[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/05\/covid-19-booster-shot\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/05\/covid-19-booster-shot\/","headline":"What to Know About a COVID-19 Booster Shot","name":"What to Know About a COVID-19 Booster Shot","description":"Here's what to know about COVID-19 vaccine booster shots","datePublished":"2021-05-19","dateModified":"2022-06-10","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/flu-shot.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/flu-shot.jpg","height":327,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/05\/covid-19-booster-shot\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9d77MCnx9Us#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9d77MCnx9Us","name":"Dr. Fauci On The Latest U.S. Covid-19 Response | MSNBC","description":"More than 70 million Americans are now fully vaccinated. But as much as there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel, we are still very much in the tunnel right now. Dr. Anthony Fauci joins NBC\u2019s Mehdi Hasan to discuss where the U.S. stands in their fight against Covid-19. Aired on 04\/12\/2021.\n\u00bb Subscribe to MSNBC: http:\/\/on.msnbc.com\/SubscribeTomsnbc\n\nMSNBC delivers breaking news, in-depth analysis of politics headlines, as well as commentary and informed perspectives. Find video clips and segments from The Rachel Maddow Show, Morning Joe, Meet the Press Daily, The Beat with Ari Melber, Deadline: White House with Nicolle Wallace, Hardball, All In, Last Word, 11th Hour, and more.\n\nConnect with MSNBC Online\nVisit msnbc.com: http:\/\/on.msnbc.com\/Readmsnbc\nSubscribe to MSNBC Newsletter: http:\/\/MSNBC.com\/NewslettersYouTube\nFind MSNBC on Facebook: http:\/\/on.msnbc.com\/Likemsnbc\nFollow MSNBC on Twitter: http:\/\/on.msnbc.com\/Followmsnbc\nFollow MSNBC on Instagram: http:\/\/on.msnbc.com\/Instamsnbc\n\n#DrAnthonyFauci #Covid19 #MSNBC\n\nDr. Fauci On The Latest U.S. Covid-19 Response | MSNBC","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/9d77MCnx9Us\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/9d77MCnx9Us\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/9d77MCnx9Us\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/9d77MCnx9Us\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/9d77MCnx9Us\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2021-04-12T11:29:45+00:00","duration":"PT12M48S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9d77MCnx9Us","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCaXkIU1QidjPwiAYu6GcHjg#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCaXkIU1QidjPwiAYu6GcHjg","name":"MS NOW","description":"The official MS NOW YouTube Channel. 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We also make updates to our content as information changes. However, education about COVID-19 can shift quickly based on new data, emerging variants, or other factors. The information in this story was accurate as of its publish date. We also encourage you to visit other reliable websites for updated information, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and your state and local governments.\u00a0Scheduling an\u00a0additional dose?\u00a0Don\u2019t forget to bring your COVID-19 vaccine card with you to your appointment.Many Americans are now eligible for additional or booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The list of eligible people continues to grow.The three vaccines available\u00a0in the U.S. \u2014 Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson\/Janssen (J&J) \u2014 are all safe and\u00a0effective against COVID-19. They are especially effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death.However,\u00a0according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other health officials, protection from the COVID-19 vaccine\u00a0can\u00a0decrease over time. Some people \u2014 such as those with compromised immune systems \u2014 also\u00a0may not have had a strong immune reaction to their initial doses of vaccine. And the highly contagious\u00a0Delta variant (B.1.617.2)\u00a0and\u00a0Omicron variant (B.1.1.529)\u00a0are causing COVID-19 cases to rise in the U.S. and worldwide.With those factors in mind, many people are wondering if they\u00a0need to receive an additional\u00a0shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.What Is a Booster Shot?Protection from many vaccines begins to decrease over time. Booster shots are additional doses of a vaccine, meant to\u00a0help\u00a0your immune system recharge protection\u00a0against the disease.Booster shots are common for many vaccines, including:Tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis (Tdap).Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR).Hepatitis A and B.People often\u00a0receive booster shots for\u00a0vaccines\u00a0throughout their lives. For instance, you may need a tetanus booster about every 10 years to ensure protection.COVID-19 and Booster ShotsFactors that could influence\u00a0an additional shot of the\u00a0COVID-19 vaccine\u00a0include:Your immune system didn\u2019t have a strong response to the initial doses of the vaccine series. This may be the case for people who are immunocompromised after receiving solid organ transplants or for other reasons.Your immune system had strong protection against COVID-19 after your initial vaccine series, but it\u2019s beginning to decrease.The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 has changed enough that\u00a0another dose of vaccine is needed to protect against it.The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in preventing serious infections from SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, including the Delta and Omicron variants. However, it is still possible to get infected and to spread the virus \u2014 even if you\u2019ve been vaccinated.Will There Be a COVID-19 Booster Shot?The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have authorized additional or booster doses for many COVID-19 vaccine recipients.Additional doses for immunocompromised peopleImmunocompromised people who received the Pfizer, Moderna, or J&J vaccines are eligible for additional doses under these criteria:Immunocompromised people ages 5 to 11 who received a Pfizer vaccine are eligible for a third dose 28 days or more after their second dose. The third dose should be Pfizer.Immunocompromised people ages 12 to 17 who received a Pfizer vaccine are eligible for a third dose 28 days or more after their second dose, a fourth dose three months or more after their third dose, and a fifth dose four months or more after their fourth dose. The third, fourth, and fifth doses all should be Pfizer.Immunocompromised people ages 18 and older who received a Pfizer vaccine are eligible for a third dose 28 days or more after their second dose, a fourth dose three months or more after their third dose, and a fifth dose four months or more after their fourth dose. The third dose should be Pfizer. The fourth and fifth doses can be Pfizer or Moderna.Immunocompromised people 18 and older who received the Moderna vaccine are eligible for a third dose 28 days or more after their second dose, a fourth dose three months or more after their third dose, and a fifth dose four months or more after their fourth dose. The third dose should be Moderna. The fourth and fifth doses can be Pfizer or Moderna.Immunocompromised people 18 and older who received the J&J vaccine are eligible for a second dose 28 days or more after their first dose, a third dose two months or more after their second dose, and a fourth dose four months or more after their third dose. The second, third, and fourth doses can be Pfizer or Moderna.Immunocompromised people have a medical condition or treatment that impairs their immune system\u2019s ability to fight the virus. Their immune system also may not have had a strong response to the initial vaccine series.If you are immunocompromised, you can schedule additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.\u00a0Those eligible include solid organ transplant recipients, many cancer patients, and\u00a0others who are immunocompromised.\u00a0For more information,\u00a0visit\u00a0Vaccine.UPMC.com\u00a0or call 844-876-2822 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.Booster doses for non-immunocompromised peopleThe FDA and CDC also have authorized \u201cbooster\u201d doses for people who received the Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J vaccines.Pfizer recipients: To be eligible for a booster, you must be\u00a0ages 5 and older and must have received your second dose\u00a0at least five months ago.Pfizer recipients\u00a050 and olderare eligible for a second booster dose, which they can receive\u00a0four months or more after their third dose.Moderna recipients: To be eligible for a booster, you must be 18 and older and must have received your second dose at least five months ago.Moderna recipients 50 and older are eligible for a second booster dose, which they can receive four months or more after their third dose. J&J recipients: To be eligible for a booster, you must be 18 and older and must have received your initial J&J dose at least two months ago. J&J recipients 50 and older are eligible for a second booster dose, which they can receive four months or more after their second dose.For the first booster dose, you can receive the Pfizer vaccine if you\u2019re under 18 and any of the three available vaccines \u2013 Pfizer, Moderna, or J&J \u2013 if you\u2019re