COVID-19 Coronavirus: situation in Japan

[thomas]

The weekly updates (28 Sept - 04 Oct 2022):

Nationwide infections:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]28/09 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]29/09 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]30/09 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]01/10 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]02/10 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]03/10 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]04/10 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

49,979 (- 19,853) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

42,173 (- 35,210) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

36,646 (- 27,225) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

35,418 (- 3,800) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

29,492 (- 17,296) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

15,167 (- 28,420) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

39,723 (- 3,871) ​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Nationwide deaths:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]28/09 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]29/09 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]30/09 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]01/10 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]02/10 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]03/10 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]04/10 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

96 (- 31) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

127 (+ 25) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

111 (+ 24) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

105 (+ 37) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

71 (+ 22) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

53 (- 21) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

65 (- 40) ​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Nationwide Seriously Ill:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]28/09 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]29/09 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]30/09 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]01/10 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]02/10 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]03/10 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]04/10 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

204 (- 97) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

295 (+ 19) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

178 (- 84) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

165 (- 73) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

162 (- 77) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

162 (- 70) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

167 (- 58) ​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Tokyo:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]28/09 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]29/09 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]30/09 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]01/10 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]02/10 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]03/10 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]04/10 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

5,327 (- 1,732) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

5,327 (- 3,523) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

4,558 (- 3,001) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

3,834 (- 1,021) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

2,992 (- 2,629) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

1,673 (- 4,643) ​

[/TD]

[TD]

4,310 (- 937) ​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Vaccinations as of 3 Oct 2022:

289,498,186 (+ 222,528)
Third vaccination (booster): 82,418,542 (+ 167,836) = 65.5% of population

 

[Lothor]

The weekly updates (28 Sept - 04 Oct 2022):

Nationwide infections:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]28/09 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]29/09 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]30/09 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]01/10 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]02/10 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]03/10 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]04/10 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

49,979 (- 19,853)​

[/TD]

[TD]

42,173 (- 35,210)​

[/TD]

[TD]

36,646 (- 27,225)​

[/TD]

[TD]

35,418 (- 3,800)​

[/TD]

[TD]

29,492 (- 17,296)​

[/TD]

[TD]

15,167 (- 28,420)​

[/TD]

[TD]

39,723 (- 3,871)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Nationwide deaths:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]28/09 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]29/09 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]30/09 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]01/10 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]02/10 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]03/10 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]04/10 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

96 (- 31)​

[/TD]

[TD]

127 (+ 25)​

[/TD]

[TD]

111 (+ 24)​

[/TD]

[TD]

105 (+ 37)​

[/TD]

[TD]

71 (+ 22)​

[/TD]

[TD]

53 (- 21)​

[/TD]

[TD]

65 (- 40)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Nationwide Seriously Ill:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]28/09 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]29/09 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]30/09 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]01/10 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]02/10 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]03/10 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]04/10 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

204 (- 97)​

[/TD]

[TD]

295 (+ 19)​

[/TD]

[TD]

178 (- 84)​

[/TD]

[TD]

165 (- 73)​

[/TD]

[TD]

162 (- 77)​

[/TD]

[TD]

162 (- 70)​

[/TD]

[TD]

167 (- 58)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Tokyo:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]28/09 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]29/09 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]30/09 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]01/10 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]02/10 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]03/10 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]04/10 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

5,327 (- 1,732)​

[/TD]

[TD]

5,327 (- 3,523)​

[/TD]

[TD]

4,558 (- 3,001)​

[/TD]

[TD]

3,834 (- 1,021)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2,992 (- 2,629)​

[/TD]

[TD]

1,673 (- 4,643)​

[/TD]

[TD]

4,310 (- 937)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Vaccinations as of 3 Oct 2022:

289,498,186 (+ 222,528) = 82.68% of population
Third vaccination (booster): 82,418,542 (+ 167,836) = 65.5% of population

I got an invite for my 4th vaccination the other day. As an aside, is anyone getting increasingly irritated with having to wear a mask? Japan was number 1 in the world for new infections for most of the summer despite the near-universal mask use, which suggests that they are not having a protective effect.

 

[thomas]

I got an invite for my 4th vaccination the other day.

