Antibody tests and vaccinations in transplants

@benlam11 - Good morning. J&J is undergoing some problems with the side effects of their vaccine so I wouldn't look to them for advice, unless you had the J&J vaccine. The J&J vaccine is quite different than the other mRNA vaccines: The ultimate difference is the way the instructions are delivered. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines use mRNA technology, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses the more traditional virus-based technology. mRNA is essentially a little piece of code that the vaccine delivers to your cells.

Humans have always been guinea pigs for vaccines for humans, but that doesn't assure constant results. We, humans, are just too complicated!

Have you read this?
https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2021/07/13/mrna-vaccines-could-pack-more-persistent-punch-against-covid-19-than-thought/
You say that the medical field places the risk with the patient. In a sense that is true, however, from the quick pace of the virus and its variants killing people something had to be done. Should the FDA do something different?
What might that have done?

From the beginning I thought mRNA is breakthrough technology and the way to go.. It had been in the pipeline for a long time as a potential for some cancers ( It is being tested for some cancers in Munich Germany right now). I was not looking for the J&J old technology, as I thought it was the same technology as the flu vaccine. Right now however I know of a family (friends) living in one home, with all but the two youngest vaccinated with mRNA. Five of them are sick with one hospitalized with Covid. The person hospitalized is a diabetic in his 40's. So keep you guard up as this seemed extreme to me with a supposedly only 5% breakthrough rate.

I also heard the T & B cell discussion, yet in the latest webinar there was no mention of that study. So in my opinion, they are still researching or it led nowhere. So from the First webinar where a third shot was approved for immunocompromised people in France, I went with it - since I was in the 50% that had zero antibodies. It was My choice, as its not approved in the U.S. I will know in the next few weeks exactly how much antibodies I have ( I know I have some after the Third shot from a general test ) because my DR. is running the same test JH used to test ( the Covid tiiter? test. I will let everyone know what happens. However every Medical professional in the U,S, is following FDA regulations. Additionally I have NO confusion on this subject as I follow information closely.

@benlam11- I am so sorry for that family. Supposedly is the keyword. There are some pretty wrong figures out there. Covid-19 vaccines will not prevent anyone from getting COVID. They will keep hospitalizations down and the acuteness of illness down. But they won't prevent anyone from getting the virus. NO vaccine can do this. Also, I do not know the circumstances of this family, how they live. If the two smallest ones aren't vaccinated they could be transmitting it. But this is a guess at best. There are just too many variables.

Sue and I have stated many times that this virus's effects are still new. I think that all of us know families that have unusual circumstances. I hope that that family is quarantined.

Since only about 51% of US people have been vaccinated and another "too many" refusing to be we won't be through with this for a long time. Unvaccinated people are breeding grounds for variants.

I had positive development. As part of the John’s Hopkins study I’ve been tested 3 times and registered zero antibodies. I’m on mico and tac. I was tested again on Monday 3.5 months from second shot and I registered antibodies. 42.4. From what I read it doesn’t mean I should think I’m fully vaccinated. But it still feels better then zero. I’m considering a third shot but really on the fence. What are people thoughts that have gotten third shot and those that are thinking about it.

I am a kidney transplant patient with no antibodies from the two doses of Moderna. Did you need a doctor's note or anything special to get your third dose of vaccine? (From what I hear, it doesn't sound like it's easy to get a third dose for some reason). What are the "risks" of the third shot?

I have not encountered any Doctor Who will advise regarding what the wrists are of getting additional vaccines. I will put myself in that same boat as I am not a doctor and I’m not qualified to give medical advice. With that said, I have had four doses total. Two of each mRNA vaccines. It was not challenging to get them, but they also did not produce protection against the virus for me. I am a hand transplant and may take more anti-rejection medication than others so it’s hard to tell how to make sense of all of this. I’m going to protect myself as if it was day one of the pandemic and allow some time to go bye with great hope that somebody will finally be able to answer the question for all of us

I had a virtual appointment with Mayo team this week. They are not recommending third shot.

I also had chat with my Mayo team and they advised against it.

I visited the Mayo a few weeks ago and thy did not recommend a third dose, per the FDA. I did not have antibodies. I'm a kidney and liver transplant patient on 4-250mg mycophenolate capsules per day. After the third shot - which was easy to obtain - I did develop antibodies. I'm awaiting the results from a tither? test do determine how much protection I have. BTW I also took a 4th shot.