Will Everyone Need a COVID Booster Shot?
Posted: Nov 9th, 2021 at 12:29PM
In an announcement by the U.S. government in August, all U.S. adults who have received two doses of the coronavirus vaccine will be eligible for a booster shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine about six to eight months after their second shot.
The conversations around booster shots became highly urgent during the surge of the Delta variant among unvaccinated individuals. Additionally, U.S. health officials report a low but growing number of cases among fully vaccinated people — whether asymptomatic or mild.
With this growing concern, let's explore if everyone needs a COVID-19 booster shot, why this might be needed, how they work, and more.
What is a Booster Shot?
A booster shot is an additional dose of a vaccine, given at a later time after the initial dose(s). Generally, the effectiveness of the original shots naturally starts to wane over time. As such, a booster shot will help provide additional protection and allow you to maintain your immunity for a longer period of time.
Some people see the COVID booster as "proof" that the vaccine never worked in the first place. This is a common vaccine myth. However, we want to note that many other vaccines work alongside booster shots, including hepatitis A and B, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), and varicella (chickenpox) vaccines. This is simply how vaccines work.
On the other hand, for some people who are immunocompromised, a third dose might be required as part of their primary COVID-19 vaccination. In particular, these are individuals who are solid organ transplant recipients or with conditions that reduce their ability to fight infections and diseases. The third dose comes shortly after the second dose to improve the initial protection.
Why Might People Need a COVID Booster?
The U.S. federal health officials presented multiple studies — from the New York state health department, the Mayo Clinic, the CDC's reporting system for nursing homes, and Israel's ministry of health abroad — to show the importance of COVID-19 boosters.
According to the CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, "The data consistently demonstrate a reduction of vaccine effectiveness against infection over time." Dr. Anthony Fauci also adds that a booster shot greatly increases the antibodies against the virus that causes COVID-19.
Importantly, anyone who is already fully vaccinated is still very well protected from getting seriously ill from COVID-19. As the name suggests, the booster shot is designed to "boost" the current protection against severe infections, hospitalizations, and deaths, especially among those who are at higher risk or have been vaccinated earlier.
Additionally, boosters can either be an exact replica of the initial vaccine or they can be tweaked. While the current vaccines are still effective against the variants today, the virus can evolve further and may result in more contagious variants (as we saw with the Delta strain). With the COVID-19 booster shots, the key is for the vaccine to be modified to address a particular variant of the virus.
Ultimately, people will need a COVID-19 booster shot to maximize vaccine-induced protection.
Do Some People Need the Booster More Than Others?
According to the CDC's recommendation, COVID-19 vaccine booster shots are now available for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recipients who completed their primary series at least six months prior and are under any of these categories:
- 65 years old and above
- Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions (based on their individual benefits and risks)
- Age 18+ who live in high-risk settings
- Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
- Age 18+ who work in high-risk settings
In addition, individuals aged 18-64 years at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission due to an institutional setting may already get a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech. This includes:
- Correction workers
- Education staff (daycare workers, teachers, and support staff)
- First responders (care staff, firefighters, health care workers, police)
- Food and agriculture workers
- Grocery store workers
- Manufacturing laborers
- Public transit workers
- U.S. Postal Service employees
The Key Takeaway
As studies show, COVID-19 vaccine protection may decrease over time and provide less defense against the coronavirus and its variants. Although the current shots remain effective in preventing severe illness, their strength can wane in the long run — reducing their effectiveness in preventing infection or milder illness with symptoms.
Therefore, getting a COVID-19 booster shot can help increase the immune response among individuals who have finished their primary series. With an improved immune response, you're better protected against the COVID-19 virus, especially the Delta variant and any future variants. We want to offer a gentle reminder that while getting vaccinated might feel like a personal decision, it's still one that absolutely impacts the people around you. When you protect yourself through vaccination, you also help to protect the people with who you come into contact.
It's important to know that the details we are sharing here are based on the currently available data. These circumstances may change or be revised over time, and we will always strive to keep you updated with the most relevant information. As always, continue wearing your mask and diligently washing your hands.
Ready to take the next step? We're here to help protect you and your loved ones against COVID-19. We offer antibody testing, PCR at-home/at-work saliva kits, and FDA-authorized RT-PCR testing. Contact e7 Health to learn more or book your appointment online.
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