We got ours two weeks ago. Given the lower case numbers, my wife's a bit reluctant, but we'll have no. 4 sometime in October.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Planning to get my booster next week if I can find a place giving them. Maine seems to be having a bit of a problem getting the latest vacine for some reason. Got my yearly flu shot last week. As for wearing a mask , I was taught as a nurse that a mask is only good for about 20% of prevention. Good hand washing technique and not touching your face(eyes,nose,mouth) were the real protection. Keeping up with the right shots also seems important for fighting off many types of diseases.

 

[johnnyG]

I got my 4th in july, I guess my next might be omi-specific?

I also now have the voucher for this year's flu shot (still costs ¥1400), will get that sometime this month.

 

[nice gaijin]

Planning to get my booster next week if I can find a place giving them. Maine seems to be having a bit of a problem getting the latest vacine for some reason. Got my yearly flu shot last week. As for wearing a mask , I was taught as a nurse that a mask is only good for about 20% of prevention. Good hand washing technique and not touching your face(eyes,nose,mouth) were the real protection. Keeping up with the right shots also seems important for fighting off many types of diseases.

I think good hygiene practice as a general rule will stave off many illnesses, but when we're talking about a respiratory infection that's primarily spread through air droplets, I think the importance of (properly rated, properly worn) masks can't be overstated. We learned relatively early on that fomites were not a substantial cause for covid infections.

I think I'm going on about 8-10 months since the booster, might get the omni booster in time for thanksgiving

 

[musicisgood]

Been cycling Japan and camping since April and finished in August. People I met at campgrounds were not at all concerned of the virus. Been to a few popular attractions though, everyone still wearing a mask. I'll wear a mask out of respect for store, train and indoor stuff, but I really don't want too anymore. It's hard to breath with one on and I really feel it effects my air intake these days cycling.

 

[mdchachi]

Been cycling Japan and camping since April and finished in August. People I met at campgrounds were not at all concerned of the virus. Been to a few popular attractions though, everyone still wearing a mask. I'll wear a mask out of respect for store, train and indoor stuff, but I really don't want too anymore. It's hard to breath with one on and I really feel it effects my air intake these days cycling.

There's no point in wearing one while you're cycling. Are people actually wearing masks while cycling?

 

[musicisgood]

There's no point in wearing one while you're cycling. Are people actually wearing masks while cycling?

I live in a university town next to the university and the students are required to wear on and off campus. The teachers are required at all times no matter where they are.
I don't wear the mask while cycling, but I have to wear the mask some parts of the day and really it has effected my breathing while cycling going up a very slight slope uphill these days.

 

[thomas]

Even the PM says masks are no longer necessary outdoors.

Japan PM Kishida says 'masks unnecessary outdoors' amid struggle to get message across - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasized in his policy speech in the Diet on Oct. 3 that it is

mainichi.jp

I have never used masks while cycling, but some people still do. Then again, there were cyclists using masks even before the pandemic. I wear masks on public transportation, in public buildings, and when shopping.

 

[nice gaijin]

Been cycling Japan and camping since April and finished in August. People I met at campgrounds were not at all concerned of the virus. Been to a few popular attractions though, everyone still wearing a mask. I'll wear a mask out of respect for store, train and indoor stuff, but I really don't want too anymore. It's hard to breath with one on and I really feel it effects my air intake these days cycling.

Although I was just touting the importance of masks in my last comment, there are limits to their utility and in some cases the benefits are hard to measure. Honestly if you're outside or in a well-ventilated space, and not staying super close to people for long stretches of time, the benefits of mask-wearing may be negligible as you are very unlikely to get much viral load in that setting, if any. Other variables may need to be taken into consideration, like the transmissibility/r0 of the virus going around. I wouldn't expect any added covid protection from a mask while cycling because the risk is already so low when I'm outside and moving quickly; if I were to wear a mask while cycling, it would be something to help me reduce the amount of car exhaust I'm sucking down.

