Demystifying the Covid-19 Booster Recommendations

This week the CDC updated their recommendations on who should receive a booster after prior vaccination with a Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine.

The following groups SHOULD receive a booster at least 6 months after their second shot
- People 65 and older
- Residents of long-term care settings
- People 50-64 with underlying medical conditions

The following groups MAY receive a booster at least 6 months after their second shot:
- People 18-49 with underlying medical conditions based on their individual benefits and risks
- People 18-64 who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional settings based on their individual benefits and risks

The current vaccination continues to work well as far as reducing breakthrough cases and especially hospitalization and death. Those at greatest risk for harm from a breakthrough are still our oldest people and those with underlying medical conditions.

What are some examples of “underlying medical conditions?”
Cancer
Chronic kidney disease
COPD
Asthma
Interstitial lung disease
Cystic fibrosis
Pulmonary hypertension
Dementia or other neurological conditions
Diabetes
Down syndrome
Heart conditions including hypertension
HIV infection
Immune compromised state
Liver disease
Overweight and obese
Pregnancy
Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
Smoking, current or former
Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
Stroke
Substance use disorders
and more…

As of now this is only for those who had the Pfizer vaccine and not under 18 years old. More information should be coming on Moderna and J&J in the next weeks to months.