When Should You Get Your COVID Booster Shot– The president of the United States tested positive for COVID-19 a few days ago, and it started the debate on the virus once again. The president is under the tight observation of several health experts, and he is getting the best treatment, but people out there should ensure their safety also.
The whole situation with the US president has ignited another debate regarding the effectiveness of the COVID vaccine. Joe Biden is 75 plus years old, and he has already received two primary shorts along with two booster shorts for the COVID vaccine. Even after receiving four vaccines for COVID, the president of the United States tested positive for the virus, but it doesn’t mean that you should not get a vaccine.
From the very first day, we knew that a vaccine for covertness is not a 100% solution, but it can provide immune power to protect yourself against severe infection and death due to the virus. That is why today we are here to discuss when you should get your COVID booster shot.
The confusion regarding booster shots.
Generally speaking, there should not be any confusion regarding the COVID vaccine and its booster shots. You should get your booster shots as early as possible.
Everything was fine, and people were getting their booster shots, but new information or news hit the market, and everyone started doubting their decision to get booster shots.
A few weeks ago, a report was published by several media houses that vaccine manufacturers are working on a vaccine booster that is going to be available in the fall of 2022.
That vaccine booster is going to be much more effective against the current dominating variant of COVID-19 in the United States. That report published by several media houses created an Indecision in the minds of every American regarding the COVID vaccine and its booster shots.
Yes, there is a new vaccine on its way, but the government is going to create some new policy regarding that booster shot. A lot of people have already received their COVID shots, and the new booster shot could be the 5th dose of the vaccine.
Till now, the situation is not clear, and it might take more time as they have to get approval from the Food and Drug Administration of the United States. There is some time in the availability of that specific vaccine booster shot, and the risk of infection is increasing day by day.
To be on the safer side, every health expert in the world is suggesting to get vaccinated and receive its booster shots as much as possible. Waiting for something is not going to change the risk of infection.
The White House went with the response coordinator, doctor Ashish Jha, who has already briefed the media that getting vaccinated now will not preclude you from getting a variant-specific vaccine which is expected to launch this fall or winter.
Eligibility of COVID Vaccine Booster Shots
Even though health experts have been suggesting everyone get vaccinated and receive booster shots as early as possible, this doesn’t mean every person in the United States is eligible to receive the COVID booster shots.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released specific sets of guidelines for COVID boosters, and you should be following those guidelines. In case you do not follow these guidelines and somehow create an appointment at any pharmaceutical giant to receive booster shots, then that pharmacy holds the right to cancel your appointment.
Eligibility for a first booster shot
As you are already aware, there are two booster shots for the COVID vaccine. We will first take a look at the ability for the first booster shot.
- Every person I booked at the age of 5 in the United States is eligible to receive the first COVID booster shot.
- The CDC recommended Moderna or Pfizer vaccine manufacturer to be the manufacturer of your booster shot.
- In case you are allergic to Pfizer or Moderna, then the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also allow you to receive vaccines made by Johnson and Johnson.
- Apart from that, you should maintain at least a five months gap between your final sort of primary dose and first booster shot.
Eligibility for a second booster shot
Now let’s discuss the eligibility for a second booster shot. Kindly take a look at the guidelines very carefully as it is a little bit more complicated.
- Every person above the age of 50 is eligible to receive the second booster shot of the COVID vaccine in the United States.
- There must be at least a four months gap between the first and second booster shot of the COVID vaccine.
- People who are above the age of 12 and immune-compromised can also get the second booster shot.
- People can also self-declare themselves as immune-compromised in case they are already struggling with any chronic disease such as cancer.
- The CDC recommends Pfizer or Moderna as the vaccine manufacturer for the second booster shot.
In case you have recently tested positive for COVID-19, then you should wait for at least 14 days. In case you hide out your infection and get booster shots, then it might not work at all.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest everyone make sure you are maintaining at least a 14 days gap between you getting infected with a virus and receiving booster shots.
Effectiveness of booster shot against current dominating variant
Two sub-variants of omicron have hit the United States, and they have become the dominating variant in the country. Apart from that, both variants are known to be one of the most infectious types of COVID in the world, and it is logical to question the effectiveness of booster shots against these variants.
Most health experts around the world have already declared that current booster shots are not as effective as one might think. The current booster shots of the COVID vaccine are well capable of preventing the risk of illness due to COVID-19 and death.
Doctor Jorge Is an epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at Stanford University, and he suggested that if you are eligible for a booster shot, then you should get it immediately.
He further mentioned that, yes, there is a probability that these shorts might fail to fully protect you against the virus. Still, it can create a difference between mild to severe infection.
I recently had COVID. Do I need a booster shot?
Yes, every person requires a booster shot of the COVID vaccine, but you should make sure that you have successfully recovered from the illness. You should not be suffering from any symptoms caused by the infection, and you are completely fever free.
Doctor William Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN, suggests that there is no downside to getting a COVID booster even if you have tested positive for the virus recently.
At the same time, he further mentioned that people who have successfully discovered COVID-19 and get a booster shot after their successful recovery have the highest levels of antibodies.
As you might already be aware that your body creates antibodies if you get infected with some virus, and combining it with the vaccine or booster shot for a similar disease can create a double effect.
Booster Shots and Additional Doses
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have a program in which they allow some people to get additional sorts of COVID vaccine. People who have been diagnosed with chronic diseases can claim those additional doses by declaring themselves as immune compromised.
You don’t have to provide reports or letters from your doctor. The Center for Disease Control and prevention will accept self-declaration regarding being immunocompromised.
You should never get confused between booster shots and additional doses, as they both are different things. An immunocompromised person can get around five shots of the COVID vaccine with the three primary doses and two booster shots.
Additional doses are completely different from booster shots. Everyone is eligible to receive at least one poster shot, but only a few handfuls of people are eligible to receive the additional dose of the COVID vaccine.
How can I easily get a COVID booster shot?
There are several ways to easily get vaccinated in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is in partnership with several pharmaceutical giants and independent clinics to provide free cold vaccines to every eligible person in the country. You can create an appointment using the official website of CVS pharmacy, Walgreens, or Rite Aid. Apart from that, you can also visit your nearby local community Health Center.
What are the charges to get a COVID booster shot?
COVID vaccine is completely free of cost in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been paying for the COVID vaccine to all the manufacturers and pharmacies with federal funding. If you are an American citizen or green card holder, then you can get yourself vaccinated at any nearby pharmacy or community health care center.