At this point it seems more like a social norm people just got used to, and it makes those "nails that stick out" all the more visible (whether or not you're wearing a mask is an immediately recognizable sign that you are or aren't adhering to this new norm). In Japan it seems to be a dominant lasting effect of the pandemic, whereas in the US it's often the opposite (a lot of people refused to mask up, or even take pride in never doing so). In California it's maybe more of a mixed bag than elsewhere, as I'd say 5-10% of folks I see out and about are still masked up. My karate class is pretty much the only venue I'm compelled to mask up for anymore, so I understand the nuisance it can be while exercising. I still know people who have recently caught covid, and by all accounts it sucks and you don't want it. I periodically check the stats to remind myself that the emergency part may be declared "over," the pandemic is still very much humming along in the background.

It's hard to say what the common sentiment is, because there are so many different reasons people wear masks. We'll have to see how this next flu season goes, and if we see covid flaring up as an endemic disease.

 

[johnnyG]

while cycling because the risk is already so low when I'm outside and moving quickly

Perhaps a truism, but "some cyclists move more quickly than others..."

 

[thomas]

According to the health ministry's coronavirus expert advisory board, the possibility of a simultaneous outbreak of the coronavirus and seasonal flu this winter is "extremely high".

The report compiled by experts pointed out that seasonal influenza, which has not spread in Japan since the coronavirus pandemic, is likely to become prevalent due to increased travelers to and from overseas and the surge of social activities within Japan. The report said it is reasonable to assume that the coronavirus will also spread during the winter season based on past outbreak patterns. On the other hand, the report explained it is "difficult to predict" the number of future COVID-19 and flu cases.

Japan health panel says chance of double COVID, flu winter outbreak 'extremely high' - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- The possibility of a simultaneous outbreak of the coronavirus and seasonal flu this winter is

mainichi.jp

And sadly, more than two million vaccine doses will most likely be scrapped as new versions rolls out. Throw them in the rubbish, along with the millions of unused Abenomasks.

The Asahi Shimbun surveyed prefectural governments and cities with large populations and found that about 2.2 million doses of conventional vaccines were in stock as of late September. These vaccines are supposed to be administered to people who will be inoculated for the first or second time against COVID-19. But bookings for inoculations are dwindling as Japan runs out of people willing to get their first round of shots and expiration dates are approaching, so much of the stock is expected to go unused.

2 million COVID vaccines face junk pile as new version rolls out | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[johnnyG]

Two million sounds like a lot, but if you consider these numbers, it's trivial:

289,498,186 (+ 222,528) = 82.68% of population
Third vaccination (booster): 82,418,542 (+ 167,836) = 65.5% of population

I wonder if they'd be donate-able?

 

[thomas]

The weekly updates (05-11 Oct 2022). A sea of green.

Nationwide infections:

05/10 (Wed)	06/10 (Thu)	07/10 (Fri)	08/10 (Sat)	09/10 (Son)	10/10 (Mon)	11/10 (Tue)
41,193 (- 8,786)​	33,440 (- 8,733)​	29,443 (- 7,203)​	26,785 (- 8,663)​	22,796 (- 6,696)​	13,038 (- 2,129)​	13,123 (- 26,600)​

Nationwide deaths:

05/10 (Wed)	06/10 (Thu)	07/10 (Fri)	08/10 (Sat)	09/10 (Son)	10/10 (Mon)	11/10 (Tue)
74 (- 22)​	91 (- 36)​	73 (- 38)​	83 (- 22)​	57 (- 14)​	50 (- 3)​	27 (- 38)​

Nationwide Seriously Ill:

05/10 (Wed)	06/10 (Thu)	07/10 (Fri)	08/10 (Sat)	09/10 (Son)	10/10 (Mon)	11/10 (Tue)
160 (- 44)​	149 (- 146)​	150 (- 28)​	153 (- 12)​	137 (- 25)​	134 (- 28)​	138 (- 29)​

Tokyo:

05/10 (Wed)	06/10 (Thu)	07/10 (Fri)	08/10 (Sat)	09/10 (Son)	10/10 (Mon)	11/10 (Tue)
4,310 (- 1,017)​	3,042 (- 2,285)​	3,016 (- 1,542)​	2,605 (- 1,229)​	2,242 (- 750)​	1,372 (- 301)​	1,504 (- 2,806)​

Vaccinations as of 10 Oct 2022:

289,677,623 (+ 179,437) = 81.62% of population
Third vaccination (booster): 82,563,433 (+ 144,891) = 65.6% of population

 

[musicisgood]

So are the numbers going down?

