From Vaccines to Boosters
We are a little over a month away from the first anniversary of when the first COVID-19 vaccine dose was given. Over 15 million fully vaccinated Americans later, a lot has taken place in these last 11 months. Here’s the recap from vaccines to boosters in the fight to end COVID-19. Vaccines, Efficacy, and Age Groups In the U.S., there are three vaccines currently in circulation. Several others are still under evaluation in clinical trials. Let’s look at the latest efficacy reports and which age groups are approved to take them: Pfizer- BioNTech : 2 doses, 21 days apart. Approval Status: FDA approved in August 2021 for ages 16 and up. Emergency use authorization (EUA) for ages 5-15 Effectiveness: Full effectiveness 2 weeks after 2nd 91% effective at preventing COVID-19, and 89% effective in preventing severe disease. Approved ages: Children and adults 5 and older Moderna: 2 doses, 28 days apart. Approval Status: Under EUA since December 2020. Effectiveness: Full effectiveness 2 weeks after 2nd 94% effective at preventing COVID-19, and 90% effective in preventing severe disease. Approved ages: Adults 18 and older. Johnson & Johnson: Single dose. Approval Status: Under EUA since February 2021. Effectiveness: Full effectiveness 2 weeks after single dose. 66% effective at preventing COVID-19, and 85% effective in preventing severe disease. Approved ages: Adults 18 and older. Boosters Being vaccinated is still possibly the most important way we can get past the COVID-19 pandemic. As more time passes, we continue to learn more about whether or not booster doses would be beneficial. It’s important to mention, boosters are not a new idea and do not mean anything is wrong with the vaccine. If vaccine immunity wanes after some time, a booster helps prolong protection. Several routine immunizations require booster doses, these include chickenpox, tetanus, diphtheria, and mumps. The CDC recommends a booster dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine 6 months after the last dose for people 65 and up. In addition, it covers residents of long-term care settings, people 18 to 64 with underlying medical conditions, and those whose work may put them at higher risk of exposure to COVID-19. People with certain immunocompromising conditions can get a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines two months after completing their 2nd dose. CDC interim guidelines recommend moderately and severely immunocompromised people who received one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine get a second dose of either an mRNA or J&J vaccine at least two months after their initial shot. Help Us End COVID-19 The fight to end COVID-19 is still ongoing. Here at Arizona Liver Health, we are looking for individuals to join COVID-19 studies looking into potential new options. We offer FREE COVID-19 testing and provide other study opportunities for healthy individuals and those diagnosed with COVID-19. Call us today to learn more at (480) 360-4000, or visit our website. Sources: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/covid-19-vaccine-comparison