If this turns into political snarkiness and general BS I will quickly "unwatch" FYI, but beyond that, I am curious as I know people (of varying political beliefs, btw) that had no problem with the first two, but balk at the third. ? Research has turned up nothing on this for me. Is there anything beyond political BS or conspiracy silliness for why this might be?
Aversion to the third covid vaccine
- Thread starter bigred
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Beelzebuddy
Penultimate Amazing
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Why don't you ask them instead of us? I've never heard of that happening except to people who fell into a magat hole.
Puppycow
Penultimate Amazing
Remember that the first two were given as a set. By the "third covid vaccine" I assume that you mean the first booster that was given after the first set?
I never had an "aversion" but after about the 4th one I decided that that was probably enough for me. Now that they are no longer free, it's definitely enough. When I finally did (maybe) get Covid (although the test was negative), it was very mild. I assume that's because I was still well-protected by the 4 shots, and any subsequent natural infections would re-boost and update my immunity. I still get yearly flu shots.
For reasons other than politics, there's money, there's inconvenience, there's the fact that many people have unpleasant side effects, and also it doesn't seem to be nearly as deadly as it used to be. The marginal benefit to additional booster shots doesn't seem to be nearly as high as the initial benefit to getting those first two shots was.
I never had an "aversion" but after about the 4th one I decided that that was probably enough for me. Now that they are no longer free, it's definitely enough. When I finally did (maybe) get Covid (although the test was negative), it was very mild. I assume that's because I was still well-protected by the 4 shots, and any subsequent natural infections would re-boost and update my immunity. I still get yearly flu shots.
For reasons other than politics, there's money, there's inconvenience, there's the fact that many people have unpleasant side effects, and also it doesn't seem to be nearly as deadly as it used to be. The marginal benefit to additional booster shots doesn't seem to be nearly as high as the initial benefit to getting those first two shots was.
Guybrush Threepwood
Trainee Pirate
I'm on number 6 at least, and plan to keep getting them, my wife has long covid so it seems sensible to reduce the risk of reinfecting her.
Helen
Implicitly explicit
I think i'm on number 8 or 9, and have no intention of stopping, but I have heard anti-vaxxers say that they took the first two, but then decided it was a scam or worse, no doubt inspired by other anti-vaxxers, and their "this guy on the internet says it's a plandemic"-science...
Norman Alexander
Penultimate Amazing
I just checked. I've had 10 Covid vaccinations. I think the last one was free! Reality: They were mandatory for my employment until I retired. Then we maintained them afterwards because we travel overseas frequently.
Puppycow
Penultimate Amazing
For reference:
med.stanford.edu
Some more details:
Everything is relative, but even for those over 75, the marginal risk reduction seems modest: from around 1,400 cases per 100,000 people to about 1,200 cases in the case of annual boosters (a 14% risk reduction) or 1,000 cases in the case of twice yearly (a 29% risk reduction). For those aged 65 to 74, the marginal benefit is only half of what it is for those over 75.
Here's the actual study:
www.nature.com
(See Table 1: It's actually just a 26% RRR for over 75 without the rounding error.)
Model estimates who benefits most from frequent COVID-19 boosters
A study led by researchers at Stanford Medicine finds the benefit of frequent booster vaccination for COVID-19 is highest for those over 65 years and the immunocompromised.
med.stanford.edu
I'm neither over 65 nor immunocompromised.
Some more details:
Everything is relative, but even for those over 75, the marginal risk reduction seems modest: from around 1,400 cases per 100,000 people to about 1,200 cases in the case of annual boosters (a 14% risk reduction) or 1,000 cases in the case of twice yearly (a 29% risk reduction). For those aged 65 to 74, the marginal benefit is only half of what it is for those over 75.
