The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved boosters for the three major COVID-19 vaccines — Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.

So, now there are a lot of questions. For example,

• Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine booster?
• Am I eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster?
• Does it have to be from the same brand?
• Why do some people believe there is an ethical question about the boosters?

Is it a good idea to get a November Covid Booster?

Is it a good idea to get a booster? If you’re in one of the eligible categories and your doctor agrees you should get it, yes. Just like how it’s important to bolster your immunity each year with a flu shot. It’s important for at least the especially at-risk to get a booster until the pandemic is over. The rest of us may want a booster to increase our immunity.

Needing a booster isn’t proof that the vaccines don’t work, as some people are claiming on social media. For the vast majority, the vaccines will do what they’re supposed to do. The idea is keep you from dying or needing the hospital while limiting your symptoms. Unless you have a weakened immune system, the vaccine can be very  effective at preventing severe illness and death from COVID.

Who Qualifies for a November Covid Booster

Like the initial rollout of the COVID vaccine, not everyone is eligible for the booster right away. Instead, only those deemed at a heightened risk of infection or severe symptoms/death are currently able to receive a booster. This is due to the ongoing protection of a full vaccination. (Seriously, if you haven’t gotten vaccinated yet, we highly suggest it if your doctor agrees it’s safe for you).

But, if you’re in a population that’s at an increased risk, you are eligible to receive the added protection of a booster.

If you do fall into one of these categories, it’s important to remember that you should consider getting your booster.

As it stands, we are unsure when (or if) the general population will be eligible for boosters, due to a mix of concerns about necessity and ethics about more developed nations hoarding vaccinations while developing nations struggle with low vaccination rates and supplies.

Age

Our immune systems weaken naturally as we age. This is why people aged 65 and up were among the first to be approved to receive the initial vaccines. For this reason, the CDC has made anyone over the age of 65 eligible to receive a booster.

The Immuno-compromised

Like age, if you have a condition that compromises your immune system, you are eligible for the November Covid booster. Currently, there is a long list of conditions that can leave you vulnerable for severe COVID infection, ranging from being overweight to smoking to cancer.

Colin Powell is a recent example of the dangers COVID can present even to the fully vaccinated. The former Secretary of State passed away in mid-October due to complications with COVID despite being fully vaccinated. What many headlines didn’t state was that General Powell was battling myeloma (a form of cancer in plasma cells) and Parkinson’s disease, both of which can severely increase your risk with COVID, even if fully vaccinated.

Living or Working Conditions

If you live or work in a situation that puts you at an increased risk of being exposed to COVID, you will likely be eligible for a November Covid booster. For living conditions, this generally falls into the categories of long-term care and nursing home residents. This is because since they have an increased risk of exposure. They are exposed to many residents, most high risk, living in close proximity. This is also true of residents of homeless shelters.

A good rule of thumb is that you’re likely eligible for the booster if you qualified for the initial vaccination because of your job.

Workers who are at an increased risk due to their jobs are also eligible. If you’re working with the sick, children (many of whom cannot be vaccinated yet), or the general public, you are likely eligible for the  booster.

There is a long and growing list of careers that qualify for the booster. People like teachers, front line workers, grocery store employees, firefighters, and police. A good rule of thumb is that you’re likely eligible for the booster if you qualified for the initial vaccination because of your job.

Unless sourced from and linked to elsewhere, all data is directly from the CDC’s booster shot eligibility information.

The Different Types of Vaccine

The biggest difference between the different vaccines when it comes to boosters is in relation to when you receive the full dose. For both Moderna and Pfizer, at least six months must have passed after receiving the second shot of your vaccine. On the other hand, you can get a second dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as long as two months have passed since you your first dose.

For both Moderna and Pfizer, at least six months must have passed after receiving the second shot of your vaccine before you can get the booster.

The only other major difference among the November Covid boosters is that the Moderna vaccine is a half dose of the original vaccine. The others are full doses. Moderna’s research pointed toward a half dose being enough to see a “42-fold rise in antibodies,” which is great. Moderna also found that this smaller dosage caused fewer or more mild side effects while allowing them to produce more vaccines without affecting the protective response.

Mixing Vaccines

The other recent approval you’ve no doubt heard about is vaccine mixing. What does this mean? This decision allows those eligible to receive November Covid boosters to get a vaccine from a different company. This will allow people to get the vaccine that’s most convenient for them.

It’s still suggested that you stick with your initial vaccination type (Moderna to Moderna, Pfizer to Pfizer, etc.). But if you who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you may want to consider one of the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna), Why? Recent evidence shows a stronger immune response. Either way, all boosters have been shown to be effective and safe.

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