Posted on Nov 14, 2023
Should you get a COVID booster? Here are 7 things to consider.
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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2023/10/16/should-you-get-a-covid-booster-here-are-7-things-to-think-about/ [login to see] 7/
An updated COVID-19 vaccine has been available since last month, and more than 7 million Americans have gotten boosted since then.
But many people are still on the fence about whether and when to get a shot.
Experts say when and whether to get a COVID-19 booster should depend on your health status, risk tolerance, timing of last infection and other personal factors.
The new booster is targeted to the XBB.1.5 variant. Though that variant is no longer in circulation, studies suggest the vaccine will still prevent severe disease from other omicron variants that are more common now, including EG.5, FL.1.5.1, HV.1 and XBB.1.16.6.
An updated COVID-19 vaccine has been available since last month, and more than 7 million Americans have gotten boosted since then.
But many people are still on the fence about whether and when to get a shot.
Experts say when and whether to get a COVID-19 booster should depend on your health status, risk tolerance, timing of last infection and other personal factors.
The new booster is targeted to the XBB.1.5 variant. Though that variant is no longer in circulation, studies suggest the vaccine will still prevent severe disease from other omicron variants that are more common now, including EG.5, FL.1.5.1, HV.1 and XBB.1.16.6.
Should you get a COVID booster? Here are 7 things to consider.
Posted from usatoday.com
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Posted 6 mo ago
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I got one last month. Flu evolves and an annual booster is needed. It also applies for COVID.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Here are a handful of things to think about before heading to an appointment and rolling up your sleeve:
Are you at higher risk for severe infection?
People likely to get very sick if infected should take the most care to be protected, experts say.
Those at highest risk include people with weakened immune systems because of:
Age: Typically, this includes people over 65, though older people can wait if they're healthy and younger people with ailments such as diabetes should move more quickly to get vaccinated.
Pregnancy: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say the vaccines are safe at any time during pregnancy and it's safer for both parent and baby to be vaccinated than risk getting infected.
Health-compromised: People who are medically vulnerable should take precautions, especially those in treatment for blood cancer.
Immunocompromised: If you're taking medications that tamp down the immune system, such as those for rheumatoid arthritis or after an organ transplant, experts say you should get a booster.
Sandra Lindsay, RN, the first American to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in 2020 repeated the feat again Sept. 13, 2023 as part of a public health awareness event held by Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, NY. Lindsay became a global phenomenon on Dec. 14, 2020, when the Northwell Health critical care nurse director received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
Do you have a major life event coming up?
Is there something coming up you absolutely can't miss, like a wedding? Or anything three to four months from now?
If the event is coming up, you'll want to get a shot sooner rather than later."...
..."Here are a handful of things to think about before heading to an appointment and rolling up your sleeve:
Are you at higher risk for severe infection?
People likely to get very sick if infected should take the most care to be protected, experts say.
Those at highest risk include people with weakened immune systems because of:
Age: Typically, this includes people over 65, though older people can wait if they're healthy and younger people with ailments such as diabetes should move more quickly to get vaccinated.
Pregnancy: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say the vaccines are safe at any time during pregnancy and it's safer for both parent and baby to be vaccinated than risk getting infected.
Health-compromised: People who are medically vulnerable should take precautions, especially those in treatment for blood cancer.
Immunocompromised: If you're taking medications that tamp down the immune system, such as those for rheumatoid arthritis or after an organ transplant, experts say you should get a booster.
Sandra Lindsay, RN, the first American to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in 2020 repeated the feat again Sept. 13, 2023 as part of a public health awareness event held by Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, NY. Lindsay became a global phenomenon on Dec. 14, 2020, when the Northwell Health critical care nurse director received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
Do you have a major life event coming up?
Is there something coming up you absolutely can't miss, like a wedding? Or anything three to four months from now?
If the event is coming up, you'll want to get a shot sooner rather than later."...
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