I’ve been watching the soap opera between the White House, FDA, and CDC about who should get a booster dose of the Pfizer COVID vaccine. For those of us at the front of the line to get vaccinated, we’re approaching the six-month mark where evidence shows decreased effectiveness of the vaccine protecting people from infections.
In a practical sense, I know that being fully vaccinated gives me a 90% less chance of being hospitalized and an even lower chance of dying from a COVID infection than someone who is unvaccinated. I’m not so much afraid of catching COVID at the moment as what testing positive would mean.
If I’m home, it means I would need to stay in my house, isolated from Sharon and my family and friends until I recover. If I happen to get sick when I’m away from home, that’s a whole other ballgame. I’d either have to find somewhere to recuperate (like a hotel) or fly home this way.
This is why we’re back to only planning road trips until cases hopefully drop again.
With the governmental agencies now debating who needs to get booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine (and other vaccines undoubtedly due for the same debate), fully vaccinated people are wondering if at some point they will no longer be considered “fully vaccinated.”
The CDC puts to rest any discussion about who is considered “fully vaccinated” without regard to a booster dose. As per CNBC,
The CDC noted that the recommendation of a booster dose would not change the definition of who is considered fully vaccinated. That is, people are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after getting their second dose of either the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccines or their first dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
So while a booster dose will give additional protection to those over 65 and those with health conditions, if you’ve completed your initial vaccination series, you’re considered fully vaccinated by the CDC.
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
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4 comments
As far as the CDC is concerned but when it comes to travel there are various countries that will not consider you fully vaccinated if it’s been some time (usually 6 months’ish) since your second dose or first dose of J&J.
Agreed. But keeping that information updated for a post is like trying to herd cats.
I got my first dose last August, in Phase 3 of the Moderna trials. My second dose was in late September. I just had an antibody test done and one year later I’ve still got the antibodies! Yes, it’s possible I also got COVID at some point but I’m tested fairly regularly so this is unlikely.
The topic is a legal question but not a practical health question. The practical health question is when you should receive a booster. I am becoming increasing concerned that the best health answer is becoming different from the best political answer.
I know of 2 people that got the Pfizer vaccine and recently got a booster. One clearly qualified. The other sort of. The “sort of” person should not have to tip toe to get the vaccine. As for me, I got the Moderna vaccine but have not had my antibody titers checked. Note that antibody titers is not a foolproof method of determining immunity. I do know that Moderna efficacy does not decline in 4 months but it probably does later, possibly 8-9 months. I am 8 months past my 2nd Moderna vaccination. If I wanted to get a shot, I would have to sneak and get it. I will re-visit the question in late October.