For some groups of people getting a coronavirus booster shot could be a good idea as the virus evolves.
Coronavirus booster shots are now with us. If you hemmed and hawed over whether or not to get your first and second coronavirus vaccine, deciding if you should dive in for your third shot may seem all too confusing.
Aside from the fact that some countries in the world like Eritrea and Burundi had yet to even start rolling out their first round of coronavirus vaccine shots at the beginning of October 2021, making it seem very inequitable for the rest of us to be going in for thirds (or seconds with Johnson & Johnson) at the same time, there’s the scientific and medical aspect of a coronavirus booster shot. Do you really need one? Here’s a look.
Is a coronavirus booster really needed?
The coronavirus vaccine isn’t perfect but it has succeeded in reducing the number of severe cases of the disease and deaths caused by COVID-19. It’s true that some people have been fully vaccinated and yet have still died from the coronavirus but these represent a very small number of cases. When this happens, it’s often the case that the person who died had underlying conditions that made it difficult for their body to mount a full antibody response to the vaccine. According to Yale Medicine the need for a coronavirus booster has come to the forefront with the Delta surge that has resulted in a growing number of breakthrough cases of COVID-19 in fully vaccinated people.
Related: Why Kids Need A lot of Exposure to Green Space
These cases they say tend to be mild or even asymptomatic but they show the power of the initial vaccines is waning slightly in some people, which is cause for some concern. Administering a booster shot now can be prudent, before things get any worse.
“The main question is how long the immunologic protection against SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, lasts. And since we are learning about COVID-19 in real time, this is hard to know,” said Albert Shaw, MD, PhD, a Yale Medicine infectious disease specialist.
Who can get a COVID-19 booster shot?
In the US, Pfizer and Moderna booster shots, (or third doses), are currently being recommended for people aged 65 and older. The shots are also recommended for younger adults living with ongoing health problems and those who work in high-risk jobs such as a frontline worker. It’s recommended that you receive your third dose at least six months after your second, if you’re in these categories.
When it comes to Johnson & Johnson, the booster shot, (or second dose) is recommended for anyone 18 or older who had their first dose at least two months ago.
For more information on why some people are immunocompromised and who fits in this group, click here.
Pfizer has authorized its vaccine to be used for people aged 16 and older yet booster shots from all three coronavirus vaccines available in the US, including that of Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson still remain under Emergency Use Authorization, something that may change in the future.
photo credits: Wachiwit/Shutterstock.com
