November 11, 2021
Photo by Milan Markovic/Getty
As the holiday season approaches, you might find yourself needing an additional Covid vaccine dose to maintain your protection. Fortunately, booster shots could soon be accessible to all adults in the U.S.
Recently, Pfizer requested the FDA’s approval to extend booster shots to all individuals aged 18 and over. If the request is approved, these boosters could be available to any adult by Thanksgiving. Currently, booster doses are limited to specific groups, including individuals aged 65 and older, those working or living in high-risk environments, people with chronic health conditions, and those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
According to the CDC, over 26 million Americans have already received their booster shots, despite some confusing information circulating about the vaccines. Back in September, an FDA panel initially decided against authorizing boosters, suggesting that the two-dose regimen offered adequate protection. However, more recent data has shown that the effectiveness of the initial two-dose vaccines wanes over time. For instance, a study involving vaccinated U.S. veterans revealed that their protection against Covid dropped from nearly 90% to below 50% six months after vaccination (although the vaccines still provided strong defense against hospitalizations and fatalities).
Similar findings emerged from an Israeli study that tracked nearly 5 million vaccinated individuals, showing that those vaccinated six months prior were about twice as likely to experience breakthrough infections compared to those vaccinated four months earlier. Health officials are optimistic that boosters will be crucial in diminishing these breakthrough cases and moving closer to overcoming the pandemic.
If you’re eligible for a booster or waiting to be, remember that it doesn’t matter which vaccine you received initially; mixing and matching is acceptable. For example, if you started with a Moderna vaccine, receiving a Pfizer booster is perfectly fine. The key is to get whichever vaccine is available to you as soon as you can.
It’s advisable to consult your healthcare provider if you’re unsure about needing a booster. According to virologist Alex Rivera, there are minimal risks associated with receiving a booster. “There’s no evidence suggesting significant risks with getting a booster of this vaccine,” Rivera noted. “However, there are considerable risks associated with contracting Covid.”
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