FWIW, variant update:
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I’ve had 4 Moderna mRNA shots so far (original 2 dose series plus 2 boosters). What are Liners’ thoughts on mRNA vs Novavax for this fall/winter booster?
I had Covid in early September so that is why I haven’t had the new booster yet.
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Based on the below, I would have gotten Novavax but its approval timeline was still TBD when I got my booster. I intentionally had the DS13s get Novavax (but would have settled for one of the others if I’d struggled to find Novavax at a convenient time/place).
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This is great info! Thanks
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If I hadn’t had Covid two weeks before the new booster was approved, I would have gone with the available mRNA too (and not waited for Novavax).
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I’m still trying to figure out my timing for most of my family for the new vax. DH was the only one who avoided getting it so he’s had the booster. That leaves me and 3 kids, youngest 11, who all got sick in late Sept. Both the kids’ dr and my dr told me to wait 3 months, but I am hesitant to not get it before Dec, given how packed Dec is with activities we really don’t want to miss–and lots of being around people (although we’re not traveling). I’ve been planning to get it at the end of Nov / beginning of Dec, but we could wait until late Dec. Thoughts? I hate to “waste” a month of immunity but I could not handle it if we got covid over Xmas and could have prevented it. We all had long, symptomatic cases and I’m pretty sure we got some immunity from that. BTW we all have had the flu shot, don’t quality for the RSV.
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No Novavax available anywhere near me, I would have gotten it if so. Ended up with Pfizer again from Walgreens. DH went to a different Walgreens close to work and got Moderna. Our local health department did not do a clinic this fall because they said not enough interest 
Luckily Walgreens and CVS have the vaccines. None really at the doctor’s offices either.
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This is disappointing to read. I am fortunate to live in a community that is very pro-vaccine. Dozens (almost all) of our friends have been boosted this fall and most their kids have also been boosted this fall. But I see how low the national vaccine numbers are so there must be areas where very few are getting boosted.
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My area generally doesn’t have a big uptake on flu vaccines either. We were able to get them at a free county clinic, though.
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Thanks for sharing! I have two orders entered.
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Can anyone help me understand why I have jaw problems when wearing an N95? The right side locks up, snaps etc. It only happens when I have to wear an N95 for a longer time period.
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I think my natural “relaxed jaw” mouth position is that my mouth is slightly open, and when wearing my mask, my mouth doesn’t open quite as far, so I’m holding a non-natural position without realizing it. If I conciously check in with myself periodically to relax my jaw while wearing my mask, it seems to help.
Try to establish your normal jaw position when not wearing a mask and then see if the position is different when wearing one.
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Thank you, I’ll try that. I know that I have been trying to massage and loosen that area, but I didn’t consider the position. I thought maybe I was clenching w/o realizing it, but that’s not it either.
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I have no idea how much concern this deserves. It’s so hard to evaluate info coming out of China. 
https://x.com/who/status/1727452971816935537?s=46&t=JD8lfknyOt-1jICzMFrc2A
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That is quite a variant soup!
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Yeah, it’s fairly mind boggling. This CDC chart is somewhat helpful, but it leaves out a lot of detail (which has pros and cons).
Latest thoughts on Pirola, which is probably the one I’m currently still hearing the most concerns about:
Here’s a local news story about a veterinarian who used Paxlovid to treat a dog suffering from this recent unknown respiratory illness that affects dogs. The dog’s owner recently had Covid, as did another dog the vet had seen. The vet is suspecting the dogs are catching this respiratory illness from humans with covid. The vet is in western Iowa, just east of Omaha.
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Interesting! I’ll pass this on to my DD26 who is a veterinarian. She works at a clinic that only sees cats and dogs. I’ve been wanting to ask her if she’s seen a lot of the respiratory virus but she’s been working 12-14 hour days lately and we haven’t talked much.
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