Q: Many of you have contacted us to ask if a COVID booster shot is recommended for PWCs.
A: The best antibody protection is conferred to those who have already contracted COVID, but immunization with the currently available vaccines has provided protection in about 90% of cases. Those vaccines, however, are only about 60-70% effective against the new variant viruses. Also, antibodies decline over time regardless of how they were derived
Whether or not to take a booster has been confusing, possibly because so many sources are providing information. The FDA has to authorize booster shots, the ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) then recommends them, and the CDC informs everybody. There is also a lot of spurious advice on the internet, mostly based on anecdotes and personal opinion.
It all boils down to one thing: Would you rather have COVID-19 or would you rather take a booster?
If you have had two mRNA immunizations or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, then you should have reasonable antibody protection.
Vaccines do not prevent COVID-19, but generally decrease the severity of the infection. Booster doses increase the number of antibodies that you have and decrease the incidence of severe disease, hospitalization, and even death.
Booster doses are currently available only for immunocompromised individuals, and persons with ME/CFS and FM are not considered to be significantly immunocompromised. On September 20th it is expected that boosters will be made available to all those who want them (probably later for those who took the J&J immunization), but it is recommended that you not take a booster until 8 months after your last vaccination. This is the time it generally takes for antibodies to wane.
If you had significant side effects from your initial vaccinations, or if you are hesitant to take vaccinations you might want to postpone your booster until products specific to the new variants become available. Alternatively, you could request testing of “quantitative SARS-CoV-2 antibodies” to determine if you have enough antibodies in your body already.
Currently there are insufficient studies to determine if it is safe or effective to mix-and-match vaccines, so if you do elect to take a booster choose the same brand that you took initially.