I get the feeling that the US approved the third Covid-19 shot at the 8 month mark out of logistical considerations to allow production to ramp up, and to keep the system from being overwhelmed by a flood of people seeking their third vaccinations. I read various reports about breakthrough infections and declining protection of vaccines over time, so I decided I needed to get my third shot pronto. In Israel they have been doing a third dose 6 months after the second. So far 1.5 million Israelis have received their third shot. I did check with my doctors, who while not officially were able to condone it, did not think that there would be a danger with it.
I got my original doses of Pfizer at a central location back in Feb & March when the vaccine was not available in nearly as many places. My regular pharmacy now offers Pfizer on a walk-in basis. So I asked for my *ahem* second dose and showed them a copy of my Vaccine card that I scanned when I only had one dose listed. The pharmacist typed my info into a computer and informed me that I was listed as having received two doses. I told her that there must be some mistake because I never showed up for my second appointment at the place where I got my vaccine. She said that she would have to check with her supervisor. I said “okay, no problem.” The next day she called me and told me that they had checked with the vaccine hub where I got my vaccine, and I would have to come back for my *third* dose in November. I thanked her for her professionalism and diplomacy. I told her that I knew some anti-vaxers whose names I could use to register elsewhere and get a copy of their ID to get vaccinated. She laughed and said that I would not need to go to those levels and that some places were not checking carefully and not every place was connected to the same computer that hers was.
Now I was more determined than ever to get that third dose, because I actually do have some vulnerability factors. So I found another pharmacy near me that I am not affiliated with and registered to get my *first* dose of the Pfizer vaccine with them. Yesterday, slightly more than 5 months after I got my second dose of Pfizer, I got my third dose. They did not run me through any computer. or even ask to see my ID. If they did and turned me down, I had some backup places set up, along with identification with the name Danny Trejo on it. If someone confronted me and said, "You're not Danny Trejo," my response would have been, "Hey, you got something against Mexicans, Holmes?"
It's been about 15 hours since I got the third dose. One thing I noticed within a few hours was that my arm feels much sorer than it did when I got either of my earlier doses. It's not just my upper arm, but also my bicep. At aoput the 12 hour mark I also feel a bit achy and have a headache. So far it seems to be less symptoms than when I got my first two doses.
I am very relieved to have gotten the third dose. Even though I got it early, it's not like they are going to send the Covid Police after me.