Second covid vaccine before travel?

Is it "just" an update of existing vaccine or would it be a new version with updated covid version patterns?

Based on memory of what I have heard is that the covid vaccine 'wears off' over time. The longer one has been on the planet the quicker it wears off. Somewhere in the 4-6 month post shot time there is a significant drop off in effectiveness.

If i were doing international travel it would be something I would probably do.

Thanks for the replies.
It would be an update of the same vaccine we had in Nov.
Our doctor thought there will be a new vaccine with new strains in it, in May, but we will already be gone on our trip then.

I'd be somewhat leery about getting it too close to your departure date in case there was a negative reaction, but in general it's not a bad idea.

Thanks Robert, good advise. This would the 3 weeks before our departure date.

The recommendation is that the covid vaccine be received every six months. I've already scheduled mine. It's not just if you are traveling but for protection where you live, also.

I have scheduled my latest updated shot in early May, regardless of any advice to the contrary from the powers that be. I make that decision. This fits perfectly with the departure to Paris from SFO in early June.

I believe your November vaccine was an "updated" version and is currently the most updated version available.
There was an update "a new version/mix" to the Covid vaccine available September 2024. You probably received that one. The earlier versions were no longer available.
If you were to get a booster now, it would be the same "mix" as the one in November.
The CDC was saying last year that people over 65 and those who are immunocompromised should consider getting a booster every 6 months. As another poster stated, the effectiveness drops over time.
I will be travelling to Italy end of May... 8 months after receiving my last vaccine. I received the updated vaccine in September prior to going to Paris in October. I called my insurance company to ask about getting approval for a booster... even though there is no "updated" version for the Covid vaccine available at this time.
The agent advised against it.
This thread has reminded me that I had intended to call my PCP's office and find out what the nurse advises.
Happy travels. Stay well.

Another "yes" vote! And giving yourself several weeks both for any side effects as well as the immunity boost to kick in is what I do, too.
I've had three international trips in the past 6 months. I've stopped taking the CDC card but do have the long list of COVID shots on my phone.
I also still mask (KN95s ) fastidiously, everywhere, so take a good supply. These vaccines aren't prevention.
Safe and fun travels!

Our medical provider sent us texts and emails as a reminder to make an appointment for our booster of the vaccine we got in Sept. (It was the latest one then). They did say effectiveness can wear off over time. We got the second shot in March. Luckily, neither of us have ever had any reaction to vaccines (Tdap, flu, shingles, pneumonia, yellow fever, malaria hepatitis). The only one hubby ever reacted to was Cholera (back in the Nam days). I wouldn't hesitate to get the Covid booster even a week before a trip.
Best of luck on your trip!

I received the most recent Covid booster back in October 2024. Insofar as I am heading to Europe in late June on an RS tour, I checked with my doctor as to whether I should get another Covid shot now. He said Yes, get the booster, but wait until May, about a month before departure for Europe. Plenty of time for any negative effects to wane, but enough time for the vaccine to kick in and be at its peak.

I'm scheduled to leave for London this weekend. As it had been six months since my last Covid vaccine, I got another dose two weeks ago. For context, I'm 67 years old.

I had my vaccine in late October. I plan to get a booster in late May so it will be most effective for our mid-June trip to Europe and family trip back East in early August.

The CDC is currently recommending a second dose of this year’s vaccine (six months after the first dose) for those over 65 years.

Thanks everyone. We decided to get a second dose before our May trip even though it will be a few weeks shy of 6 months. I think insurance will pay for it. We are over 65.

Thank you Renee. I was trying to find the correct CDC recommendation. You are correct.
Here it is from the CDC site:
People ages 65 years and older
You are up to date when you have received:
2 doses of any 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine 6 months apart.
While it is the recommended to get 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine doses 6 months apart, the minimum time is 2 months apart, which allows flexibility to get the second dose prior to typical COVID-19 surges, travel, life events, and healthcare visits

I'm 69 years old. I got the newest version of the Covid 19 vaccine in September prior to a trip to Paris. So it has been over 6 months since receiving that vaccine. I will be going to Italy next month. I called my PCP yesterday to ask about getting a booster before my trip. The nurse advised against it, saying it was important to maintain social distancing and wear a mask. I repeated that I would be on a plane over 9 hours and eating in restaurants where tables may be just inches apart. He just kept repeating the need to mask and maintain social distancing.
I'm going to do like other posters... I'm scheduling a vaccine within the next 3 weeks, in time to take effect before my mid-May trip and 6 months from possibly needing another in October before the winter months.

pj,
I am surprised the nurse with your provider discouraged getting the booster. Our provider encouraged it (we got texts and emails and an automated telephone call to remind us that six months had elapsed). Hubby and I are proactive regarding preventive medicine, and that meshes with our provider in that regard (Kaiser). We both got the RSV as soon as it was available as well. Happy to say neither of us has gotten Covid (and we have tested regularly). Knock on wood! We are 81 and 82 now and I plan on at least 10 more years. God willing!

p.s. I do wear a mask when I feel it is called for, and still wipe down the grocery cart handles at the store. Prudence rules.

Second vaccine? Since Covid was spread worldwide 5+ years ago, you’ve only had one injection? I suggest you follow the advice of your GP.

