By Daniel Vega
The amount of Covid-19 cases throughout the U.S. has begun to hit a sharp decline, as has the number of hospitalizations and deaths. This is all great news, as the U.S. had been experiencing a winter surge that led to the largest number of cases being recorded ever. While we may no longer be in a surge, Coronavirus is still very much with us and as a result experts are encouraging those who are unvaccinated to get vaccinated, and those who are vaccinated to get their booster shot. As a matter of a fact, those 12 years old and older are now eligible to receive their booster shot and ensure that they are adequately protected.
On January 5, 2022, the CDC officially endorsed the approval of Pfizer’s booster shot for those 12-15 years old. This means that all people ages 12 and older are now eligible to receive their booster shots. Shortly after the booster shot was authorized CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky stated that, “It is critical that we protect our children and teens from COVID-19 infection and the complications of severe disease…We now recommend that all adolescents aged 12-17 years should receive a booster shot 5 months after their primary series. This booster dose will provide optimized protection against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. I encourage all parents to keep their children up to date with CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations”. In addition to Dr. Walensky, many other health professionals and well respected organizations such as the American Association of Pediatrics agree that children, no matter their age and pre-existing health conditions should get their Covid-19 Booster shot 5 months after their primary injection series. This is due to the fact that studies show that over time the immunity to the Coronavirus vaccine starts to reduce and wane, especially in those who have never contracted the natural virus. According to an article published by Johns Hopkins Medicine, “Vaccine-induced immunity is what we get by being fully vaccinated with an approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccine. Research indicates that the protection from the vaccines may wane over time so additional doses (boosters) are now authorized for certain populations. These boosters can extend the powerful protection offered by the COVID-19 vaccines”. Although many people may argue that those who are fully vaccinated do not need a booster, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that those who received their booster shot had a 90% lower incidence of mortality than those who were vaccinated without a booster shot.
Booster shots are an important way for students, staff, and parents to protect themselves against the dangers of Covid-19. While many people would argue that a booster shot is not needed, there is evidence that those with a booster shot are overwhelmingly better protected than those without it. Getting your booster shot would also reduce the strain on the recovering healthcare system in the event of another surge and protect you at the same time. As for what the experts say, they recommend that you receive your booster shot 5 months or more after your primary series, meaning your first two shots.
For more information on covid, take a look at the Golden Gazette’s other covid articles.
Sources
Healthline - https://www.healthline.com/health-news/why-the-who-and-cdc-dont-agree-on-covid-19-boosters-for-kids
American Academy of Pediatrics -
John’s Hopkins Medicine - https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/covid-natural-immunity-what-you-need-to-know
New England Journal of Medicine - https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2115624