By Mary Kekatos, Acting American Health Editor for DailyMail.com
What are COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters?
A booster shot is given at least six months after people have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
This is to prolong immunity and ‘boost’ the immune system to produce higher levels of antibodies against the virus.
Is Vaccine Protection Decreasing?
Not necessarily, although the subject is hotly debated.
Some people have weakened immune systems, either due to medical conditions or due to age, which have made them unable to mount a full immune response to the first dose.
Some studies have found that vaccine safety decreases after more than four months, which is common with many other vaccinations.
However, health officials emphasize that vaccines are still highly effective against the most serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death.
Who is currently eligible?
Last month, boosters were authorized for Americans with compromised immune systems.
Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded that authorization to specific at-risk groups.
These include people 65 years of age and older, residents of long-term care facilities, and people aged 18 to 64 at high risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying medical conditions.
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory committee recommended that boosters not be for people at high risk because of their jobs or other factors, CDC director Dr. Rochelle Valensky overruled the decision and favored the FDA. were in
That means people who are at higher risk of serious illness because of their occupations – such as health workers, teachers and grocery store workers – and those who live in institutional settings that increase their risk of exposure, such as prisons or homeless shelters. Yes, they are eligible too.
Which COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Can I Get?
Right now, only the recommended group who have received two doses of the Pfizer-BioEntech vaccine, and were given their last shot at least six months ago, can receive a booster shot.
Pfizer’s booster shot is exactly the same — both ingredient-wise and dosage (30 micrograms) — as the first two doses.
What happens if I get the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
Moderna has submitted an application to the FDA to authorize its booster shot, while Johnson & Johnson is expected to do so soon.
Because of this, recipients of either of these vaccines are not yet eligible to receive a booster.
President Joe Biden said on Thursday that scientists are still examining data from both companies’ booster shots.
“Our doctors and scientists are working day and night to analyze data from those two organizations to see if you need a booster shot, and we’ll provide you with updates as the process progresses,” he said.
Can I mix and match?
Currently, federal health officials do not recommend getting a booster shot made by a different vaccine manufacturer than your initial dose.
This means that Moderna and Johnson & Johnson recipients are not recommended to receive booster doses from Pfizer and vice versa.
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