Vaccines help protect us from dangerous viruses and bacteria. Once you've had a shot for a particular disease, you might think you're always safe from it. But that's not necessarily the case.
For some diseases, you need another shot to build strong immunity. For others, your protection wears off over time. And some viruses change, or mutate, over time, making your vaccine less effective.
For most vaccinations, you need more one jab to ward off infection. This extra dose of a vaccine is known as a booster shot.
How Do Vaccine Boosters Work?
A vaccine contains weakened forms of the disease-causing virus or bacteria, or parts of these germs. Or it may be made of an altered genetic "blueprint" for the germ that can make you sick.
The shot triggers your immune system to attack the foreign organism, like it would if you actually got the disease.
This helps your immune system "remember" the disease-causing germ. If you’re exposed to it again, the antibodies can recognize and kill it before it causes harm.
Research has shown that booster shots train your body to recognize the virus or bacteria and defend itself. Depending on the type of vaccine and the manufacturer, you might get a booster weeks, months, or even years after your first shot.
Who Needs Booster Shots?
You may get booster shots as a baby, teen, or adult. You may also need to re-up some vaccinations depending on your lifestyle, travel, or job (for example, if you're a health care worker).
Vaccine boosters that children need include:
Vaccine boosters you may need as a teen or adult include:
Experts recommend that both children and adults get the seasonal flu shot each year. While it’s not 100% effective, it may prevent severe illness. Flu shots are especially important for pregnant women, older adults, and those who have chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure.
During each pregnancy, women need the Tdap vaccine to protect against whooping cough. You usually get it between weeks 27 and 36 of your pregnancy. Along with the flu and Tdap vaccine, health care workers should stay up to date on their hepatitis B, MMR, chickenpox, and meningitis shots.
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International travelers may need certain vaccines, depending on their destinations. Antibodies from these vaccines wear off over time, so make sure you're up to date on vaccines for diseases like typhoid and malaria. The CDC's Traveler's Health page can help you find out which ones you need.
If you’re not sure which disease you need a booster for, ask your doctor.
COVID-19 Vaccine Booster
COVID-19 vaccines help your immune system build antibodies against this highly contagious virus. Research shows these vaccines are safe and effective.
Currently in the U.S., two COVID-19 vaccines are authorized by the FDA. Both require boosters. Just one shot of either gives you some immunity. But a second dose gives you the best protection.
The recommended booster schedules are:
- Pfizer-BioNTech: Two shots given 21 days apart.
- Moderna: Two shots given 28 days apart.
Things to know about the booster shot:
- The two types of vaccines are not interchangeable, so your second dose should come from the same manufacturer as your first one.
- Get your second shot as close as possible to the recommended time.
- If you can't get the second dose in time, you can get it up to 6 weeks after the first one.
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As scientists learn more about the virus, they’ll understand more about how long immunity from the COVID-19 vaccine will last. Right now, experts aren’t sure whether or when you might need more boosters after your first two shots.
You're more likely to have mild side effects, like fatigue and a headache, after the second dose of the vaccine than after the first one. But these shouldn’t last more than 1-3 days. Serious allergic reactions are rare. If you have one, get medical help immediately.
Ask your doctor if you’re eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. If you've ever had a reaction to any vaccine, tell your doctor before you get a COVID-19 vaccine.
April 16, 2021 at 03:53AM
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Vaccine Booster Shots: What to Know - WebMD
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