Getting the vaccine??

[jp1]

My group isn’t likely to be eligible for a while (50+ with no health issues) so at this point I’m just reading other people’s experiences. The perverse thing about vaccine distribution so far is that people who have the ability and tech savvimess seem to be able to get it and the people who truly need it to keep themselves safe like essential workers are dependent on others (like Alan’s wife’s
School district) to make the vaccine available. Like others have commented, I can continue to stay home and mask up for the trip to the grocery store but others aren’t so privileged.

[Teacher Terry]

Teenagers have been helping seniors that aren’t tech savvy get appointments which is great. With J and J now approved and being distributed next week things should move faster.

[catherine]

March 1 DH and I can make our appointment. I am kind of hoping that we get the J&J one, but OTOH, did I hear that it's slightly less effective than the Pfizer/Moderna? 72% v 98%?

[Teacher Terry]

Yes less effective but people aren’t dying or being hospitalized if they get Covid. I would have taken any vaccine.

[catherine]

Yes less effective but people aren’t dying or being hospitalized if they get Covid. I would have taken any vaccine.

Oh, I'm not going to be picky, that's for sure.

[bae]

I'd get whatever I could at this point, and optimize later.

[Rogar]

I think all of the approved vaccines prevent severe illness and hospitalizations. I could see holding off for a short time to get the Moderna or Pfizer if one of the other alternates were offered first.

[frugal-one]

Heard on the news today that one of the Moderna side effects is a very itchy rash around the injection site. Hadn't heard of that before. YLMV

[herbgeek]

did I hear that it's slightly less effective than the Pfizer/Moderna? 72% v 98%?

Depends on how you slice and dice the numbers. There were no deaths from the J+J trials for people who got the vaccine, but 6 of the placebo group died. I believe, but could be wrong, that no to few folks were hospitalized. The number being quoted in the media includes minor cases (aka cold level). I'd be ok with just staying out of the hospital.

[GeorgeParker]

I am kind of hoping that we get the J&J one, but OTOH, did I hear that it's slightly less effective than the Pfizer/Moderna? 72% v 98%?

The J+J vaccine was at a severe disadvantage because it was tested recently whereas the others were tested months ago before the recent varieties of Covid that are more infectious than the original showed up (meaning UK and African varieties).

That means the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were only exposed to the original version of Covid or close to it, whereas the J+J vaccine was exposed to all the varieties that have developed since then. If the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were retested now, their effectiveness would probably be the same as J+J because of the new Covid varieties they would be exposed to. IOW all the vaccines are probably equally effective in every way, and certainly all have been shown to prevent serious cases that require hospitalization or kill people.

Side effects are basically a result of your immune system cranking up to fight the virus. IOW mild, moderate, or severe reactions are all actually good because they indicate the vaccine is working as it should. It's unpleasant and unfortunate that it has to be that way, but it is what it is. Those of us old enough to remember getting a smallpox vaccination know that it caused redness, itching, and a 1/2-inch diameter scab that left a permanent scar. Covid vaccine reactions are just that same type of immune-system-cranking-up reaction.