 

[thomas]

So are the numbers going down?

Yes, they are just one post above yours.

 

[thomas]

There is a lot of red in the table below: the case numbers are increasing nationwide.

COVID-19 case counts start to rise again across the country | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Here are the weekly updates (12-18 Oct 2022):

Nationwide infections:

12/10 (Wed)	13/10 (Thu)	14/10 (Fri)	15/10 (Sat)	16/10 (Son)	17/10 (Mon)	18/10 (Tue)
45,505 (+ 4,312)​	45,690 (+ 12,250)​	36,605 (+ 7,162)​	35,138 (+ 8,353)​	29,662 (+ 6,866)​	15,372 (+ 2,334)​	42,294 (+ 29,171)​

Nationwide deaths:

12/10 (Wed)	13/10 (Thu)	14/10 (Fri)	15/10 (Sat)	16/10 (Son)	17/10 (Mon)	18/10 (Tue)
54 (- 20)​	78 (- 13)​	63 (- 10)​	67 (- 16)​	47 (- 10)​	20 (- 30)​	56 (+ 29)​

Nationwide Seriously Ill:

12/10 (Wed)	13/10 (Thu)	14/10 (Fri)	15/10 (Sat)	16/10 (Son)	17/10 (Mon)	18/10 (Tue)
135 (- 25)​	143 (- 6)​	131 (- 19)​	118 (- 35)​	121 (- 16)​	118 (- 16)​	116 (- 22)​

Tokyo:

12/10 (Wed)	13/10 (Thu)	14/10 (Fri)	15/10 (Sat)	16/10 (Son)	17/10 (Mon)	18/10 (Tue)
4,790 (+ 480)​	4,338 (- 2,609)​	3,495 (+ 479)​	3,239 (+ 634)​	2,714 (+ 472)​	1,588 (+ 216)​	4,213 (+ 2,709)​

Vaccinations as of 18 Oct 2022:

289,994,293 (+ 316,670) = 81.63% of population
Third vaccination (booster): 82,845,501 (+ 282,068) = 65.8% of population

 

[thomas]

Here's the weekly updates (19-25 Oct 2022):

Nationwide infections:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]19/10 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]20/10 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]21/10 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]22/10 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]23/10 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]24/10 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]25/10 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

43,555 (- 1,950)​

[/TD]

[TD]

36,110 (- 9,580)​

[/TD]

[TD]

31,593 (- 5,012)​

[/TD]

[TD]

34,173 (- 965)​

[/TD]

[TD]

30,873 (+ 1,211)​

[/TD]

[TD]

16,852 (+ 1,480)​

[/TD]

[TD]

47,706 (+ 5,412)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Nationwide deaths:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]19/10 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]20/10 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]21/10 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]22/10 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]23/10 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]24/10 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]25/10 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

68 (+ 14 )​

[/TD]

[TD]

71 (- 7)​

[/TD]

[TD]

67 (+ 4)​

[/TD]

[TD]

78 (+ 11)​

[/TD]

[TD]

44 (- 3)​

[/TD]

[TD]

35 (+ 15)​

[/TD]

[TD]

38 (- 18)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Nationwide Seriously Ill:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]19/10 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]20/10 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]21/10 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]22/10 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]23/10 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]24/10 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]25/10 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

125 (- 10)​

[/TD]

[TD]

113 (- 30)​

[/TD]

[TD]

106 (- 25)​

[/TD]

[TD]

107 (- 11)​

[/TD]

[TD]

115 (- 6)​

[/TD]

[TD]

115 (- 3)​

[/TD]

[TD]

118 (+ 2)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Tokyo:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]19/10 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]20/10 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]21/10 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]22/10 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]23/10 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]24/10 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]25/10 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

4,204 (- 586)​

[/TD]

[TD]

3,489 (- 849)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2,840 (- 655)​

[/TD]

[TD]

3,231 (- 8)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2,805 (+ 91)​

[/TD]

[TD]

1,735 (+ 147)​

[/TD]

[TD]

4,702 (+ 489)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Vaccinations as of 25 Oct 2022:

290,194,568 (+ 200,275) = 81.64% of population
Third vaccination (booster): 83,025,397 (+ 179,896) = 65.9% of population

 

[musicisgood]

So are deaths coming down?

