Kevin's Watch

Well, back at work. (In a sense anyway, still working from home of course.)

Meh. At least it's Friday.

--A

Finally about over the dredges of the flu that we got at my house. It was the flu just a particularly nasty version.

The CDC say:

But this version of H3N2 has changes that help it escape the antibodies the body makes in response to vaccines.

Outside of that a good friend of ours of many years died this week. ALS then double pneumonia. He just couldn't fight it all off. Super nice guy and incredibly smart. He was a mechanical engineer who worked on secret projects for the govt for most of his career. He was never able to tell us where he went because the govt took steps to ensure he never knew where he was when he worked these projects. But he had a great retirement where he gave back to the community for many years but also enjoyed his hobbies of Ski'ing, scuba diving, hiking, riding his Harley. He was in his mid 80's so he did live a nice long life and one that mattered. Although he will be missed I have to say, I find more joy in the way he lived his life than sorrow in his passing.

Sorry for the long ramble. I hope everyone is doing well.

So sorry to read of your loss that’s always a tough pill to swallow. Hugs

Congratulations Deer on the birth of your beautiful grandchild!! 9lbs very good size! Welcome to grand parenthood ~ I’m a huge fan and absolutely adore having grandies

My life has been busy ~ my family have moved states to be closer to a relative who’s got a nasty rare terminal brain cancer. She’s doing as well as can be expected ~ she’s just sooo young.

Life, right?

Had a wonderful xmas with family~ hope you all did too

Sorry to hear SB, but certainly a life lived to its fullest.

Welcome back Sky, Happy Moving.

--A

Good to hear from you Sky! Sorry to hear about your relative but also happy to hear that you all are here for her. I would not want to face something like that alone.

Questions for friends in healthcare. I received an email last night from Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, where my doctors for breast cancer and leukemia are located, saying immunocompromised patients should now get four shots: if Pfizer the first two should be three weeks apart from each other, the third 28 days later, and now a fourth 5 months later. It sounds as though the third is now supposed to be a full dose, rather than a booster.

I had followed the previous advice of two full doses three weeks apart and a booster five months later, with the booster being last August.

I'm coming up on five months since the booster. Do I need to get a full dose to adjust for the dosage and timing of the third dose not currently meeting the timeline? Should I consider the mix and match approach and get Moderna, since the previous three were all Pfizer?

And, has anyone else heard that immunocompromised patients should get a fourth dose? I know Israel has been doing such, but this is the first I heard, here. I don't even know if fourth doses are being offered anywhere, yet.

It feels weird that my last/previous post on this forum was in August 2013.

Spiral Jacobs wrote:It feels weird that my last/previous post on this forum was in August 2013.

Welcome back!

Eh, we don't judge (much) as long as you come back.

Good to see you around again SJ. Go post stuff.

--A

Avatar wrote:Eh, we don't judge (much) as long as you come back.

Good to hear. Probably not really back, just checking in.

Same old, same old. Don't want to feel like I just come here to complain about stuff.

Sorus wrote:Don't want to feel like I just come here to complain about stuff.

Fine. Come here so that we who miss your presence can say to each other (here and in other venues) "Did you see? Sorus posted to the Watch!"

Sorus wrote: Same old, same old. Don't want to feel like I just come here to complain about stuff.

It's nice to see your avatar

That's what we do isn't it? Come here to complain I welcome it!

If a Watcher needs to complain about something, where will they find people more willing to lend an ear? Feel free. We help each other as we can. But "just"? No, we want your joy as well.

Yes, but ALSO though, joy is in the ears that hear, right? Just 'cause it sounds like that to you doesn't mean their isn't joy for the rest of us in it, including that of your simple presence.

(And there's always the Discord too. )

--A

Avatar wrote:(And there's always the Discord too. )

OK. It's official.

Av has gone from forum pimping to Discord pimping.

There is Discord aplenty on the Watch, albeit mostly confined to the Tank.

Still?

Shot #4
Booster #2

2nd booster? Hadn't heard of that.

Fist and Faith wrote:2nd booster? Hadn't heard of that.

CDC wrote:Additional Primary Shot and Booster Shot for Some Immunocompromised People

After completing the primary series, some moderately or severely immunocompromised people should get an additional primary shot.

Everyone 12 years and older, including immunocompromised people, should get a booster shot. If you are eligible for an additional primary shot, you should get this dose first before you get a booster shot.

And

CDC wrote:Who Is Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised?

People are considered to be moderately or severely immunocompromised if they have:

Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood (me due to walking chemo for leukemia)
Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
Advanced or untreated HIV infection
Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

Guidance has changed since my 1st booster back in August. Then it was a booster 5 months after the first two shots. Now it's 3 primary doses, with the 3rd dose 28 days after the 2nd, and a booster 5 months later. I got a booster 5 months after my 2nd shot, so as soon as it's been 5 months after that booster, I was told to get another.