Here's the actual study:
Comparing frequency of booster vaccination to prevent severe COVID-19 by risk group in the United States - Nature Communications
The optimal frequency of COVID-19 booster vaccination is unclear. Here, the authors use a microsimulation model to assess the impact of different vaccine schedules on severe disease and show that regular boosters have large benefits for older and immunocompromised individuals but less so for...
www.nature.com
(See Table 1: It's actually just a 26% RRR for over 75 without the rounding error.)
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Norman Alexander
Penultimate Amazing
Given that new strains of COVID appear all the time, and that a COVID infection can be a killer if not severely and permanently debilitating, you wanna play Russian roulette by skipping boosters?
arthwollipot
Limerick Purist Pronouns: He/Him
Since the subject became intensely political and tied into partisanship, I think you're hoping without hope.
Puppycow
Penultimate Amazing
For my age group (50-64), the risk changes from 199 cases per 100K to 171 cases with annual boosters, and 147 per 100K with twice yearly boosters. The risk remains at the same order of magnitude with a slight reduction of 14% to 26%. I'm not against people getting it if it makes them feel safer, but to me the additional benefit isn't worth the hassle or cost.
BTW, in Japan there is almost no subsidy for flu jabs unless your employer provides it (mine offers 1,500 yen, but it costs about 4,000), and a small one for Covid jabs (if you qualify):
mainichi.jp
If I want one anyway, the cost would be about 15,300 yen.
BTW, in Japan there is almost no subsidy for flu jabs unless your employer provides it (mine offers 1,500 yen, but it costs about 4,000), and a small one for Covid jabs (if you qualify):
COVID vaccine copay in Japan to cost almost $50 from April with gov't subsidies - The Mainichi
TOKYO -- The Japanese health ministry announced on March 15 that from April it will subsidize municipalities for the routine coronavirus inoculation f
mainichi.jp
I'm not old enough to qualify for the subsidy and even if I were, the co-payment would be 7,000 yen or so.
If I want one anyway, the cost would be about 15,300 yen.
Pixel42
Schrödinger's cat
I'm 72 and have had boosters every six months since they became available, apart from the spring of 2024 when I didn't realise I no longer qualified for a free one and therefore wouldn't be called for it automatically. I returned from a holiday in Italy in September 2024 with my first, and so far only, bout of Covid. I no longer qualify for the annual one either, so I paid for both spring and autumn ones last year and will do the same this year.
Since I'm now classed as immunocompromised (I have a fortnightly anti-TNF injection) I'm taking whatever is available. But if it wasn't for that I wouldn't be eligible for a free COVID vaccination so probably wouldn't have organised any further ones.
I thought it was only last year that under 75 but over 65 dropped out of the eligibility for free vaccinations?
IIRC, they didn't include 65-75 in the Spring 2024 vaccination, but did in the Winter one. They went back to over 75 in 2025.
I've had all the available doses from the NHS, and paid for one this Winter when I was not, again, eligible (and this was the first time it was possible to pay for a private jab). It was strange that I qualified for the flu vaccine but not Covid, despite my partner being immunocompromised (due to radiotherapy).
To the OP, I'm still not clear what this aversion is. Who is showing it, and how is it manifested?
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? Not my experience. The second was called a booster.
Thanks for the replies. Again was just wondering...I confess I haven't kept up on it as well lately.
Steve
Penultimate Amazing
72 yo here. Had the original Covid vaccine as soon as it became available in 2020, and at least an annual booster every year since. My bank account has been unaffected thanks to socialized medicine in this country where governments actually care about the health of their citizens.
theprestige
Penultimate Amazing
Substitute "can't be arsed" for "play Russian roulette", and you describe my exact approach to influenza.
The only things that have really changed for me lately are:
- At my age, I'm getting tired of catching the flu every year or so.
- My healthcare provider offers free flu and covid jabs.
Aren't you in Australia? They've all been free.
I've had 8, which is all the recommended ones and yearly boosters, also as recommended.
You should look up the numbers! Getting the flu shots but not the Covid booster is a decision that doesn't seem to be based on facts:
