What to know about the second COVID-19 booster shot
Older adults and people with weakened immune systems are now eligible to receive a second booster shot
More than 831,000 Allegheny County residents — nearly 72% of the eligible population — have rolled up their sleeves to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and more than 419,000 of those people have gone back to receive a booster dose.
Now, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are eligible to receive a second booster shot, according to an announcement last week by the Food and Drug Administration.
The announcement comes as COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania and Allegheny County are at a relative lull. But new infections are rising again in New York, Massachusetts and a handful of other northeastern states due to the BA.2 subvariant of the coronavirus, which spreads faster than the original omicron variant.
We asked an expert some questions you might have about getting a second booster.
Why is a second booster needed?
The initial COVID-19 vaccine series — two doses of an mRNA vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine if you have a healthy immune system and three doses of an mRNA vaccine if you’re immunocompromised — provides a good baseline of immunity against the coronavirus.
But over time, the vaccine appears to lose some effectiveness against preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death in older and immunocompromised individuals. Additional doses help ramp back up the body’s immune response to the virus.
“The booster is about reminding your immune system how to recognize the virus and fight it off,” said Alfred L’Altrelli, director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s South Side Vaccine Clinic and administrative director of pharmacy at UPMC Presbyterian in Oakland. “We want to make sure that everyone has that high level of protection.”
He said it’s not surprising that we would need boosters because the coronavirus is still widely circulatingand keeps evolving in new ways.
Who’s currently eligible for a booster?
Adults 50 and older can receive a second booster dose at this time.
In addition, people 18 and older who have undergone an organ transplant or who are severely immunocompromised, can get a second Moderna booster. Those 12 and older who have had an organ transplant or who have certain immuno-compromising conditions can get a second Pfizer-BioNTech booster.
Which vaccine will I get as a booster?
Currently, the FDA has authorized only the two mRNA vaccines, from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, as second boosters. Mr. L’Altrelli said people can choose which vaccine to receive as their second booster; you do not have to go with the vaccine you got for your primary series.
When can I get my second booster?
Everyone ages 12 and older is eligible for a first booster five months after their primary vaccination series. For the second booster, adults ages 50 and older are eligible if it’s been at least four months since their first booster.
Immunocompromised people who are 12 years and older can also choose to receive a second booster at least four months after their first booster. It’s recommended that these individuals receive a primary series of three doses, so a second booster would be a fifth dose for them.
Are there any other timing considerations?
Unlike the primary series of the COVID-19 vaccine, there’s no real rush to get a second booster. Mr. L’Altrelli said the timing of this additional dose is up to your personal preference and risk.
“It makes a lot of sense to think about what you’re going to be exposed to,” he said. “If you’re going on vacation or going to be on a cruise where you’re more likely to come up against the virus, getting a booster a couple of weeks before you depart makes a lot of sense. You really want to keep your immune system prepared.”
Are there any safety concerns?
In Israel, 700,000 second booster doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have been administered in adults 18 years of age and older at least four months following their first booster with no new safety concerns.
In a study of 120 participants 18 and older who received a second Moderna booster, no new safety concerns were reported in the three weeks following the shot, according to the FDA.
Where can I get a booster?
Second boosters are available at vaccine clinics, pharmacies, doctor’s offices and community health clinics. To find a vaccine location near you, visit vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). You can also check the Allegheny County Health Department’s Facebook page for vaccineclinic locations.
How much does a booster shot cost?
COVID-19 vaccination, including booster doses, is free. Vaccines were paid for with taxpayer dollars and are free of charge to all people living in the United States, regardless of health insurance or immigration status. You do not need an ID or health insurance to receive a booster. It’s helpful to bring your vaccine card so that your booster dose can be added to it.