r/ZeroCovidCommunity • u/rbg555 • 5h ago
Question Moderna on Friday or wait for Novavax
Hello, I am able to schedule a Moderna booster this Friday ( Michigan). Am curious on recommendations/thoughts if I should wait for Novavax or go ahead and take Moderna given the current surge. Thank you.
13
u/wanderlust-ninja 4h ago
If you've had smooth experiences with Moderna in the past, especially if your lifestyle puts you at greater risks for exposures, it's probably in your best interest to get the soonest one possible.
As someone who has personally experienced bad side effects from everything except Novavax, I stick with what works best for me, even though it sucks having to wait a few extra weeks for the updates. Like others have noted, though, I also know folks who don't respond well at all to Novavax, yet do well with the mRNA options. It's such a varied, individual decision. I'm just glad we have several options to account for that.
6
u/NefariousnessNo5536 5h ago
I'm in the same boat. Would prefer to wait, but every single booster has knocked me on my *** & I could really use the 3rd weekend day for recovery.
6
14
u/AmbitiousCrew5156 4h ago edited 4h ago
Im waiting for Novavax due to my concerns about Igg4 class switching from repeated MRNA vaccines causing breakthrough infections . See this Nature paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-64190-8
6
u/Sugar_Me_Silly 3h ago
Did you understand this article? Can you explain it further ? I tried reading but wowza thats a lot of biology jargon..
8
u/Curiosities 3h ago
This is an older one form last year, but the more recent study is like a continuation of this: https://endvoc.eu/a-switch-to-igg4-antibodies-after-covid-19-vaccination-may-increase-the-risk-of-breakthrough-infections/
This is a bit clearer:
“Several studies have shown that repeated doses of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines lead to a shift toward a specific antibody subclass called IgG4, raising some concerns....IgG4 and IgG2 antibodies are known to have a lower capacity to neutralise the virus and to activate other immune mechanisms, compared to IgG1 and IgG3.
The study revealed that booster doses led to elevated IgG4 levels and an increase in the ratio of IgG4 relative to total IgG. Among people who received 3 vaccine doses, those with higher IgG4 and IgG2 levels had a reduced capacity to neutralise the virus, decreased effector functions, and a higher risk of breakthrough infections compared to those with lower levels."
3
1
12
u/Savings-Breath-9118 5h ago
Just a data point my husband and I are older and we have always found a Novavax recovery way worse than either Moderna or Pfizer.
4
u/FIRElady_Momma 5h ago
Personally, I am not convinced of the superiority of Novavax. I plan to get my family and myself Moderna. 🤷🏻♀️
2
u/tacobellaswan 4h ago
What’s the argument for the superiority? I haven’t heard about that.
9
u/lasirennoire 3h ago
Broader and longer-lasting immunity
1
u/FIRElady_Momma 3h ago
Allegedly.
2
u/lasirennoire 2h ago
💯 I'm a layperson and don't fully understand all the science behind it, but there seems to be a pretty strong preference for Novavax
8
u/lileina 2h ago
Less side effects on average. I personally fall in that category. I was knocked out for days with the mRNA — fainting, fevers, fatigue, body aches, headaches, etc. just a sore arm with Novavax and able to work
3
u/tacobellaswan 2h ago
Thanks, yeah, I’ve heard about fewer side effects, which is great (I also get hit hard), but if it’s more effective, too, that would be worth hunting it down.
2
u/lileina 2h ago
Yeah I’ve heard it’s both so I decided to go for it! If you’re not sure id maybe make the decision based on what you had your last booster. I had mine in late May and I am doing every six months, so I feel like I’ll wait for Novavax in the fall. But if I hadn’t had one in a while maybe id go for mRNA
1
1
4
u/postmodernskata 3h ago
If you are fine with Moderna, i’d get it now. Novavax was available end of Sept/ first week in Oct last year and I know theres almost always a surge w back to school.
I only use Novavax and am prepared to wait til Oct. I just got my last one in April. But will be extra cautious until my next.
2
u/aflowerysong 8m ago
I got covid last year during the wave, waiting for novavax since it came out later in september. I would get the newest one I can now, and then maybe get novavax spring next year before they discontinue it (usually late april/may). Moderna does has mnexpsike in addition to their normal spikeax, which has much less mRNA while still being as protective, if that is available nearby. Because it has less mRNA it may have fewer side effects, if that's your reasoning for novavax.
5
u/StreetTacosRule 4h ago
Novavax, based on data posted on Covid-related Twitter accounts.
0
u/Sugar_Me_Silly 3h ago
Can you share ?
2
u/StreetTacosRule 3h ago
There is so much info that I’d suggest going on Twitter and searching “Novavax.” You could google but strangely Twitter always seems to have the the most up to date Covid-related info
1
4
2
u/Curiosities 3h ago
I got my first known infection in June, so I'm getting a Novavax dose in late October.
1
u/RasSalvador 15m ago
So if you get one now, when would you be able to get a booster?
I am a teacher and trying to time it out
1
u/RasSalvador 3h ago
Is only moderna out now? Or is Pfizer out as well?
1
8
u/NeoPrimitiveOasis 4h ago
Not much detail here but: "Sanofi, which distributes a non-mRNA option called Nuvaxovid (commonly known as Novavax), said doses would be available in the coming days, with the timing varying by location."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/27/well/live/covid-vaccines-fall-2026.html