HEALTH/SCIENCE
My Personal Experience With the Moderna Booster
You may or may not experience the same side effects I did
“The recent emergence of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and prevention efforts needed to protect against COVID-19.” — CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky
My husband and I recently received our Moderna boosters.
He had almost no symptoms after the jab, as was typical for him, with the exception of mild pain at the injection site.
On the other hand, I was miserable for two days. Not only was I exhausted, but I had chills and aches and pains throughout my body.
These are simply indications that the immune system is functioning normally.
Moderna Booster Produces Robust Antibody Response
The Moderna booster dose appeared even more robust than the previous two doses.
The latter is somewhat surprising because my husband saw the pharmacist split the Moderna vaccine in two before administering the shots to us.
According to Julianne Gee, MPH, a CDC epidemiologist,
“Women generally develop stronger immune responses, including high antibody levels and greater T-cell activation, which can lead to more rapid control of infection but may also lead to increased reactogenicity (side effects) after vaccines.”
Fortunately, I was back to normal about 48 hours after receiving the jab. Despite the adverse side effects, I am still glad I got boosted.
The effectiveness of vaccines starts to wane a few months after people are fully vaccinated. Therefore, I did not feel comfortable attending large gatherings and mingling with strangers without taking the booster dose.
Final Thoughts
Adults who have had the Pfizer or Moderna Covid-19 vaccine can receive a booster six months after their second shot.
Those who received the Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine are eligible for a booster shot of any authorized vaccine two months after receiving the first dose.
According to CDC data, almost a quarter of adults who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 have also had a booster dose.
The CDC is now strongly recommending you to get your booster as soon as you are eligible to maintain your most robust immune response against omicron, delta, and other coronavirus variants.
What are your personal experiences with the COVID-19 boosters? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
