COVID- 19 Vaccine booster doses are coming
As African countries continue to roll out COVID- 19 vaccines to their respective populations, it is worth noting that not everyone will have the same desirable response to the vaccines.
Some people will develop the required/ expected level of protection, some will not, due to several reasons and others’ immunity levels will decline more rapidly also, due to several reasons.
A COVID- 19 booster shot is an additional dose of a vaccine administered to an individual after the protection provided by the original shot( s) has begun to decrease over time.
Typically, you would get a booster after the immunity from the initial dose( s) naturally starts to decline. This booster is designed to help people maintain their level of immunity for longer.
At the moment, it’s only the PfizerBioNTech vaccine whose booster has already been approved and authorised by the FDA. Debates and discussions are still ongoing regarding the Moderna and the J& J regimens.
Recommendations for a booster dose are mainly based on advanced age and underlying immune- compromising conditions and medication that suppress one’s immune system.
According to the FDA, individuals eligible to receive the Pfizer- BioNTech should have received their second dose of the Pfizer- BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine at least six months ago and meet at least one of the below criteria:
• 65 years or older
• Live in a long- term care facility • Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system • Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency ( such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott- Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection • Active treatment with high- dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
• 18 years or older and have an underlying medical condition that could put them at higher risk of severe COVID- 19.
Eligible medical conditions include, but are
not limited to:
• Cancer
• Cerebrovascular disease, such as stroke
• Obesity
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease • Diabetes mellitus, type 1 and 2
• Heart condition, such as heart failure,
coronary arteries disease, or cardiomyopathies
• Chronic kidney disease
• Pregnancy and recent pregnancy • Current or former smoker
• 18 years or older and work in a location that puts them at high risk of exposure to COVID- 19. This includes:
• Essential workers, such as healthcare workers, teachers, day- care staff, and first responders
• Caregivers of an immune- compromised
individual
• Individuals who live in a congregate living setting, such as a homeless shelter, prison, or assisted living facility
It must be noted that this third dose of the mRNA COVID- 19 vaccines ( Pfizer or Moderna) is identical to the first two doses. It can help protect people with weakened immune systems who did not have a strong enough response to the first two doses of one of the mRNA vaccines.
The FDA has authorised that those with certain medical conditions that suppress the immune system get a third dose of the same brand of COVID- 19 vaccine that they initially received.
If you received the Pfizer- BioNTech shots as your primary doses, then your booster shots will have to also be the same vaccine.
Studies are ongoing, however, to consider the possibility of mix- matching the booster doses in order to avoid the same challenges – shortage of supply - experienced with the primary doses.
Always remember to discuss your health status with your medical practitioner so that they advise you on whether to take the booster shot or not.