Will I need a COVID-19 booster shot?
According to CDC data, Leon County in general and Tallahassee specifically continue to be areas of high transmission, as of October 2021. As of the same dates, the county reports that close to 50% of residents are fully vaccinated.
There is concern among the CDC that protection against variants of the novel coronavirus may decrease over time. Evidence is coming out suggesting that people who work in industries that have contact with the virus regularly might be at risk over time. According to the CDC, “Emerging evidence also shows that among healthcare and other frontline workers, vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 infections is decreasing over time. This lower effectiveness is likely due to the combination of decreasing protection as time passes since getting vaccinated (e.g., waning immunity) as well as the greater infectiousness of the Delta variant.” To provide protection against these factors, the CDC has run tests with a booster to the Pfizer vaccine, and as of the third week of October, the CDC will begin recommending booster shots for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients.
The CDC goes on to say that, “data from a small clinical trial show that a Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot increased the immune response in trial participants who finished their primary series 6 months earlier. With an increased immune response, people should have improved protection against COVID-19, including the Delta variant.”
Who is at risk and eligible for a COVID-19 booster?
At this time, the CDC has identified:
- Older adults
- People aged 50-64 with medical conditions
- Long-term care residents aged 18 and older
- People with medical conditions age 18 – 49 years
- Employees and residents at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and trnasmission
Can I get a booster if I received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
Currently, the Pfizer vaccine is the only one that has received full FDA approval. The CDC says,” At this time, the Pfizer-BioNTech booster authorization only applies to people whose primary series was Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. People in the recommended groups who got the Moderna or J&J/Janssen vaccine will likely need a booster shot. More data on the effectiveness and safety of Moderna and J&J/Janssen booster shots are expected soon. With those data in hand, CDC will keep the public informed with a timely plan for Moderna and J&J/Janssen booster shots.”
COVID-19 Testing remains important.
If you need COVID-19 testing or a COVID-19 care plan, put our expertise to work for you. We help businesses around Tallahassee care for their COVID-19 testing needs as well as caring for their teammates’ medical needs.
Who is Jet Medical Center®?
Jet Medical Center® is a leading provider of occupational medicine services in the Tallahassee area. We develop, with our client partners, a customized health care plan to fit your companies needs today and into the future.
Our experienced staff of clinicians provide excellent medical care and understand the Worker’s Compensation system and its impact on your company’s financial health. Your employees will have less downtime with less complications reducing overall medical costs.