Vaccine data shows rates for latest COVID-19 booster is 'abysmal', only 7 percent of U.S. adults with shot

I thought it was a rollout issue… they announced it would be available almost immediately, and then it wasn’t. I’m still on a waiting list for mine at my local independent pharmacy.

Got my shot at the end of September, good stuff.

I've had every Covid vaccine offered. They aren't perfect, but I'm trying to balance risk/benefit. I'm a 70 year old, autoimmune person with lungs that formed scar tissue from my first go-round with Covid, before vaccines were available.

My lung function was great before Covid, it was normal for my age. But post Covid,.my lung function test shows that my lungs function at the level of a 5 year old...and I'm taller and bigger than a 5 year old, so that's a problem.

Scar tissue doesn't "participate" in oxygen/CO2 exchange. So I need to preserve every little alveoli I have. I'd rather die in my sleep with a smile on my face than for gasping for air, so I'll do whatever is offered to preserve the lung function I've kept.

I get mine for people like you and my dad who is in a similar situation.
- Dude, THANK YOU. Really and truly, I thank you. You are doing more than my own family does.

Oh shit, is the next batch even out? I work in a damn hospital and we haven't been told jack. Up to date pending the latest roll-out.

Man, this is the thing. I just stumbled upon the news via a passing remark from one of my medical friends, but other than that I have heard SQUAT from literally any other source. It just feels like they're not keeping up with the awareness campaign or maybe its not on anyone else's radar. I finally got vaxxed last week, but it really feels like no one else but me actually cares.
- Vaccine fatigue is a real thing after all. Right now I'm honestly prioritizing getting my HPV vaccine, I know I could probably get the latest COVID vaccine whenever, but I'll likely get it early next year.
  
  I also work from home so that probably helps.

TBH I didn't know everyone was eligible for the latest booster. My in-laws got it early but they're both at-risk.

I should go do that.

I think everyone needs to remember that we have essentially turned this virus into the new flu. We'll probably settle to pushes for yearly vaccines to reduce symptoms and the chance of passing it on, like the flu. And if you're not immunocompromised or elderly, then think of those around you who might be. They are the ones you're affecting as well as yourself if you get this vaccine.

Here's an article on vaccine immunity timelength and how it compares to the flu: Time.

I mean, two hundred Americans are still dying of this every day.
- Yes except the general population in the US does not care. We’ve proven that a significant portion of the population would rather do nothing than save the lives of thousands of people per day.
Seasonality it is like the flu but it is still a lot deadlier.

I keep hearing people say "I got 2, I'm not getting any more". Get fucking use to it, its never going away.

It's not even available for me yet, how am I supposed to help this stupid statistic?

How is it not available for you? There's no age limits this time. There's been problems with supply; I had 3 appointments cancelled because they were out of vaccine before I finally got my shot.
There are no restrictions on getting this booster. It is recommended even if you have had an older booster recently. In my area, Walgreens and CVS are the only pharmacies who have it. I was able to make an appointment online and get the shot within a day or two.

“Oh my god, who the hell cares?”

I know right?! My body does has a natural immune system sweety, I don't need to listen to scientists. No one even gets polio anymore, who needs vaccines?? I'll just sawy limb off when I get gangreen from a broken limb. What's that? The same science that protects me from.infection is the science that creates vaccines? Ruh-roh, raggy!
- No one even gets polio anymore, who needs vaccines?
  
  This would be a funny bit of sarcasm if there weren't whole hordes of people actually making this "argument" for real.
Remember that when you’re having respiratory issues in the hospital.
- I’ve been vaccinated like the rest of the normal folks and you want me to keep caring? It’s… checks notes the current year for Christ sake.

Insurance is also being a dick about it. Many I know are encountering lots of obstacles getting covered. My insurance will only pay for it if administered by a doctor or nurse, but they refer me to the pharmacy for the shot.

I wonder if we need to roll this into the annual flu shot.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/04/health/moderna-flu-covid-vaccine-trial-results/index.html they seem to be working on a yearly combo shot
I did flu, COVID, and Tdap this year at the same time since I can't remember the last time I got a tetanus booster. Would make sense to have a combo shot. I'm not paranoid about vaccines, so if I'm getting one, I may as well get the other.

