For a while, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was such a struggle that it seemed the number of fully vaccinated individuals in the U.S. would stay under 50% for the foreseeable future. Now, the CDC recommends booster shots for all three available vaccines. As a result, a whole new wave of misinformation and uncertainty threatens to muddy the water and stalemate our progress of over 60% vaccination rate. Are you looking for a boost against COVID-19 but are swimming in uncertainty too? We’ve got you covered.
Boosting the Facts
It’s common knowledge that what we know about COVID-19 has drastically changed since its discovery. Unprecedented funding and research efforts yielded the three available vaccines today. Two have FDA approval, and we are still using the remaining one under emergency approval. Each has reasonable efficacy rates are highly effective at preventing severe disease.
Since the first dose approximately two years ago, the current data shows a decrease in the protection after some time. Like other vaccines we get as infants and throughout our lives, we are learning the current COVID-19 vaccines will need booster shots too. Booster shots are another dose of the vaccine you received. They extend the protection of a vaccine and are updated to also protect against other variants of concern.
COVID-19 Booster Eligibility
Any eligible person 12 years and older can receive a booster shot. Eligibility varies slightly depending on which vaccine you received. Even though Pfizer is the only approved booster for ages 12-17, mixing and matching vaccine brands has made getting a booter easier than ever with some simple guidelines:
- Pfizer-BioNTech– Must meet both requirements:
- It’s been at least 5 months since you completed the vaccination series.
- You are 12 years of age or older.
- Booster dose can be Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Janssen (J&J)
- Moderna– Must meet both requirements:
- It’s been at least 5 months since you completed the vaccination series.
- You are 18 years of age or older.
- Booster dose can be Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Janssen (J&J)
- Janssen (J&J)– Must meet both requirements:
- It’s been at least 2 months since you completed the single vaccination.
- You are 18 years of age or older.
- Booster dose can be Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Janssen (J&J)
Boost Your Protection from COVID-19 and Pneumonia
If you still need to get your booster, clinical research studies at Charlottesville Medical Research may be an option. Explore enrolling studies evaluating administering a COVID-19 booster shot simultaneously with the vaccine for pneumonia. Call us at (434) 817-2442 or visit our website for details and application.
Sources:
https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations?country=USA
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02532-4#ref-CR2
