COVID-19 vaccine booster shots available in September

MOSES LAKE — The whole question of who will need a third shot of the vaccines designed to protect against COVID-19, and who will benefit from a booster shot, and when, is a little confusing. The Grant County Health District provided information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control designed to clear up some of the questions.

A third shot is recommended for some people with compromised immune systems, and people can find out if they fall in that risk category by consulting their physician. People who do fit into that category and who got the Pfizer or Moderna two-shot vaccines should get a third dose of the vaccine, according to information from the CDC. The third shot should be administered at least 28 days after the second shot, according to the CDC.

Boosters will be recommended for people who have been vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna, beginning about eight months after they got the last of their two shots, the CDC website said. As of now, it’s likely that people who received the one-shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine also will require a booster, the CDC website said, but more data will be required before making a recommendation one way or the other.

The Johnson and Johnson vaccine started being administered later than the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, so the data needed to make a determination isn’t available yet, according to the CDC.

Currently the vaccine is protecting people against severe cases of the disease, the CDC website said, but more people who are fully vaccinated are getting mild to moderate cases.

People who received their vaccines in December and January will be eligible for booster shots when the CDC allows booster shots, scheduled for September. The vaccine was administered first to those considered most at risk, which includes people more than 70 years of age, health care workers, people who live in long-term care facilities and people who have underlying medical conditions. The CDC website lists a number of medical conditions that put people at higher risk for a severe case, including chronic lung disease, heart disease and a compromised immune system, among others. A complete list is available on the CDC website.

All three vaccines are available at most medical facilities and pharmacies, and currently there is no charge to get vaccinated.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.