Booster shots available at Sears

actually, shipping out reduced sized vials seems like a big waste.

are current vials one dose only? I thought they were multiple anyway. Wasn't there an issue a while back with how much was left in a vial?

ETA: yeah - a quick google shows they're multi-dose vials - like 10 - 15 full doses

wendy said:

jmitw said:

do they even have to order special reduced doses?  doesnt it come in a vial and they just draw up as much as they need?

 Basically what I said above. 

 you mentioned them arriving soon....the vials are already there. i'm asking wouldn't they just use the same vials already in stock.  i know with pfizer they talked about how many doses were in a vial....and providers not wanting to thaw a vial for just one dose.

I didn't say that. I said they can use what they had. In any event I gave facts about the Moderna booster availability that all others were assuming their butts off. 

I'm waiting for the half-dose booster (Moderna) to be available. I expect this situation to shake out within a few days, and then it will be possible to make an appointment and actually know what you're getting...

I confirm that Sears has both the half dose (booster) and full dose (third shot for immunocompromised), as I went as a walk-in today and was asked which one I was there to get.

ETA: They had Moderna

The full-dose, half-dose discussion makes no sense unless the  half-dose is formulated differently. Right?!

They draw from a vial, just half as much. No?

I don't know. It was pre-prepared in the syringe before I walked into the booth. I'm sure the nurse administering it would have told me all about it, but I didn't think to ask.

Understood. Lots of trust involved in this process.

Some have it, and for some it has been undermined. 

sprout said:

I confirm that Sears has both the half dose (booster) and full dose (third shot for immunocompromised), as I went as a walk-in today and was asked which one I was there to get.

 If they had both, I don't think there is any option other than them drawing from the same vial, since that's all they've got.

steel said:

For those who wish to avail themselves (and qualify), booster shots are available at the old Sears location at Livingston Mall. 

My wife and I went Friday as walk-ins with no appointment (we are both over 65) for our booster of Moderna. It felt kinda weird because we were almost the only "customers" in that immense space staffed by friendly, efficient but clearly bored persons. I got the feeling (though I didn't ask) that they would take almost anyone just for something to do!

After feeling the usual uncomfortable ill effects (muscle aches, tired, slight fever) for approximately 24 hrs we now feel perfectly peachy and perhaps can sail through the winter with a little more confidence.

Just wanted to say 'thank you' to @steel for this thread as I just reached the 6 month mark after my 2nd shot (the earliest you can get a booster), and the eligibility seems to have just opened up to those who work in settings that increase risk of exposure to COVID. There were not very many people at the Sears site, so I had no wait.

unicorn33 said:

I'm waiting for the half-dose booster (Moderna) to be available. I expect this situation to shake out within a few days, and then it will be possible to make an appointment and actually know what you're getting...

 Apparently you didn't read my email from Essex County I sent and their reply. But sure be like Godot and keep waiting for the shake out to happen. Hint: it already did. lol

Btw: If getting the third shot, -first have your schedule cleared for a couple of days after.

Although already widely understood, as with the first two shots, I think it bears repeating that it's not recommended scheduling the shot if you otherwise have anything planned for that night or the next day (and maybe even the day after that) because you likely won't feel up to it. Everyone has different degrees of side effects discomfort but for my part, -it resulted in a lot of napping and a couple of Advil.

I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn't actually sick and that what I was feeling was the result of trying NOT to get sick which is weird. Cheers.

Just got my booster shot at Sears - Livingston Mall. I took J&J  on 4/7 and asked for a Moderna booster. It was not crowded and it took all in all 25 minutes, the 15 minutes waiting time included. I am uploading the printout they had.

Hmm... that printout of vaccine recommendations says those who had J&J are not eligible at all for 3rd dose/booster, and says nothing about those who had 2 doses of Moderna. The Booster is only listed an option for those who had Pfizer previously.  (I had Moderna previously, and they gave me the booster anyway).

Yeah - I think that printout is a little outdated.  This is from Thursday:

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/10/cdc-panel-oks-moderna-jj-covid-boosters-mixed-doses-when-needed

For J&J, the advisers recommended much more broadly: a booster dose for anyone age 18 and older.

I too was there with spouse today with no appointment and no wait. We got there about 11 and we were out before 12:00 although the woman checking me in said there was quite a rush earlier than 11. Yes the printouts are out of date as they only mention the Pfizer booster. We got the Moderna booster having had the Moderna 2 doses with the second dose early March.  I hadn't realized the CDC had so quickly weighed in after the FDA did. All good and hoping for the same side effects as before, meaning none. But took a few aspirin just now just in case. (Yes, that's allowed; did my research.)

I just received the Moderna half dose booster at a local pharmacy.  No adverse reaction thus far.

wendy said:

unicorn33 said:

I'm waiting for the half-dose booster (Moderna) to be available. I expect this situation to shake out within a few days, and then it will be possible to make an appointment and actually know what you're getting...

 Apparently you didn't read my email from Essex County I sent and their reply. But sure be like Godot and keep waiting for the shake out to happen. Hint: it already did. lol

 Actually, I did read it. And then I contacted CVS, where I had previously gotten my two Moderna shots. I was told they did not yet have the booster. But perhaps now they do. As usual, there's quite a bit of confusion and inconsistency. Even Beckett would be perplexed....

I plan on getting the full dose of Moderna.

jmitw said:

do they even have to order special reduced doses?  doesnt it come in a vial and they just draw up as much as they need?

 That's what they did when I got my first two shots last spring.

The EC Covid.org website offers all kinds of appointments at all of the differnetl locations through 11/2 and then skips to 1/1/2022. 

sbenois said:

I plan on getting the full dose of Moderna.

 Sorry to hear you have a moderately to severely compromised immune systems. 

I think I got a full dose Moderna third shot (in late September).  No side effects.

bub said:

I think I got a full dose Moderna third shot (in late September).  No side effects.

 Late September was before the booster of Moderna at 50 percent was made available. Apples/Orange; do your research.

I got the half-dose on Friday. 

• Friday night: Chills & fever. 
• Saturday: Low fever, fatigue, and muscle aches (and slept most of the day). 
• Today: Mostly fine, but dragging a bit in the morning. 

sprout said:

I got the half-dose on Friday. 

• Friday night: Chills & fever. 
• Saturday: Low fever, fatigue, and muscle aches (and slept most of the day). 
• Today: Mostly fine, but dragging a bit in the morning. 

 sprout, what if any type of reactions did you have after your first and second dose?  As for me, I had no reaction except for arm soreness at site for first and second. As to the half dose I got on Saturday I wound up not sleeping as well or deeply as I usually do (although I drank and ate more than usual that night at a friend's house). I was in a good enough shape the next morning to go for 4 mile hike. 

I think had minimal reaction after first shot (some tiredness).  

After second, I had the same symptoms as I indicated for this 3rd dose, but they were stronger and longer duration after 2nd dose (including much more arm soreness after the 2nd -- I forgot to include that symptom for this 3rd booster since it was not any worse than a regular flu shot's arm soreness).

wendy said:

bub said:

I think I got a full dose Moderna third shot (in late September).  No side effects.

 Late September was before the booster of Moderna at 50 percent was made available. Apples/Orange; do your research.

 Not sure what you're talking about about.   I got (apparently) a full third dose of Moderna in Sept before the recent FDA authorization of 1/2 dose Moderna "boosters" and had no side effects.  I was and am fully aware of the FDA pronouncements, first the Pfizer-only and more recently the Modern booster authorization.  Tell me what I missed?