When Should You Get A COVID-19 Booster Shot? Find Out Here
How do you know when you should get your COVID-19 booster show and which shot should you get?
My dad is in his seventies and is more susceptible to catching the coronavirus due to some previous health issues, but he has already had his booster shot and is good to go. I'm sure if my mom has not had hers, she has the appointment made already.
So what I'm getting at is, those 65 and older who are the most at risk should be setting up their booster shot appointments.
Now we have to figure out when those under 65 can get their booster shot and which shot you should get.
The good news about these booster shots no matter you get yours is they are free so you don't have to worry about cost, just when you should make the appointment.
Depending on the vaccinations you have already received will make a difference on what booster you should get. Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have all been approved for their booster shots.
The break down right now on getting a booster shot is, if you got the Moderna or the Pfizer shot at least 6 months ago and are 65 or older, then get in and get your booster. If you are a younger adult who is at high risk of infection or work in a situation that puts you at more exposure to the virus then you can get the booster.
If you happened to have gotten the Johnson & Johnson single shot vaccine, which is not as effective as Moderna and Pfizer, if you got your original shot 2 months or longer ago you are also eligible no matter your age or health risk.
For some people their protection from the virus has worn down over six months but many who received the Modern or Pfizer are still good to go for a while longer unless the meet the requirements mentioned earlier.
According to WOOD, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration didn't recommend that people switch vaccines but left open the option. From testing, it looks like any vaccine will provide a boost of virus fighting antibodies regardless of what shot you had taken first.
It is still undetermined if the COVID-19 virus will be a shot you get once a year like the flu shot moving forward but as studies are going on right now for all the vaccines and how long the protection lasts, as well as how long the boosters last, researchers will know more moving forward.