COVID-19 Boosters

If you’ve received the full COVID-19 vaccine you may be wondering whether you need or should get a booster shot. The answer is yes. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommend that fully vaccinated individuals aged 6 months and older get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for the best protection.

COVID-19 vaccines are working well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. However, public health experts have seen some reduced protection after initial vaccination, especially among certain populations, against mild and moderate disease. Data is showing that boosters increase vaccine effectiveness. Vaccine boosters are common ways to improve protection and especially support people at the highest risk for COVID-19 complications.

Path to Improved Health

What does fully vaccinated mean?

You are considered up to date if you have received all COVID-19 vaccine doses recommended by the CDC. Fully vaccinated is not the same thing as up to date. If you completed the primary vaccine, you were considered fully vaccinated. If you have not received any booster shots, you are not considered up to date. It is better to be up to date on all your vaccines and boosters.

Children aged 6 months to 5 years may need multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines to be up to date. This can depend on their age and the number of doses they have received.

What’s the difference between a booster shot and an additional dose?

An additional dose refers to people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised receiving an additional dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. This is because they may not have received adequate protection from their initial 2-dose vaccine series. In January 2022, the CDC authorized a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine for children 5-11 who have immunosuppression.

A booster dose is a supplemental vaccine dose given to people when the immune response to a primary vaccine series was adequate but is likely to have decreased over time.

Who is eligible for the COVID-19 booster shot?

In September 2023, the CDC strongly recommended everyone over age 6 months get a dose of the updated, 2023-2024 version of the vaccine. People aged 65 years and older may get a second dose of the updated vaccine.

If you have not received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past 2 months, get an updated vaccine to protect yourself through fall and winter.

Remember to bring your COVID-19 vaccination card to your booster appointment. It will be updated with your booster information and the date of the booster.

Things to Consider

There are many questions surrounding the “mixing and matching” of COVID-19 vaccines when getting a booster. The CDC and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) say it’s safe to get a different booster. For example, if you initially received the Johnson & Johnson shot, you can receive Pfizer or Moderna for a booster.

The most important decision is to get a booster.

While the CDC serves as a national public health resource, it’s important to check with your local state or county health department. Eligibility guidelines may vary by department based on the percentage of people vaccinated in your area or by surges in cases.

A COVID-19 booster protects you from serious infection, hospitalization, and death, and slows the spread of the virus in your community, along with other protective measures like masking and physical distancing.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• Is a COVID-19 booster required?
• How does a booster shot work?
• Should my children get a booster dose?
• Will I feel sick after receiving a booster?
• Will I have to show my COVID-19 vaccination card?

Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: COVID-19

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Stay Up to Date with Vaccines

National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus: COVID-19 Vaccines