Booster shot demand on Ohio outpaces that of first doses
More Ohioans are getting COVID-19 booster shots than are seeking first doses of the vaccine, despite nearly 40% of the eligible population not having started an initial vaccine series.
On average more than 21,000 booster shots are being administered each day in Ohio, compared to nearly 6,000 first doses.
Part of what is driving the trend is the mere fact that more people are eligible for boosters at this point than remain unvaccinated. Ohio Department of Health spokesperson Alicia Shoults said 4.8 million Ohioans over the age of 18 were vaccinated at least six months ago, which is the timeline for boosters, compared to 3.6 million unvaccinated residents above the age of 12, as younger children have only just become eligible.
“[Unvaccinated] Ohioans, as you know, are those who may need more time or information before deciding to be vaccinated, and incentives such as Ohio Vax-a-Million didn’t yet incentivize them to be vaccinated,” Shoults said. “Those who have already been vaccinated, however, see the value of the COVID-19 vaccines and are more likely to get their booster, if eligible, particularly in anticipation of the upcoming holiday season.”
Over than 1 million Ohioans have received a COVID-19 booster shot since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended them for older Americans and certain high-risk groups in September. That’s more than three times the number of first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine that have gone out in the same time period.
Boosters are currently available for individuals 65 years old and older and those ages 18 to 64 who may be at high risk of severe COVID19 due to underlying conditions or who have frequent exposure to the virus in a living or working environment. Under these guidelines, a significant number of adults qualify, and in many cases vaccine providers are giving out boosters to anyone who wants them. Vaccine producers Pfizer
and BioNTech announced last week that they are seeking authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to expand booster eligibility to all adults.
Early research has shown that while the effectiveness of the original vaccine series against severe disease and hospitalization has held steady months after vaccination, the protection against infection has waned slightly, particularly as new strains like the delta variant make their way through the population. That’s part of why boosters are recommended.
“Rest assured that boosters are just that — a followup dose that bumps up the strong protection enjoyed by those who have completed their primary vaccine series and that those who are vaccinated continue to enjoy high levels of protection against serious leading to hospitalization and death, especially compared with those who remain unvaccinated,” Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said.
Ohio’s numbers reflect a nationwide trend of more boosters going out compared to first doses, but that could change, especially as kids ages 5 and older are now eligible for vaccination and with a new federal mandate that large businesses and hospitals require employee vaccines.