These vaccines aren't prevention

What are they, then?

I guess that wasn’t clear that I meant a second vaccine this year as in the 2024-2025 covid vaccine.

If not for prevention , makes no difference. Immaterial. I'm still taking this available booster.

The vaccine was never stated as preventing Covid. It was developed to reduce the serious symptoms of Covid.

There’s no research to support this recommendation, but maybe switch and get the other vaccine, Moderna or Pfizer, for this update.

Not a doctor, but here's my take.

Whenever you get a vaccination, there's going to be a peak of the antibodies you develop ~3 weeks after the vaccination. 6 months after a COVID 19 booster, you're going to lose some of that immunity.

However, at this point, most people in the population have developed much relatively stronger immunity to COVID-19. If you're on your 7th dose of vaccine and you've been exposed to the virus out in public since 2020-2021, for the average person should they worry about being at their maximum COVID antibodies? I just don't think so. Is it worth the time and effort to schedule vaccines around travel instead of around yearly doctor visits? My inclination is that if you can combine your yearly COVID booster with your yearly flu shot or yearly PCP check-up, that's sufficient for most people.

That said, I think we've all gotten a cold on a flight and had it impact our trip to some extent. So, I can understand wanting to do everything you possibly can. One thing you could try is wearing an N95 or similar when you flying so you're not as exposed to viruses in the air. That might be some extra protection.

I always get the latest version in the fall and a second booster six months later in the spring. My doctor said it's most effective from 2-4 weeks after the shot to maybe the two month mark, so I try to time it based on my travel plans. I've taken five trips 2023-2025 and tested positive three days into the one to Italy but between the vaccines and Paxlovid had a mild case and was touring again after three days.

I'm as pro-vax as one can get, but I've not had a COVID booster since early 2023. Just don't see any purpose. I am in a supposed higher-risk group, but I've never had the illness. Still pack N95s for risky exposure scenarios, though.

My wife and I got our booster shots yesterday. We believe in vaccinations (and medicine, and science). But I wanted to add three things I just finished doing:

1. Scanned all our vaccination cards and records, including a nice printout we get from our pharmacy. Each scanned graphic gets renamed and put into a directory on each of our phones, in case a medical issue comes up and we need to know what vaccinations we have had. I also added a few x-ray scans showing the piece of metal holding my ankle together, and business cards for our doctors contact info. Also photos of our "medlists" (what medications we are taking).

2. Scanned our drivers licenses, credit cards, and passports, and a few other membership cards, into a password protected MS Word document for each of us.

3. Scanned all our Medicare, health insurance cards, and doctor info into another password protected MS Word document.

When I scan the cards, I scan each card individually, and insert them individually, so I can update the documents quickly, and if I really needed to, I could quickly export any of the scans into a .jpg graphic file and email it to anyone who needed it. And we each have the documents and medical directories for each other, on our phones.

I'm as pro-vax as one can get, but I've not had a COVID booster since early 2023. Just don't see any purpose.

You do you, but I would argue whether you are as pro-vax as one can get if you don't see any purpose in staying up to date with COVID vaccines.

My husband got his second dose a few weeks ago. I played the game of whether to have my vaccine first or my mammogram (my breast center recommends not getting a mammogram until 6 weeks after a vaccine). I ended up waiting to get the vaccine until after the mammogram so I will probably hold off until the end of May to get the second dose.

I'm getting my booster today and traveling in mid-May. Last September, I arrived to my RS tour to find two men on the tour who came with Covid. They wore masks and stayed as separate as you can on a tour. Of course, their wives then came down with it on the tour.I was very uncomfortable the whole time trying to avoid them as I hadn't been able to get the September booster (too close to departure date). So this time, for my peace of mind, I'm getting the shot.

When I made my appointment they told me I can chose between Moderna and Pfizer ( and a third one).
Anybody have info on effectiveness and other comparisons between vaccines? We have mostly gotten Moderna in the past.

Thanks!

We leave for Germany May 20 and just made our appointments for our Civic boosters for the end of April. We also will be wearing our masks on the plane. I had covid last August 3 weeks before we left for Europe and it was like a mild cold but we've had every covid and flu vaccine offered. We don't want to waste a vacation on being sick in a hotel room.

When I made my appointment they told me I can chose between Moderna and Pfizer ( and a third one). Anybody have info on effectiveness and other comparisons between vaccines? We have mostly gotten Moderna in the past.

The CDC website has useful recommendations for vaccine updates based on which vaccines they've previously received. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/adult-age.html

Here's a summary that could be useful:

Previously vaccinated before 2024–25 vaccine with:

• 1 or more doses Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech: 1 dose 2024–25 Moderna or Novavax or Pfizer-BioNTech at least 8 weeks after the most recent dose.

• 1 dose Novavax: 1 dose 2024–25 Novavax 3–8 weeks after most recent dose. If more than 8 weeks after most recent dose, administer 1 dose 2024–25 Moderna or Novavax or Pfizer-BioNTech.

• 2 or more doses Novavax: 1 dose 2024–25 Moderna or Novavax or Pfizer-BioNTech at least 8 weeks after the most recent dose.

• 1 or more doses Janssen: 1 dose 2024–25 Moderna or Novavax or Pfizer-BioNTech.