COVID-19 vaccines and the speed at which they were produced mark one of the healthcare field’s most incredible accomplishments. In order to be at their most effective, though, these vaccines need to be supplemented with booster shots. Despite the fact that we’ve been dealing with COVID-19 for quite some time now, there remains a great deal of confusion regarding COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots. To help clear up some of this confusion, we’ll cover everything you need to know about COVID-19 boosters, including how they work and why they are important, and how to choose the right booster shot based on your primary vaccination.
What Are COVID-19 Booster Shots and Why Are They Necessary?
COVID-19 booster shots are nothing more than additional doses of a vaccine given to prevent the protection provided by the original shot(s) from decreasing over time. Many people wrongly assume that COVID-19 boosters are meant to protect against COVID variants that the primary vaccines do not protect against, but this is not the case; all three vaccines authorized for use in the United States protect against all variants of COVID-19, and their accompanying booster shots are solely meant to bolster this protection.
Every disease is unique, and every vaccine is unique as well. Some vaccines such as the polio vaccine can be taken once and provide protection throughout the patient’s life. Other vaccines such as the flu vaccine must be taken each year. For COVID-19, it has been determined that taking booster shots at various intervals is the best way to provide lasting protection.
Types of COVID-19 Booster Shots
The type of COVID-19 booster you need to take and when you need to take it both depend on the primary vaccine series you originally took. Three different COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for use in the United States – the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna vaccine, and the J&J/Janssen vaccine – and each has its own booster shots.
Pfizer-BioNTech Booster Shots
There are two booster shots for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. For most people, the first of these booster shots should be taken five months after the final dose in the primary series. However, individuals who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should take the first booster shot three months after the final dose in the primary series.
The second booster shot for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is not necessary for all individuals. However, individuals over the age of fifty along with those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should take a second booster shot four months after their first booster.
Moderna Booster Shots
The booster shot guidelines for those who received the Moderna vaccine are the exact same as the guidelines for the Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots; most people should take the first booster shot five months after the final dose in the primary series, while those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should receive their first booster three months after their final dose. A second booster shot is available to those over fifty and those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised and should be taken four months after the first booster.
Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Booster Shots
Those who received the J&J/Janssen should take their first booster shot two months after their primary dose. A second booster shot is available for those over the age fifty, those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, and those who received the J&J/Janssen vaccine as both their primary dose and their first booster, and this second booster shot should be taken four months after the first booster.
Can You Take a Booster Shot That is Different From Your Primary Vaccine?
Yes, those who received the Moderna vaccine can choose to take the Pfizer-BioNTech booster and vice versa. For those who received the J&J/Janssen vaccine as their primary dose, meanwhile, it is recommended that they take either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech booster.
Bikham Healthcare’s Role in the Fight Against COVID-19
The tide in the fight against COVID-19 may have turned when effective vaccines were made available, but the war is still far from over. Going forward, vaccines and booster shots will continue to play an essential role in preventing COVID-19 deaths. At Bikham Healthcare, meanwhile, our role in the fight against COVID-19 is to provide physicians and healthcare facilities with the services they need to offer their patients optimal care. Through our industry-leading RCM, credentialing, and enrollment services, we are able to reduce the administrative burden of physicians across the country and free them up to spend more time caring for their patients. If you would like to learn more about the time and cost-saving benefits of these services, be sure to contact us today!