Why Is Now the Perfect Time for a Booster
Booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are still optional for many of us, but there is mounting evidence that if you haven’t received the vaccine yet, you would probably be better off having one.
One of the important reasons is Omicron . This new variant may be less susceptible to the immunity we get from vaccines; he is definitely less susceptible to the immunity we get from a previous infection.
Pfizer announced the results of a study of antibody levels in people who received two or three doses of the vaccine. Three doses provide the same protection against Omicron as two doses against other options. This study involved only a small number of people – and did not experience real infection levels, antibody levels were only in vitro, so it cannot be said if the vaccine is actually less effective against Omicron. But the fact that the booster raised antibody levels is a good sign.
With this in mind, it is worth revising the recommendations for booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine :
- If you have Johnson & Johnson, you should get a booster shot two months after the first one.
- If you have received one of the Moderna or Pfizer mRNA vaccines, you should get a booster shot six months after the second dose if you are over 50 or live in a long-term care facility.
- If you have received one of the mRNA vaccines – Moderna or Pfizer – and you have a weakened immune system, you should get the third dose one month after the second . Six months after that, you can get a booster that will be your fourth shot.
- If you do not fall into any of the above categories, you can still get a booster dose six months after the second dose if you are 18 years of age or older. Boosters are not yet allowed for children and teenagers.
In order to have a clear understanding of the timing, all of these guidelines represent the minimum waiting time. So if six months have passed since your vaccination at J&J, not two, you can still go ahead and get a booster. (There is no word yet on whether we may need more boosters in the future; we are only discussing single booster doses for now.)
The booster seems to improve your immunity over the course of a few days or weeks , so if you get the booster vaccine now, you have two full weeks before Christmas get-together. If you received your booster, but you families are visiting that they didn’t , it may now be a good time for a friendly text reminder. And if you’re wondering: yes, you can get the flu vaccine at the same time .