Covid-19 vaccines and vaccinations

COVID vaccine in nasal spray: Israeli researchers help develop needle-free inoculation

Tel Aviv University scientists say peer-reviewed invention can be stored at room temperature, helping to reach remote regions; it can be administered without a nurse or injections

The research was inspired by a decade of research on cancer vaccines, said Prof. Ronit Satchi-Fainaro of Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences and Professor Helena Florindo’s lab at the University of Lisbon.
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From the latest TWIV video:
Describes the risk of transmission in a household setting from family members who have a)never had covid, b)had a previous infection only, c)had vaccination only or d)both infection and vaccination.
34.18 to 39:44

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXl3DfnNT_Q

Would the reduced transmission be due to less viral shedding because of already increased antibodies from previous infection/vaccination? Am I understanding this correctly?

 

On the BBC news last night John Swinney (First Minister) was filmed being jabbed and encouraging people "to look again at their eligibility for the Covid jab". He qualified as his wife has MS, they said.

Nice of him to show some awareness, but how about opening up eligibility. It may be like last year when in some areas the vaccination teams seemed to be actively looking for reasons to offer Covid jabs. My partner got his on account of me and so did his sister, who was temporarily living with their parents. I didn't but I'll ask when I go for my flu jab (which I've been offered every year from at least the 90s).

(Also posted on the Scotland thread.)

 

Blegh, should have checked back before posting. Swinney only got the flu jab.

Here's the link, about 14 mins in -

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0025k40/reporting-scotland-evening-news-26112024

 

No evidence of immune exhaustion after repeated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in vulnerable and healthy populations, 2024
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It wasn't necesssary - the receptionist said "are you here for both", I said "I hope so", and she said "I'll put you down for both". I didn't hear the entire exchange but she seemed to say the same to a man behind me.

I'm thinking that, although they haven't changed the public guidelines, operationally they want to vax as many as possible. (Caveat - if I'm right, may be Scotland only).

Glad to have it - Moderna - since if Scotland follows the UK I won't be due another till I'm 75. I don't see me surviving that long.

However feeling awful. The Covid site is red, swollen, hard and extremely painful, a red rash 4x6cm has developed at the flu site. Feverish, nauseous, poisonous headache, tingling more active.

 

I'm getting an RSV vaccine tomorrow. I'm a bit nervous about it since in rare cases patients get Guillain-Barré from the vaccine, but I have heard of people here getting very sick from RSV, so I'll take a chance.

I'm also going to ask for a titer test to see if I still have antibodies for measles. When I was a child, I got all the vaccinations at that time, but want to see if my immunity is still good since many people in Texas are getting measles now.

I might as well get a polio titer test, too. I was one of the little kids who got the sugar-cube vaccination. I might still have immunity, but am thinking of how previously eradicated diseases can come back due to the current political climate, and vaccines might become much less available. It's hard to believe we've taken this giant step backward.

 

I had not heard of RSV:

I hope all goes well with the vaccination.

 

Belgium, Austria, and Switzerland researchers review shows age weakens immune responses but not uniformly. Adjuvants and mRNA vaccines improve vaccine effectiveness in older adults, with adjuvants showing the most consistent success.

Age-related changes in the immune system and challenges for the development of age-specific vaccines, 2025,

Abstract
Background
A better understanding of how the immune system evolves with age and how vaccines work in older people has led to increasing focus on the development of vaccines aimed specifically at older age groups. We discuss strategies used to improve vaccine immunogenicity for older adults, focusing on licensed adjuvants.

Findings
With age-related immune decline (immunosenescence), older adults face increased vulnerability to infections and severe complications. Immunosenescence affects T-cell and B-cell populations and innate immunity, leading to reduced chemotaxis, cytotoxicity, and altered cytokine production. This contributes to inflammaging—low-grade, chronic inflammation linked to aging. However, immune responses vary due to genetics and life-long exposures, making chronological age an imperfect indicator of immune health. Vaccination remains key to prevention, yet immune dysfunction complicates vaccine efficacy.

Strategies to enhance responses in older adults include mRNA vaccines, high-antigen content vaccines, intradermal administration, and adjuvants. mRNA COVID-19 vaccines generated strong immune responses in older adults, though lower than in younger groups. High-antigen content influenza vaccines have shown superior efficacy compared to standard vaccination. Adjuvants offer a well-established approach to boosting vaccine responses by enhancing innate immunity.

Conclusions
Of various strategies used to improve immunogenicity of vaccines for older adults, adjuvants have been the most consistently effective and practical. More recently, mRNA vaccines have also shown great promise.
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I got an RSV vaccine last week. The only side effects I experienced were increased fatigue and brainfog for 2 or 3 days. I'm 67, and although the FDA recommends RSV for people 75 and older, people 60-74 can also get it if they have weakened immune systems or other types of problems. RSV is highly contagious, mostly transmitted through aerosols. My doctor recommended getting it given my health history even though I've had a lot of improvements these past years.

This isn't high RSV season, but so far it's a one-time vaccine, so I thought I might as well get it since I'm going to be traveling soon.

 

Just had my invite (UK) for the spring Covid booster. I'd half expected for there to be no more updates—it feels as if Covid's officially considered history now.

The vaccines haven't stopped me getting infected but might have reduced the severity, so I've booked in.

 

An article for folks who think vaccines cost too much:

COVID-19 analysis: US investment in vaccine more than paid off

"Nation prevented far more in medical spending and lost productivity than it spent on testing, buying and delivering the 2021 vaccines"

 

If it’s in the US, the costs presumably include the extreme profits of the manufacturers. So it would be more profitable it comparable western countries.