Millions of Americans are now eligible to receive a
A look at the nuts and bolts of this new phase of the vaccination campaign:
People
— People 65 and older, nursing home residents and assisted living residents.
— Others ages 50 to 64 with a long list of risky health problems including cancer, diabetes, asthma, HIV infection and heart disease. Being overweight or obese is a category that qualifies roughly 70% of people in this age group.
The
— People 18 to 49
— Anyone 18 to 64 with a risky job, such as health care, can consider boosters. Prisoners and people living in homeless shelters are also in this group.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?
Serious side effects from the first two
WEREN'T SOME PEOPLE ALREADY ELIGIBLE FOR A THIRD DOSE?
Yes, people with severely weakened immune systems were already eligible to get a third dose of
WHAT IF I GOT MODERNA? CAN I GET A PFIZER BOOSTER?
Not yet. Health officials say they don't have enough data on mix-and-match vaccinations.
WHAT IF I GOT J&J?
People
WHERE CAN I GET MY BOOSTER?
Health departments, clinics and drugstores are offering boosters, and many people have already gotten them ahead of the official green light. You may have to show your vaccine card. Proving how you qualify is on the honor system. Your word about your risky job or health condition is likely to be enough.
ARE BOOSTERS FREE?
Yes, shots given under FDA’s emergency use authorization are free. And there should be enough supplies.
AM I ‘FULLY VACCINATED’ WITHOUT A BOOSTER?
Yes, two doses of
WHY WERE BOOSTERS SO HOTLY DEBATED?
The need is not crystal clear. Studies show the vaccines are still offering strong protection against serious illness for all ages. And many experts want to focus attention on getting shots to the unvaccinated, the group most in danger of infection, hospitalization and death.
On the other hand, there is a slight drop in the vaccine's effectiveness among the oldest adults. And immunity against milder infection appears to wane months after people’s initial shots. Protecting health care workers from even mild illness may help some hospitals now struggling to care for unvaccinated COVID-19 patients.
ARE OTHER COUNTRIES OFFERING BOOSTERS?
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