quote:

The multivariable analyses also found that, the more recent the last prior COVID-19 episode was the lower the risk of COVID-19, and that the greater the number of vaccine doses previously received the higher the risk of COVID-19.

quote:

The evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus necessitates a more nuanced approach to assessing the potential impact of vaccination than when the original vaccines were developed. Additional factors beyond vaccine effectiveness need to be considered. The association of increased risk of COVID-19 with higher numbers of prior vaccine doses in our study, was unexpected

quote:

This is not the only study to find a possible association with more prior vaccine doses and higher risk of COVID-19. A large study found that those who had an Omicron variant infection after previously receiving three doses of vaccine had a higher risk of reinfection than those who had an Omicron variant infection after previously receiving two doses of vaccine [21]. Another study found that receipt of two or three doses of a mRNA vaccine following prior COVID-19 was associated with a higher risk of reinfection than receipt of a single dose [7]. We still have a lot to learn about protection from COVID-19 vaccination, and in addition to a vaccine’s effectiveness it is important to examine whether multiple vaccine doses given over time may not be having the beneficial effect that is generally assumed.

In conclusion, this study found an overall modest protective effect of the bivalent vaccine booster against COVID-19, among working-aged adults. The effect of multiple COVID-19 vaccine doses on future risk of COVID-19 needs further study.

quote:

It’s important to emphasize that just as the SARS-CoV-2 virus has evolved substantially over the past two years, so has our knowledge. What’s true today may be proven false tomorrow. That’s science.

quote:

It's really not easy to tell what we are doing to ourselves with all these vaccines. But I need to point out a possible reason for the results other than the one everyone is jumping to, i.e. that vaccines make it easier to catch COVID. I think behavior changes in many people after you get a shot - "I am protected so I can go back to being around people regardless of the situation". As an example, my cousin had almost zero contact with people until she got the latest bivalent shot. Now she goes everywhere. I tried to tell her that she's still at risk, but didn't push it because she was so risk adverse that I didn't know if I was doing her any favors. Another fallacy that many fall into is that the shot prevents you from getting sick. It does not. It prevents you from dying. Preventing yourself from getting sick is up to you. And I bet it is the "I am bullet-proof" behavior that many have after vaccination that causes the spike in infections. There are so many things that I would like to do but don't because I am still avoiding being in large, unmasked crowds.

I just had the bivalent booster yesterday. I waited 6 months after I had COVID to get the shot, and wonder if I should have waited longer. I don't think anyone knows the answer to that question. You can measure circulating antibodies but not the level of cellular immunity, so while the levels of antibodies go down with time, the same may not be true of cellular immunity. However, we do know that after a while (whenever that is) immunity is reduced because many of the oldsters dying are people who did not keep up with their boosters. Many antivaxxers use the argument that more vaccinated people are dying, so vaccines must not be effective ( and may be doing harm). The data suggests that more vaccinated, but not recently vaccinated, people are dying, and that these are chiefly oldsters with poorer immune systems.

I question my decision today to get another vaccine because I always get sick from the shot (which is why I picked a Friday to get it). Last night I was up most of the night with a headache, achy joints, and an arm so sore that moving woke me up. The reason I got the shot is that I am flying to SC next month to see a cousin I haven't seen in years, and to Japan in March for a meeting. I will be wearing an N95 on the planes and in the airports because getting the shot does not prevent infection, and because the chances of getting a whopping dose of the virus is much better in large groups of people in small, enclosed spaces. The data indicate that I have lessened my chance of being seriously ill by getting the shot. My concern is what else I am also doing that could come back to bite me - like predisposing myself to autoimmune conditions. I don't even know if that is a reasonable concern.

quote:

Originally posted by wtg:
For me, the Cleveland Clinic study is just one more data point to be considered in a broader context. Other things I'm interested in include how the vaccine protects people in my age cohort; study participants are much younger than I am and we know COVID affects people differently depending upon age. And I'd like to see more data on protection against severe illness or death. And, just for good measure, a look at whether vaccines and/or Paxlovid provide protection against long COVID. Throw in my individual risk profile (prior reaction to vaccine but otherwise excellent health for someone my age) and it gets fairly complicated.

The journey continues.

quote:

The Biden administration’s monomaniacal focus on vaccines over new treatments has left the highest-risk Americans more vulnerable to new variants. Why doesn’t that seem to worry the experts?