over 18. For the second booster dose, you can receive Pfizer or Moderna. Talk to your doctor about whether you\u2019re eligible for a booster.Why Do We Need Another\u00a0COVID-19\u00a0Shot?The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, especially in preventing severe cases of COVID-19 \u2014 and deaths.However, data suggest that protection from the vaccines may decrease over time. An additional shot can help maintain or improve your immune system\u2019s protection against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.Also, research shows that some people don\u2019t have a strong immune reaction to the initial doses of the vaccine. That\u2019s the case for\u00a0many immunocompromised people, such as organ transplant recipients.When Can I Get the Additional\u00a0COVID-19\u00a0Shot?In line with the FDA\u2019s and CDC\u2019s announcements, UPMC is currently offering additional and booster doses for people who are eligible.If you are eligible and would like to schedule an appointment for an additional dose, visit\u00a0Vaccine.UPMC.com\u00a0or call 844-876-2822 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.You must have an appointment to get an additional dose of the vaccine. We are not offering additional doses on a walk-in basis.On the day of your appointment, please bring your CDC vaccination card.Do I Still Need to Wear a Mask?The vaccine represents a crucial step in preventing COVID-19. However, masking and social distancing also can provide important protection\u00a0\u2014 especially if you\u2019re immunocompromised.After getting an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, you should continue to follow any laws, regulations, or guidelines about wearing a facemask. The CDC recommends that even fully vaccinated people wear a mask and physically distance while in public in areas with high rates of transmission.At UPMC, we strongly encourage people who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine to get vaccinated. Americans 5 and older are eligible to get the vaccine. For more information on the vaccine, visit\u00a0UPMC.com\/COVIDVaccine.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on May 19, 2021, and was last reviewed on May 23, 2022.SourcesAlexander Muik, Ann-Kathrin Wallisch, Bianca S\u00e4nger, Kena A. Swanson, et al. Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 pseudovirus by BNT162b2 vaccine-elicited human sera. Preprint. BioRxiv. January 19, 2021. LinkBerkeley Lovelace Jr. J&J CEO says people may need annual Covid vaccine shots for the next several years. CNBC. Link Denise Chow. Covid-19 booster shot likely needed within 12 months, Pfizer's CEO says. NBC News. LinkEster C Sabino, Lewis F Buss, Maria P S Carvalho, Carlos A Prete Jr., et al. Resurgence of COVID-19 in Manaus, Brazil, despite high seroprevalence. The Lancet. January 27, 2021. LinkEwen Callaway. Fast-spreading COVID variant can elude immune responses. Nature. LinkJared S. Hopkins. Annual Covid-19 Vaccine Booster Shots Likely Needed, Pfizer CEO Says. Wall Street Journal. LinkMatthew McCallum, Jessica Bassi, Anna De Marco, Alex Chen, et al. SARS-CoV-2 immune evasion by variant B.1.427\/B.1.429. Preprint. BioRxiv. April 1, 2021. LinkMehdi Hasan. Dr. Fauci On The Latest U.S. Covid-19 Response. MSNBC. LinkModerna CEO says booster shots will eventually be required. WDRB. LinkModerna COVID-19 Vaccine Retains Neutralizing Activity Against Emerging Variants First Identified in the U.K. and the Republic of South Africa. Moderna. LinkNational Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases. About Variants of the Virus that Causes COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. LinkNational Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. COVID-19 Breakthrough Case Investigations and Reporting. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. LinkPfizer and BioNTech initiate a study as part of broad development plan to evaluate COVID-19 booster and new vaccine variants. Pfizer. LinkRita Rubin. COVID-19 Vaccines vs Variants\u2014Determining How Much Immunity Is Enough. JAMA. March 17, 2021. LinkTalia Kustin, Noam Harel, Uriah Finkel, Shay Perchik, et al. Evidence for increased breakthrough rates of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in BNT162b2 mRNA vaccinated individuals. Preprint. MedRxiv. April 16, 2021. Link"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2021","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"05","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/\/05\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What to Know About a COVID-19 Booster Shot","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/05\/covid-19-booster-shot\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]