Many Americans now can get a second COVID-19 booster, but it’s hard to tell who really needs another shot right now and who could wait.
The
With COVID-19 cases low in the
Her advice: If you're on the fence, use this lull to talk with your doctor about how protected you really are — and need to be.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A SECOND BOOSTER?
Anyone 50 and older can get the extra dose at least four months after their last vaccination. So can severely immune-compromised patients, such as organ transplant recipients, as young as 12.
Adults can choose either the
WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO GOT JOHNSON & JOHNSON?
Adults who received J&J’s single-dose vaccine already were eligible for a booster of any kind -- and the
A new study found a
But if they already had one of those other boosters, the
WHAT PROMPTED THE MOVE?
Vaccines still offer strong protection against severe illness and death, but effectiveness against milder infections wanes months later. The shots also don’t work as well against new variants like the super-contagious omicron mutant as they did earlier in the pandemic.
That's why everyone 12 and older, regardless of their health, already was urged to get a first booster for the best chance at fending off omicron. Only about half of those eligible have.
With an omicron sibling causing spikes in infections in other countries, officials are nervous the
WHAT’S THE EVIDENCE FOR ANOTHER BOOSTER?
Many scientists say it’s limited, leaving public health officials to use their best judgment.
During the
The FDA decided to set the age limit at 50 instead of 60 because that’s when chronic illnesses like heart disease or diabetes become more common, leaving people more vulnerable to serious COVID-19.
WHO REALLY NEEDS A SECOND BOOSTER?
The
WHEN SHOULD I GET IT?
Again, experts have differing opinions, partly because it's not clear how long any extra benefit lasts.
“We can never really perfectly time when the next wave is, or when someone might encounter infection,” said Johnson, who sees patients at
Another dose now may make sense for older people and the immune-compromised, but “there's less urgency in an otherwise healthy person,” said
At 50, Wherry said he's healthy enough to watch if cases rise enough to prompt another booster, but he'd prefer to wait until fall. That's because going longer between vaccinations allows the immune response to better mature and strengthen.
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