The other good thing to know is you can also get the Novavax vaccine as a booster, which is made with the more ‘traditional’ vaccine technology. I had two boosters with this, there was some evidence this was more effective against the Omicron variants, and that mixing vaccines was an effective strategy - so the body had different types of information to recognise new variants.
I don’t know if that’s still seen as the case, but the upside was I had almost no side effects from Novavax. 💪🏻 (you need to tell them when you make your booking you want this one).
My friend’s v healthy partner has just been hospitalised (40s) from a heart condition developed after Covid and exacerbated by a bad dose of Influenza A. So I’d recommend both Covid and flu vaccines!
Oh wow I didn’t know about Novavax. I wonder why that’s not more widely known? It might be because it’s not accessible everywhere? (Going by what Ripeka said here!) I’ve heard so many stories of lives destroyed and impacted forever by Covid - it’s a mass disabling event. I don’t know why it is no longer treated as such.
I think Pfizer was the only vax NZ had for ages and few public announcements were made about Novavax. Don’t want to sound like a ‘Big Pharma’ yammerer, but Pfizer might have some clout in terms of dominating the market. In the US, Canada and UK it’s the same situation, people want Novavax but can’t get it, and others never even knew it was an option. It’s weird because the storage requirements are much better too - like normal refrigeration temps.
As I understand, you have a right to request it, and they order it in for you.
I live with a chronic condition that is very similar to long Covid and it’s pretty terrible. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. I take super good care not to catch Covid - and still haven’t - but it’s so hard, and ironically, achieved mostly because I go so few places due to being very unwell. Everyone seems to speak of 2020 / 2021 as if we lived in two years of constant lockdown hell instead of a few weeks. It was v tough for some, but many people actually enjoyed (I wasn’t one of them) but it had a clear purpose, and it was a dream in hindsight. I felt like people cared and I felt safe. I try not to live in the past but... yeah I don’t get it. I guess billionaires and capitalism won and also people want to believe it’s 2019 again. 💔 I draw strength knowing I’m not alone, so thank you 🥰
I wish Novovax was more readily available. The only place in canterbury is out in rangiora (!), which is a half hour drive and it’s only Monday to friday so i’d have to take half a day annual leave to get it. Not available anywhere in Christchurch, at all. It’s a rubbish vax strategy, imo and I don’t understand it.
I was gutted when I got covid for the second time in May, I was roughly 5 months from my first infection, so was one month short of being able to get a booster, I now have to wait for November.
I guess on the upside with it being only 5 months between infections it probably reduced my symptoms significantly, the same as if I had been vaccinated. But I still wouldn't risk infection if at all possible, First time around was bad enough.
Oh yeah definitely I never want to get it again. I’ve had some interesting chats on Instagram - there’s a lot of folks who don’t realise that viruses can trigger autoimmune conditions and life long chronic illnesses. We aren’t very health literate in this country.
Nope, like the more times you get infected the higher the risk of Chronic Fatigue? No thanks, not if I can help it (shout out to those dealing with Long Covid and/or Chronic Fatigue every day)
I remain annoyed that back in august when I was pregnant they were insisting that being pregnant wasn’t a reason to get an extra booster. But now it is? Grr.
This is great, Emily! Thanks for this valuable public service.
I haven't had Covid yet (that I am aware of) and I am still masking in common areas at work, in the supermarket, and when I am on public transport. I am in the minority in all of these places - I'm the only one doing it, or one of a handful (if that) doing it on the bus.
I got my fourth Covid shot and the flu vax the first day I was eligible (1 April 2023). Beforehand I complained to my pharmacist about the pain I experienced in my arm after Covid Shot 3 in Feb 2022 and he told me to relax my arms as much as possible and to hang them down by my sides rather than bending them. Result! No muscular pain after those two shots...
I’m with you Emily - had two primary doses, two boosters and I got my bivalent vaccine last week. Still masking in all the places. Haven’t (to my knowledge, and I’ve tested lots) had Covid yet.
Follow up question please - can we keep getting boosters every six months if we’ve had no infection? Until we’re advised otherwise 🤷🏻♀️
I’m so guttered I initially had trouble finding somewhere that had booster appts at times that worked with my schedule and had sort of forgotten to make a big point of doing it with being busy. Then we got covid a few weeks ago. Now I have to wait till just before Christmas before I will be able to get boosted
Thanks Emily! 🥰❤️
The other good thing to know is you can also get the Novavax vaccine as a booster, which is made with the more ‘traditional’ vaccine technology. I had two boosters with this, there was some evidence this was more effective against the Omicron variants, and that mixing vaccines was an effective strategy - so the body had different types of information to recognise new variants.
