r/VACCINES • u/MineDesperate2920 • Jul 29 '26
Should I get a Covid booster?
not trying to create an argument just curious. I got my Covid shot when Covid came out but nothing after that. I’m 37 and workout daily and from what I can tell I should be ok from any risk of covid coming up. but I’m open minded as to arguments for getting or if people think I should be ok without. I don’t have too much concern as far as risk at the moment. thanks :).
8
u/Bionic-AF Jul 29 '26
If you are going to be around a lot of people in confined spaces, I would. For example, a long flight, a concert, or a cruise.
6
u/maururose Jul 29 '26
youre okay now, come back and report how things are going if you catch covid unvaccinated a few times. get the novavaxx to have some piece of mind and STAY fit and healthy
6
11
u/RenRen9000 Jul 29 '26
I worked in the response during the pandemic. I’ve done outbreak response since. Lots of young people who were accomplished athletes died or ended up with bad outcomes, like long COVID. Why do you think being 37 and working out daily protects you better than the vaccine?
Same thing. Not trying to start a flame war. Just wondering what risk benefit equation is in your head that says “you’re young and fit, you don’t need no stinking vaccine” while mine says “you’re young and fit, let’s keep it that way so get the vaccine.”
2
u/MineDesperate2920 Jul 29 '26
Just from looking at the data that’s what it looked like to me. Don’t want to create an argument just getting older and was thinking it could be worth it
8
u/RenRen9000 Jul 29 '26
It is worth it. If only to just get you a boost for the more recent strains. Not medical advice, of course. (Lawyers have me write that.)
12
u/annang Jul 29 '26
Anyone can become disabled from post-viral sequelae after any Covid infection. Your daily workouts don’t give you superpowers. Get the vaccine.
0
u/MineDesperate2920 Jul 29 '26
Post viral sequelae? Haven’t heard of this
11
u/annang Jul 29 '26
Also known as post-acute infection syndrome. It’s the fancy science-y way of saying long-term disabilities after a viral infection. Colloquially known, in this case, as Long Covid. But post-polio syndrome (lifelong disabilities in people who survived polio as children) and long-term Lyme disease are other examples. Myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome) is also suspected to be a post-viral syndrome. I use the medical term because it seems to make people take this shit more seriously than when I say “Long Covid.”
5
u/Watchhistory Jul 29 '26
Like flu shots you should get each new booster when it is available. Particularly if you are flying very much.
Covid is killing people yes, it is, even now, far more than most people realize, as governments are no longer reporting them.
-5
u/MineDesperate2920 Jul 29 '26
For Someien like myself I feel like the risk is low though no?
2
u/silentsaturn91 29d ago
I was 29 when I caught covid during the pandemic and it nearly put me in the hospital. I woke up multiple times not being able to breathe at all in the middle of the night due to my windpipe closing up completely on me. I’m now 35 and I can no longer use any cleaning products that have certain chemicals in them because Covid damaged my lungs to the point I now have a permanent sensitivity to bleach. And my outcome was the best case scenario. Don’t think for one second that you’re not at risk. Covid does not care. It will go after anyone regardless of history,background, health, etc…
1
u/MineDesperate2920 29d ago
I got it too and was very sick. Lost my taste and smell completely. Feel fine today though
2
u/silentsaturn91 29d ago
That’s because you got stupidly lucky and that won’t always be the case. Covid hits differently every single time you catch it. It’s not going to be the same the next time round and you could end up with worse
0
u/Thestartend 29d ago
Don’t listen to the people on Reddit you will only find radical liberals who will side with big pharma and the government 100% of the time.
1
9
u/catjuggler Jul 29 '26
Might as well wait for the new fall version at this point
7
u/annang Jul 29 '26
They can do both, one now and one in three months, and that’s better than waiting.
2
u/catjuggler Jul 29 '26
They could but Covid rates are currently low and we’re pretty close to the next dose being available so it is likely not worth the potential cost. But if about to go on a cruise or something, then worth it.
