To accommodate patients who have gone back to work we will be extending our Tuesday hours.
Appointments will be available from 11 am to 7 pm on Tuesdays.
UPDATE ON BOOSTERS
So this week as promised more information came out on the Covid vaccines and booster shots. Of note, the consensus is that Moderna is the most effective and long lasting of the 3 vaccines.
A nationwide study of more than 3,600 adults found the Moderna vaccine does a better job at preventing COVID-19 hospitalizations than the two other vaccines being used in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Protection said last Friday.
Vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 hospitalization during March 11–August 15, 2021, was higher for the Moderna vaccine (93%) than the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (88%) and the Janssen vaccine (71%) the CDC’s weekly MMWR said.
The study also broke down effectiveness for longer periods. Moderna came out on top again.
After 120 days, the Modern vaccine provided 92% effectiveness against hospitalization, whereas the Pfizer vaccine’s effectiveness dropped to 77%, the CDC said. There was no similar calculation for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Other studies have shown all three U.S. vaccines provide a high rate of protection against coronavirus.
No surprise, J and J came out today with the idea that people who got their shot should get a booster and this increases immunity to 94% or more. Which is great but why call it a booster? It is basically a second shot and lucky for those who took it, they still will only have to get 2 instead of 3 shots and still be ahead of the game.
When given two months after the first dose, a booster shot increased antibody levels by four to six times compared with one shot alone. When given six months after the first dose, a booster shot increased antibody levels 12-fold. (This information is taken from Medscape).
The booster recommendations for now are for seniors and immunocompromised but only 6 months after the second shot. This really only applies to Pfizer because that is the group that the study on boosters pertains to.
Plus as mentioned above it is Pfizer that starts to lose its potency at this point. The studies on the other two vaccines are yet to come out.
We have Moderna in the office and I am happy to give it to anyone who desperately feels they must have a booster NOW but my suggestion is to wait and be patient. The jury is not out yet and if you got your initial Covid vaccination you are still protected.
How about you get your flu shot while you are waiting?(Smile)
Remember we now have late appointments on Tuesdays and I will be working in Laurel on October 9th which is a Saturday.
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