Should I get antibody test before booster?

Q. “Among those who were vaccinated and got COVID, were there any antibody tests given to determine if the vaccine was effective for those individuals? Why isn’t there a suggestion/ requirement to have antibody tests first to determine if a booster would be necessary or helpful?” — Fred Eng

A. The problem is each person produces a different amount and requires a different amount of antibodies to fight infections. There is no standardized quantity a test could show that would say, “You are protected.” Also it would be quite a challenge to test every American to see if each had enough antibodies to fight COVID. Does everyone then go back each week to see if their antibodies are still working? That would become expensive with more than 209 million American adults.

“Antibody testing is complicated,” said Dr. Andrea Klemes, chief medical officer at MDVIP, a physicians’ network with headquarters in Boca Raton. “The tests that are routinely run may not show if you have an antibody to the spike protein that you got from the vaccine. Research studies have been done though, with tests that can detect those antibodies, to show that those who are immunocompromised may not have had an effective response and that is why boosters have been recommended for those people.”

Federal health officials have issued blanket recommendations for certain groups to get the Pfizer booster, no matter their antibody levels, as it would be almost impossible to test individuals on a massive scale. This group includes the immunocompromised, people over 65 and people who are exposed because of their jobs.

“There is not a current recommendation to test someone for antibodies before getting the booster,” she said.

Q. ”If I had my first Moderna vaccination four months ago but never got part 2, can I still get part 2 now?” — Mark, Sarasota

A. Yes, head over to a vaccination site as soon as possible, said Dr. Hila Beckerman, a Delray Beach pediatrician with extensive vaccine experience.

“Although it’s best to get the second Moderna dose 4 to 6 weeks after your initial dose, there is no time limit to receiving your second dose,” as long as it’s at least a month after the first, she said. “While delaying the second dose delays full protection, you do not have to start all over.”

Before a road trip to Canada last month, Broward County School Board member Nora Rupert panicked about getting the COVID-19 test required by our northern neighbor. Not only are they often expensive (as much as $250), you have to time your test just right — within 72 hours of your arrival — and get results by the time you hit the border.

Rupert did some internet searching and found a pop-up site in South Carolina that would test her and her husband for free. She said they were in and out of the drive-through quickly and got their results on their phones 24 hours later, while they were still driving north.

“We got right in with no appointment,” she said. “We were in and out in an hour.”

The Ruperts were on their way to their summer home on Prince Edward Island, a 33-hour drive. They hadn’t been able to visit for two years.

Rupert recommends this strategy for people driving to Canada, which has strict rules on the types of test they will accept for entry: It has to be a molecular test that detects genetic material of the virus using a lab technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

If you too are driving across the border, you have a few options. Rupert went to TourHealth.com to find one of their testing sites, but you may be able to find a free site in Florida. CVS offers free tests to people without insurance who have COVID-19 symptoms; Walgreens tests those 3 and older and will ask for your insurance card if you have one but will not bill you directly. Go to https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/testing-sites/.

Q. “When will Johnson & Johnson have a vaccine for children 12 to 17 years old?” — Miguel, Puerto Rico

A. It’s coming, although it’s not clear when. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine for this age group has been in clinical trials for the past year. They’re testing the safety of not only the one-dose regimen given to adults but also a two-dose system at one-, two- and three-month intervals.

Testing for even younger age groups has also begun. The company is checking the vaccine’s effectiveness among 2- to 11-year-olds, those younger than 2 and those ages 1 to 17 who are considered high risk.

We are answering your questions about the coronavirus vaccines and what we need to do next. Submit your question at AskLois@ sunsentinel.com.