Quote:
Originally Posted by WT Sharpe
Although much has been written about the difficulty of comparing the various vaccines, it does appear that the two most widely used in my area (Pfizer and Moderna, both of which require two shots) appear to hold a significant advantage over the single shot J&J vaccine.
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In May, there is a study coming out on a 2-dose J&J regimen. If superior, I’m guessing that those who had the one dose will be offered boosters. Eventually the people who got the other jabs may also be told to get boosters, but maybe not as soon.
The headline statistics are for mild illness because the confidence intervals are much narrower than for the rarer, serious, cases that we care about the most. The hospitalization confidence intervals for the allegedly posher jabs (Pfizer/Moderna), and the others, overlap.
Pfizer/Moderna first/second dose intervals, in the U.S., are too short
by standards of other vaccines. The only reason the phase 3 testing was done with such short intervals - and it was an excellent reason - was the need to complete the studies before millions more died. But I will take my second shot on the day scheduled.
All in all — there is a great deal to be said for taking what you are given. Don’t assume that which of these is best is settled science. And all protect against the great majority of deaths.
P.S. I hope saying something isn’t settled science doesn’t sound alarming. Medical care is getting much better over time, even though much of what physicians and surgeons do, at any point in time, turns out not to have been the best. I suspect a lot of people don’t like that reality, which is why there is so much unfair criticism when medical advice improves AKA changes.