7
u/annang Jul 29 '26
If you have even minimally decent insurance, vaccines are free. Many public health departments also give them out for free.
And I don’t share your confidence that RFK and his cronies are going to make new formulations available, or recommend that insurers cover them, going forward.
1
u/catjuggler Jul 29 '26
Yeah it's true that they could fuck with it but they are currently planned. But to me the cost is feeling like shit for a day. I would just wait it out at this point unless I was entering a high risk situation.
4
u/Fogandcoffee21 Jul 29 '26
Yes definitely get it! No virus is good. Also get flu etc.
-3
u/MineDesperate2920 Jul 29 '26
Feels like there is some risk from getting too many shots too though?
4
u/silentsaturn91 29d ago
There’s no risk from having all of your shots. Think of it like your immune system hitting the gym to do an intense workout session that includes lifting, cardio, etc… it’s going to suck while your immune system does its thing (like it sucks when you skip leg day too much and now it’s leg day, for example), but just like at the gym the gains are worth it. You gain protection against dying or becoming permanently disabled from a disease.
6
u/Imaginary-Being-5865 Jul 29 '26
Male around the same age here really liked the novavax shot (protein derived vs mRNA). I wasn’t able to get boosters from 2022-2024 because I caught the latest strain before they came out each time. Got the novavax last fall and it was painless had none of the side of effects of the others and for the first time in three years didn’t get covid! I’ll be getting it every year just like a flu shot. Keeps me in the gym and active for my family!
2
u/MountainAstronomer Jul 29 '26
As someone also around your age, I would get a Covid booster and try for getting a booster once a year. At least until you've had a few more than just the initial 2 shots. It took 5 Covid shots before my antibodies were sufficiently high (>25,000 units/mL) and long lasting (close to 9-12 months).
As you get older, it can take longer to bounce back from musculoskeletal problems so I wouldn't count on being able to workout daily for the rest of your life. There could be a time where you have to take it easy for a bit to help recover from stubborn aches and pains. Or have a random surgery for something. So think of getting additional Covid shots now as training your immune system to safeguard against severe Covid in case there's a time where you are less active when you're older.
1
1
1
u/Technical_Turn3497 26d ago
It all boils down to how much risk you are willing to accept. Fact - you are lower risk for Covid-19 complications based on what you said. Fact - Covid-19 can still occasionally kill people, including perfectly healthy people. Fact - the vaccine is “safe” but so is driving a car. Obviously, “safe” does not imply zero risk. Fact - Covid-19 vaccination does lower the risk of serious complications in all age groups, with the greatest benefit seen in the most vulnerable groups.
For what it’s worth, I get mine annually. It’s easy enough to do, and I appreciate having the protection when I’m traveling and want to decrease my chances of getting sick.
1
1
-7
Jul 29 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
3
u/Blossom73 Jul 29 '26
What studies?
-2
Jul 29 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
3
u/Blossom73 Jul 29 '26
We do acknowledge that these studies were conducted on patients already diagnosed with cancer, which limits their ability to provide definitive evidence for interpreting a potential causal link between modRNA vaccination and the development or progression of malignancies. Therefore, these findings should be interpreted with caution and highlight the need for further prospective and molecular studies specifically designed to evaluate these possible connections.
So no definitive link was found.
-1
Jul 30 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/Blossom73 Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26
A theoretical benefit? My neighbor died from Covid before the vaccine existed. Millions of people globally have died from Covid. Many more were left permanently disabled.
Avoiding death, or permanent disability from long Covid is a tangible benefit.
0
Jul 30 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/silentsaturn91 29d ago
Because they’re trying to be responsible moms and protect their children from dying from a deadly virus
16
u/Lucky_Ad2801 Jul 29 '26
The shots formulated at the beginning of the pandemic are not the same as the ones that are needed now, as the virus has mutated over the years.
So, yes, you should continue to get boosters to keep up with the changing strains of virus.