{"id":43378,"date":"2021-10-14T10:00:44","date_gmt":"2021-10-14T14:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=43378"},"modified":"2022-12-05T15:40:06","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T20:40:06","slug":"covid-booster-shot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/covid-booster-shot\/","title":{"rendered":"Do you need a COVID-19 booster shot?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You have already gotten your COVID-19 vaccinations. You may have even had a booster shot. But the more you hear about <\/span>Omicron and even newer variants<\/span><\/a> of COVID, you start to wonder if you need another shot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Booster shots are nothing new. <\/span>Other vaccinations<\/span><\/a>, such as HPV, require boosters because your immunity against these severe illnesses can start to decline with time, which puts you at an increased risk of actually catching that illness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to coronavirus vaccinations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to monitor the safety and effectiveness of these vaccines in protecting against COVID. Here are some of the most important things to know about the COVID-19 vaccine booster and how you can determine if you can benefit from a vaccine booster shot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Can I get a COVID booster shot?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccines have been approved by the <\/span>Food and Drug Administration<\/span><\/a> (FDA) for all individuals older than 5 who have received the <\/span>Pfizer-BioNTech<\/span><\/a> vaccine and all individuals older than 6 who have received the <\/span>Moderna<\/span><\/a> vaccine. Mixing and matching booster shots has been authorized, which gives individuals more flexibility in choosing their booster shot. Meaning, if you had the <\/span>Johnson & Johnson<\/span><\/a> vaccine, you can get the Moderna or Pfizer booster for your second shot. Or, if you had the Pfizer vaccine, you can get the Moderna booster for your third shot. And if you received a <\/span>Novavax primary vaccine series<\/span><\/a>, you can get either the Moderna or Pfizer boosters.<\/span><\/p>\n

The COVID-19 virus continues to <\/span>change<\/span><\/a> into new variants over time. In the fall of 2022, updated bivalent boosters from Pfizer and Moderna became available to individuals older than 5. The new bivalent boosters protect against a strain of the original virus as well as a strain of the Omicron variant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When can I get a COVID booster shot?<\/span><\/h2>\n

In most adults and children, a primary vaccine series is <\/span>recommended<\/span><\/a> (usually two doses of Moderna or two doses of Pfizer). In children aged 6 months to 4 years, the primary Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine series consists of three doses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The CDC recommends that all individuals older than 5 receive an updated bivalent vaccine if it\u2019s been at least 2 months since their primary vaccine series (with or without an original monovalent booster vaccination). The manufacturer of your previous vaccinations doesn\u2019t matter\u2014you can get either the Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The guidance continues to change as understanding of the virus changes and new variants, like the <\/span>Omicron BA.2, BA.4 and BA.5 variants<\/span><\/a> emerge. \u201cAt this time, we recommend frequently checking the CDC\u2019s website to stay up-to-date on booster guidelines,\u201d says <\/span>Sanjeev Jain<\/span><\/a>, MD, a board-certified allergist and immunologist at Columbia Allergy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Can I get the booster shot after having COVID?<\/span><\/h2>\n

You should get a COVID vaccine series and bivalent booster even if you\u2019ve already had COVID-19. The shots provide extra protection because natural immunity wanes over time. If you currently have COVID-19, the <\/span>CDC recommends<\/span><\/a> waiting 3 months after the start of symptoms or receiving a positive test to get the bivalent booster; this is believed to maximize the vaccine\u2019s effectiveness. If you have received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma for COVID-19, <\/span>updated CDC guidelines<\/span><\/a> report that you do not have to wait to get vaccinated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why do I need a booster shot for COVID?<\/span><\/h2>\n

As of Nov. 30, 2022, over <\/span>267 million Americans<\/span><\/a> have received a primary COVID-19 vaccine series. Of those fully vaccinated, around 40 million people have received a bivalent booster.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“Like all vaccines, the efficacy of the COVID vaccine lessens over time, and research is still underway to understand what the decrease looks like for COVID specifically,” explains Beth Beatriz, Ph.D., epidemiologist and public health expert at <\/span>parentingpod.com<\/span><\/a>. This vaccine isn’t the same as a light switch, where one day it works, and the next it doesn’t.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How long after a COVID booster shot are you protected?<\/span><\/h2>\n

How long the COVID-19 vaccine works depends on several factors, including how much of the virus you’re exposed to and your own immune response. That said, around three months after vaccination, there appears to be a decline in the COVID vaccine\u2019s effectiveness, from about <\/span>92% to 75%<\/span><\/a>, according to the health officials at the CDC.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“I want to emphasize here that even at 75% effectiveness, the COVID vaccines are still highly effective in reducing serious illness and death,” says Beatriz. Still, <\/span>recent studies<\/span><\/a> from Moderna have been able to look at those who were vaccinated more than a year ago versus within the past eight months. If you were recently vaccinated, you may be less likely to get COVID than those who were vaccinated more than a year ago.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Jain agrees: “Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna are all tracking data in regard to the longevity of the immune response and antibodies produced <\/span>from these vaccines<\/span><\/a>.\u201d Researchers are continuing to monitor vaccinated individuals for a decrease in COVID antibodies to determine if or when a booster is needed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is especially true when it comes to the appearance of new variants. At a minimum, Dr. Jain says, a booster should give you good immunity against the virus for at least six months, as the original vaccines did.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, different factors may improve how well the vaccine works, such as exercise. According to new <\/span>research<\/span><\/a>, engaging in moderate exercise such as walking for 90 minutes after receiving your COVID-19 vaccination or booster may improve the vaccine\u2019s efficacy by increasing antibody response\u2014without worsening side effects.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>14 COVID myths\u2014and the facts<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What are the common COVID vaccine booster shot side effects?<\/span><\/h2>\n

For the most part, you can expect similar side effects to the booster that you might have experienced from your first vaccine doses. These can include:<\/span><\/p>\n