That triple shot combo was a motherfucker though for the next two days after.
- I did the new covid booster and the flu vaxx at the same time and just had a slight fever for a day. Way better than the first and second covid shots (I have had 5 so far). I think it gets easier as time goes on. I did have 4 shots at the same time (tdap, hep b, measles, and rubella) early this year for immigration purposes and was surprised I wasn't hit so bad; but I did need to rest and not do much for 2 days.
At least near me that's how they're offering it, just as two shots.

Basically a sign that says "it's flu shot season, stop in for your flu shot and COVID booster".
Probably not a bad idea. I don't know if the storage requirements for them are the same though.

Wasn't the vaccine this Fall for a strain that hasn't been prevalent for the past few months? That's the only reason I didn't bother with the latest vaccine. I got the other three.

The current booster was based on the XBB.1.5 Omicron sub-variant. Therefore it's expected to also be effective against the current dominate strains that are directly related, like BA.2.86 and EG.5. So it's worth getting, it'll be some protection against the most common strains right now.

Of course once we roll through the winter into the spring and there are several more mutations and a new dominant strain, it'll be time to start the process over again.
- Thanks for the information. I pro-vaccine, but I can't say I'm super excited about the possibility of taking a vaccine every season as mutations keep popping up. What is the efficacy of the vaccine if only 7% of people are taking it?
OP asks an honest question, gets downvoted. This place is pretty much reddit 2.0.
- I mean, yeah? The place is entirely from people from Reddit, such as myself.
It was designed to hit the one previous to the one most viral at the moment, but it does protect against the new one as well.

Got mine Friday.

It wasn't available until fairly recently where I live. I plan on getting it when I have a doctor's appointment in a couple of weeks.

I had no idea there was a new one. How did people even hear about it?

I got a text message from my local CVS. Had a link to make an appointment and everything.

I haven’t gotten anything more than the first 2 and haven’t gotten it since. Therefore, no reason for me to do it

That's some weird ass logic.
- Specifically it's called Survivorship Bias.

I tried to get a shot today after lunch. About a hundred people in the line, and only walk-ins are available. I guess I'll wait for couple of months.

How are other countries doing?

Was at my Dr's office today (Manitoba, Canada) and she doesn't even have the new COVID vax yet, but my local drugstore does.

We're still feeling the effects of our former right-wingnut leadership that got the boot in our Oct election. :/

Crazy, I waited “until everyone got it”, so I wouldn’t have to wait. This past weekend I scheduled an appointment at my grocery store pharmacy for flu and COViD shots. There was no line so they took my kid and I immediately, and we were out the door ten minutes before appointments

Actually, this one was the worst for me, although I have no way of knowing which shot was. The problem is I’ve been getting enough sleep lately, so there was just enough of an annoying ache in my arm to keep me up without my normal exhaustion. Also had minor congestion, but I was developing allergy symptoms before the vaccinations, so who knows

i reupped but I know many have not - one guy I know has had it twice and been hospitalized both times.. he never learns.

I think that part of the issue is that the virus is evolving so rapidly that it's not a "vaccine" in the traditional sense, like the polio vaccine where you get it and you're protected forever (or close enough). that's how many people see vaccines - you take it and you're "cured", but not with rapidly evolving viral loads.

it's frustrating but not a lot I can do about it.

I intentionally waited until this weekend, so it'll be most effective through until the end of the winter heating season in February.

I haven't got mine yet nor have I got in the flu shot but I plan to. I've got all the boosters up to this point. I was going to get a flu shot last year but ended up not doing it because I made an appointment and then when I got to the pharmacy they had a line of over 35 people which is insane so I just ended up skipping it.

I'm getting mine on Friday. Still have to look into it for my kids. Safeway does not offer it for under 12. I remember it being difficult to get the first time around.

Not sure what state you’re in but CVS Minute Clinic has Covid booster shots for ages 5 to 11 (NOT the regular CVS since they vaccinate/treat children).

I paid $400ish for it (my wife and I) because I'm on Kaiser and they pretended they had it, but they didn't really, and I wanted it because I wanted to be confident I wouldn't get sick getting a haircut.

So, maybe the shitty health systems in the US have something to do with this.

Also, I'm kinda glad most people haven't gotten it yet. I'd rather have extra immunity juice so I can act a little more normal comfortably before the next variant shows up.