaccination clinics are shutting down for lack of demand. Basically everyone who was going to get a shot has gotten one or two or three at this point, you're not taking spots away from anyone.
Practically, the booster is probaby unnecessary at this point unless you in fact *are* immunocompromised. I'm waiting on shot 4 until the fall, I think, since the boost in immunity is not significant enough from another shot (especially against these new variants) and the protection from serious disease, as far as I understand, has not waned much yet for booster recipients. So if you have a 3rd shot and a healthy immune system, you're still well protected, and a fourth is not going to do you much good yet (but will probably be important in another 6-8 months)
posted by dis_integration at 9:55 AM on April 9, 2022 [13 favorites]
For my booster I wandered into a CVS, told them I needed a booster and I didn't have insurance. They gave me a booster and charged me something like $20.
I suspect as long as you have a vaccination card that shows that your last dose was in October, any pharmacy will be happy to help you. Especially if you explain the travel situation.
Ethically you might as well be petting puppies.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 10:03 AM on April 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
I suspect as long as you have a vaccination card that shows that your last dose was in October, any pharmacy will be happy to help you. Especially if you explain the travel situation.
Ethically you might as well be petting puppies.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 10:03 AM on April 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
I just got covid despite also having had a Pfizer booster in October. Up until this week I was also contemplating whether or not I should get a fourth shot despite being currently ineligible.
I'm not doing too badly and I mostly feel like I did after the second shot only slightly worse. But it still sucks and it's also wrecked whatever sense of security I had from having spent the past two years masking and staying away from other people.
I'd want to get it, but
If you provide insurance information, your insurance company will be billed for the dose, and they will detect either now that you are getting a dose that you're not qualified for, or later, if a different/fifth/whatever dose is recommended, you may not be able to get it very easily.
This was pretty much the reason I hadn't gone to get one yet. Also, since I got the last booster in October, I was nominally waiting until the end of April so as to get on a six month schedule in case a fifth booster was approved later in the year.
If you do this, you will want to say you have no insurance, so that the federal government picks up the tab.
Beware. CVS had my insurance on file and automatically billed my insurance despite not asking me for my card.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 10:04 AM on April 9, 2022
I'm not doing too badly and I mostly feel like I did after the second shot only slightly worse. But it still sucks and it's also wrecked whatever sense of security I had from having spent the past two years masking and staying away from other people.
I'd want to get it, but
If you provide insurance information, your insurance company will be billed for the dose, and they will detect either now that you are getting a dose that you're not qualified for, or later, if a different/fifth/whatever dose is recommended, you may not be able to get it very easily.
This was pretty much the reason I hadn't gone to get one yet. Also, since I got the last booster in October, I was nominally waiting until the end of April so as to get on a six month schedule in case a fifth booster was approved later in the year.
If you do this, you will want to say you have no insurance, so that the federal government picks up the tab.
Beware. CVS had my insurance on file and automatically billed my insurance despite not asking me for my card.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 10:04 AM on April 9, 2022
The most ethical choice is the one that prevents the spread of COVID to those who either cannot or will not be protected for other reasons. Getting a booster shot helps you, yes, but it also helps others. Go ahead and get the shot.
posted by cocoagirl at 10:06 AM on April 9, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by cocoagirl at 10:06 AM on April 9, 2022 [8 favorites]
You're the parent of a child too young for the vaccine, and that really ought to be a good enough reason! My two youngest grandkids are also too young and their parents are getting the second booster.
posted by mareli at 4:29 PM on April 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by mareli at 4:29 PM on April 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
I don't know about your job, but my job absolutely tracks our shots and when and we have to submit evidence of them. The only thing stopping me from following the advice in this thread is having to be accountable to them in the future and if it may get me in trouble if I "snuck" a shot before I was absolutely legally permitted to do so. (And the downer news that shot #4 only boosts you for literally a month this time. SIGH.)
I reasonably assume shot #4 will become a requirement in the future (god, I hope they update it for omicron WHY HAVE THEY NOT PERMITTED THIS YET), but I figure I'll get in trouble if my shot #4 is dated April 2022 and not November 2022 or whatever. I suspect if you have a big Bay Area employer, you may have same going on?
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:30 PM on April 9, 2022
I reasonably assume shot #4 will become a requirement in the future (god, I hope they update it for omicron WHY HAVE THEY NOT PERMITTED THIS YET), but I figure I'll get in trouble if my shot #4 is dated April 2022 and not November 2022 or whatever. I suspect if you have a big Bay Area employer, you may have same going on?
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:30 PM on April 9, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
If you do end up getting a booster, get the Moderna since you have all Pfizer so far.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 9:51 AM on April 9, 2022 [1 favorite]