What is Booster shot? All your burning questions answered here!
Booster shot is an additional dose of a vaccine which is required periodically after the administration of primary dose to boost the immune system. We need this as the immunity from the initial dose naturally decreases over time. The booster is intended to help maintain the level of immunity for longer time.
I gathered frequently asked questions here which usually comes into our mind when we think of boosters.
Does recommendation of booster shot mean the COVID-19 vaccines aren’t working?
No. The COVID-19 vaccines are working. It is effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization and deaths. But the immune response of the human body tends to decrease over time. Since the virus is changing and various variants are rising, which are contagious, fully vaccinated people have experienced reduced protection against them. Hence, it is necessary to get a COVID-19 booster dose after primary vaccination to increase the protection.
Why booster shot?
Having a booster shot dose of COVID-19 vaccine can help to increase protection against COVID-19 and its variants. This virus is spreading, it has more chances to change and to create new variants of concern like Delta and Omicron. COVID-19 vaccines, along with booster dose, can protect from new variants. The booster shot is a normal requirement and other vaccines like hepatitis A, Tdap (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis) also need booster shot.
Can we get different vaccine type as a booster dose?
Yes, one can get a different type of vaccine after the initial vaccination. It is also called as mixing and matching of vaccines. Mixing of vaccines may cause stronger immune response. Mixing and mating works only if the initial vaccination is safe and effective. This option is made for situations like unavailability of primary vaccine.
What is the difference between third dose and booster shot?
The third dose is offered to a person who is immunosuppressed or immunocompromised to increase the immediate level of protection. It is necessary because not enough immune response is developed from initial two doses.
A booster vaccine is offered to all adults, because the immunity from the vaccines decreases over time. It also gives protection against the various variants.
How long we need to take booster shot?
Booster shot is required to improve immune response. The best example to explain the need for booster shot is flu shot. Flu shots are recommended to adapt to the variants of flu, because flu is constantly creating variants. Similarly, improved COVID vaccines will probably require adjusting to a variant. Booster shot will be required as long as the disease is in the community.
I tried to cover some of the top questions which comes to mind while we are taking OR planning to take booster shots. If have additional questions, please reach out here in comments.
