If you were first in line to be vaccinated, it might be time to get a booster shot reports Sarah Jane Tribble for Kaiser Health News. Beginning next month, the Biden administration has announced that all adults will be able to get a booster shot. People over 65 or immunocompromised have very good reason to get a booster shot as soon as possible.
We know that the Delta variant has been raging through the nation and infecting the unvaccinated, as well as small numbers of people who have been vaccinated. The good news is that those who are vaccinated appear to have far lower risk of getting severely ill, much less to need hospitalization. But, the Delta variant might mutate into another more dangerous form of the coronavirus, and we should be prepared and protected as best possible.
We also know from new research that the Covid-19 vaccine wears off over time, with people losing the antibodies that protect them against the novel coronavirus. The rate at which it wears off appears to differ from one person to another. Pfizer’s research suggests that four to six months after the second shot, its vaccine’s efficacy drops from 96 percent to 84 percent.
The Centers for Disease Control is currently saying that people need a booster shot eight months after their second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. People who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can wait until November or later for their booster as these people did not begin getting vaccinated until March. As of yet, the administration does not have a booster plan for these individuals. But, Johnson & Johnson is testing the efficacy of a second shot now.
What is a booster shot? A booster shot is the same as a third shot of the same vaccine you originally had.
Who will get the booster shot first? Older adults, along with essential workers, will be at the front of the line for a booster shot, as they received their first two vaccine shots ahead of most other people.
What are the benefits of the booster shot? It will provide you with more antibodies. As of now, we do not know the results of a trial evaluating the efficacy of a third dose.
The CDC says that the mRNA vaccines offer neutralizing antibodies and cellular immunity. With two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, people should have longer protection against becoming severely ill. The J & J vaccine uses a different technology, adenovirus vector. The data suggests that it provides the same benefits as the two Moderna or Pfizer shots.
Is a booster safe? Some experts say it is safe. Others question whether it could lead to severe side effects. Some also think that younger people might be better off for now without the booster. People who get the booster could be more likely to develop inflammation of the heart, for example.
Are you less likely to spread the virus with a booster shot? Booster shots provide you with more antibodies and a stronger immune response. As a result, the virus is less likely to replicate in your system. And, in turn, you are less likely to transmit the virus.
Should your booster shot be from the same company as your initial vaccine? The CDC says it should be from the same company as your initial vaccine. Others believe that it could be beneficial to get your booster from a different company, but there is no good data on this.
Is the booster shot free? Yes, it is free for everyone, including undocumented residents and people without insurance. You do not need to show ID.
Will we need annual booster shots? It is possible we will need annual booster shots if the virus continues to mutate.
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