Q:
I am a 76-year-old man and saw my primary care doctor several weeks ago for a routine emphysema checkup. She made sure that I had the Moderna mRNA COVID vaccine twice about a year ago, when she pointed out to me that, with my lung issues and my age, that I probably wouldn’t survive a COVID infection.
In particular, she recommended the Moderna vaccine because it did not require storage at “supercold” temperatures to remain effective, and strongly recommended that I get another Moderna booster, as several studies have shown it to be effective in protecting infection by the newest COVID variants, which have become steadily more prevalent over this past summer.
Can you supply any details about the studies she mentioned?
A: You should thank your doctor for staying up-to-date on this issue. COVID subtype identification was first shown to be important in European studies before it became customary in the U.S., particularly after it was shown that the COVID virus seems quite adept at evolving to become more infectious. Once the variants were properly identified via genetic profile analysis, the available vaccines could be tested for effectiveness against them.
The studies she mentioned were conducted over this past summer and formed the scientific basis for the CDC’s recommendation, which she conveyed to you.
The studies also found that, due to the differences between old and new variants of the virus, the boosters you’ve already received won’t be as protective this winter as they were last winter.
With your history of lung problems, her earlier comment about your likelihood of surviving a COVID infection remains true. Also, since free athome COVID tests are once again available it will be important for ANY of your close contacts to obtain them and use them if they begin having ANY respiratory symptoms, so that if their tests come up positive, those individuals can be kept away from you for at least 7-10 days.
Your household members should also get the same COVID booster, even if they have no lung problems, as it would be more difficult for you to be isolated from them if they are infected by others outside the household.
To learn more about this and many other health topics, visit the American Academy of Family Physicians’ website familydoctor. org, where you can click on the Search box in the upper right corner of the website, and enter your topic of interest.
I want to thank Brandon T. for suggesting this topic; if you have a particular topic you would like to hear more about, message me at paulmdake@gmail. com.
