Will people need to get a third shot?

Do you have a question about COVID-19 vaccines? Ask Lois. Email AskLois@sunsentinel.com.

Q. “I heard from a health worker today who had received a second Moderna vaccine this week from a hospital that she should get a booster (third) shot in September. I hadn’t heard of anyone saying this. Is this true for Moderna? What about Pfizer?”

A. There are tests going on now to see if boosters are useful, but nothing’s officially recommended yet. Here’s what Dr. Joanna Drowos, a family medicine professor at Florida Atlantic University’s medical school, said about the ongoing trials for a third injection.

“In January, media outlets announced that Moderna planned to offer a third ‘booster’ shot to participants who were a part of their clinical trial,” she said. “This is part of an ongoing study to determine how long antibodies last and to determine whether it was possible to prolong immunity through giving a third booster, and would need approval from regulatory authorities and time to analyze the data from this change. As of now, the need for and timing of booster doses for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines has not been established for either vaccine. No additional doses beyond the two-dose primary series are recommended at this time.”

Q. “I received my first shot in my left arm. Can I get the second shot in my right arm? In other words do you need to get both shots in the same arm or can you get your first shot in one arm and the second shot in your other arm?” — Gail Purvis

You can choose your arm as long as you don’t have an arm-related medical condition. On-site nurses typically ask which arm you prefer, but at drivethru sites, most nurses simply vaccinate the left arm of drivers and the right arm of front-seat passengers because patients must stay in their cars. If you have a preference, ask the staff; they have developed a good reputation for cooperation.

Q. “Why is Florida offering what appears to be far fewer vaccinations on the weekends? And will that continue in the future when the vaccination moves into the working-age population and is more widely available at pharmacies?” — Amy Sherman, Fort Lauderdale

A. Statewide numbers do show fewer vaccinations on the weekends, especially on Sundays. On Friday, Feb. 5, the state gave 126,704 injections, which dipped to 65,314 on Saturday and 27,723 on Sunday, but went back up to 72,435 on Monday. It’s been the same pattern for the past few weeks.

There is no statewide rule on when vaccination sites should be open. The Hard Rock Stadium site in Miami Gardens is open seven days a week. But Broward County sites are open five days a week, Sunday to Thursday, for example, in the case of Tree Tops Park in Davie. Palm Beach County’s new mass vaccination site at the South Florida Fairgrounds is open Monday to Saturday, and spokeswoman Robin Kish said health officials operate a mobile clinic that also travels around on Saturdays. It’s not clear what the schedule will be when a new vaccination phase begins, such as for younger people or front-line workers. Health officials have declined to speculate on when that will be or who will be included in that phase.

Q. Why are veterans who are deemed to make too much money denied the vaccine at the VA? We know Congress passed this law but we are in the middle of a pandemic. What was Congress thinking in the first place? They are VETERANS! So I guess you just have to be a poor veteran to get the vaccine at the VA. Doesn’t matter if you came back from Vietnam, Korea, or World War II, maimed with lost limbs etc. If you made a decent life for yourself and your family even though you lived through a horrific war experience, the VA won’t give you the vaccine. We’ve never heard of such despicable actions from our members of Congress. They should all be ashamed of themselves!” — Joseph and Diane Lally

A. The income rules for vets have jolted many who have served and want to get a vaccine through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA used to offer medical care to nearly all military vets, but that changed in 2003, when the underfunded and overburdened agency imposed income limits.

For Palm Beach County residents, the limit ranges from $51,535 for a veteran with no dependents to

$58,905 for a veteran with one dependent. In Broward, the limit increases to $51,865 and

$59,290. The limits don’t apply to vets who were injured while serving.

This issue has caught the attention of U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, who is trying to get the VA to waive this income limit so all vets can get the vaccine through the agency. She sent a letter to Dat Tran, acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, but no word yet on whether anything is going to change.