I don’t know if that’s still seen as the case, but the upside was I had almost no side effects from Novavax. 💪🏻 (you need to tell them when you make your booking you want this one).
My friend’s v healthy partner has just been hospitalised (40s) from a heart condition developed after Covid and exacerbated by a bad dose of Influenza A. So I’d recommend both Covid and flu vaccines!
Oh wow I didn’t know about Novavax. I wonder why that’s not more widely known? It might be because it’s not accessible everywhere? (Going by what Ripeka said here!) I’ve heard so many stories of lives destroyed and impacted forever by Covid - it’s a mass disabling event. I don’t know why it is no longer treated as such.
I think Pfizer was the only vax NZ had for ages and few public announcements were made about Novavax. Don’t want to sound like a ‘Big Pharma’ yammerer, but Pfizer might have some clout in terms of dominating the market. In the US, Canada and UK it’s the same situation, people want Novavax but can’t get it, and others never even knew it was an option. It’s weird because the storage requirements are much better too - like normal refrigeration temps.
As I understand, you have a right to request it, and they order it in for you.
I live with a chronic condition that is very similar to long Covid and it’s pretty terrible. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. I take super good care not to catch Covid - and still haven’t - but it’s so hard, and ironically, achieved mostly because I go so few places due to being very unwell. Everyone seems to speak of 2020 / 2021 as if we lived in two years of constant lockdown hell instead of a few weeks. It was v tough for some, but many people actually enjoyed (I wasn’t one of them) but it had a clear purpose, and it was a dream in hindsight. I felt like people cared and I felt safe. I try not to live in the past but... yeah I don’t get it. I guess billionaires and capitalism won and also people want to believe it’s 2019 again. 💔 I draw strength knowing I’m not alone, so thank you 🥰
I am so with you x I feel the same way. Just everything you’ve said.
I wish Novovax was more readily available. The only place in canterbury is out in rangiora (!), which is a half hour drive and it’s only Monday to friday so i’d have to take half a day annual leave to get it. Not available anywhere in Christchurch, at all. It’s a rubbish vax strategy, imo and I don’t understand it.
It’s weird eh? My clinic stopped sticking it too, but they can order it in and only takes a day or two. Perhaps another clinic could do that for you?
I was gutted when I got covid for the second time in May, I was roughly 5 months from my first infection, so was one month short of being able to get a booster, I now have to wait for November.
I guess on the upside with it being only 5 months between infections it probably reduced my symptoms significantly, the same as if I had been vaccinated. But I still wouldn't risk infection if at all possible, First time around was bad enough.
Oh yeah definitely I never want to get it again. I’ve had some interesting chats on Instagram - there’s a lot of folks who don’t realise that viruses can trigger autoimmune conditions and life long chronic illnesses. We aren’t very health literate in this country.
Nope, like the more times you get infected the higher the risk of Chronic Fatigue? No thanks, not if I can help it (shout out to those dealing with Long Covid and/or Chronic Fatigue every day)
Great reminder. Have just booked my booster for Friday arvo
Yay!
I remain annoyed that back in august when I was pregnant they were insisting that being pregnant wasn’t a reason to get an extra booster. But now it is? Grr.
What?! That is so infuriating. I just don’t get it when I hear stuff like this.
This is great, Emily! Thanks for this valuable public service.
I haven't had Covid yet (that I am aware of) and I am still masking in common areas at work, in the supermarket, and when I am on public transport. I am in the minority in all of these places - I'm the only one doing it, or one of a handful (if that) doing it on the bus.
I got my fourth Covid shot and the flu vax the first day I was eligible (1 April 2023). Beforehand I complained to my pharmacist about the pain I experienced in my arm after Covid Shot 3 in Feb 2022 and he told me to relax my arms as much as possible and to hang them down by my sides rather than bending them. Result! No muscular pain after those two shots...
Timely, thanks! We're due in 3 weeks.
I’m with you Emily - had two primary doses, two boosters and I got my bivalent vaccine last week. Still masking in all the places. Haven’t (to my knowledge, and I’ve tested lots) had Covid yet.
Follow up question please - can we keep getting boosters every six months if we’ve had no infection? Until we’re advised otherwise 🤷🏻♀️
I’m so guttered I initially had trouble finding somewhere that had booster appts at times that worked with my schedule and had sort of forgotten to make a big point of doing it with being busy. Then we got covid a few weeks ago. Now I have to wait till just before Christmas before I will be able to get boosted