 

[thomas]

So are deaths coming down?

Compared to last month, mortality has decreased, but with nationwide case numbers slightly increasing, it's still a rollercoaster.

 

[thomas]

The Japanese health ministry has approved Moderna's new coronavirus vaccine for the BA.5 subvariant now prevalent in the country. It is the second bivalent vaccine approved in Japan for the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 after the approval of Pfizer's BA.5-tailored COVID-19 vaccine in October.

Moderna's updated vaccine, which works against the Omicron subvariants and earlier strains, is for people aged 18 and above and requires an inoculation interval of at least three months from the previous COVID-19 shot. The health ministry plans to deliver around 3 million doses to municipalities in the final week of November. In preparation for a projected eighth pandemic wave, the ministry plans to deliver 102 million Omicron-tailored doses by the end of the year. Around 100 million people are eligible to receive them.

Japan approves Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for BA.5 subvariant

Japan's health ministry granted fast-track approval Tuesday for U.S. pharmaceutical company Moderna Inc.'s coronavirus vaccine tailored for the BA.5 subvariant now prevalent in the country.

english.kyodonews.net

 

[thomas]

The weekly updates (26 Oct - 1 Nov 2022):

Nationwide infections:

26/10 (Wed)	27/10 (Thu)	28/10 (Fri)	29/10 (Sat)	30/10 (Son)	31/10 (Mon)	01/11 (Tue)
50,294 (+ 6,739)​	42,737 (+ 6,627)​	39,254 (+ 7,661)​	44,523 (+ 10,350)​	40,611 (+ 9,738)​	22,341 (+ 5,489)​	65,280 (+ 17,574)​

Nationwide deaths:

26/10 (Wed)	27/10 (Thu)	28/10 (Fri)	29/10 (Sat)	30/10 (Son)	31/10 (Mon)	01/11 (Tue)
67 (- 1)​	71 (± 0)​	51 (- 16)​	58 (- 20)​	42 (- 2)​	23 (- 12)​	52 (+ 14)​

Nationwide Seriously Ill:

26/10 (Wed)	27/10 (Thu)	28/10 (Fri)	29/10 (Sat)	30/10 (Son)	31/10 (Mon)	01/11 (Tue)
123 (- 2)​	120 (+ 7)​	121 (+ 15)​	129 (+ 22)​	128 (+ 13)​	129 (+ 14)​	136 (+ 18)​

Tokyo:

26/10 (Wed)	27/10 (Thu)	28/10 (Fri)	29/10 (Sat)	30/10 (Son)	31/10 (Mon)	01/11 (Tue)
4,347 (+ 143)​	3,941 (+ 452)​	3,520 (+ 680)​	3,231 (- 8)​	3,687 (+ 882)​	2,019 (+ 284)​	6,520 (+ 1,818)​

Vaccinations as of 30 Oct 2022:

290,502,400 (+ 307,832) = 81.66% of population
Third vaccination (booster): 83,300,373 (+ 274,976) = 66.2% of population

 

[johnnyG]

I just got a new voucher for the 5th shot. I thought it had come early (my 4th shot was in July), but as in the above post my wife said she heard that the interval was three months for this next one.

Not sure--it doesn't specify on the form--I'd guess if I get it soon it'll be pfizer (like all my previous shots). Perhaps that's good, since in terms of side effects I've never had more than a sore arm, and barely that. On the other hand, I've read in the past that mixing vaccines from different makers may have a slight immunity benefit.

 

[mdchachi]

I just got a new voucher for the 5th shot. I thought it had come early (my 4th shot was in July), but as in the above post my wife said she heard that the interval was three months for this next one.

Not sure--it doesn't specify on the form--I'd guess if I get it soon it'll be pfizer (like all my previous shots). Perhaps that's good, since in terms of side effects I've never had more than a sore arm, and barely that. On the other hand, I've read in the past that mixing vaccines from different makers may have a slight immunity benefit.

I just got my bivalent shot last weekend. The Pfizer one. Didn't have any side effects. My first three shots were Moderna, Fourth was Pfizer and now this fifth one.