Since the spring of 2020, many have wondered countless times, “When is this pandemic going to end?” Despite our hope of terminating the Covid-19 crisis, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), global cases remain high at around 355,000 daily cases over the last 24 hours, with the most in the Americas.
Currently, Andrews University reports 23 cumulative positive Covid-19 cases since the beginning of this school year, August 22, 2021. Moreover, only 3 people are currently in isolation for testing positive and there is no one in quarantine from having experienced close contact with a person who had a positive result.
Berrien County has shown an overall decrease in confirmed cases since last December and an average of 36 confirmed cases each day from early to mid September of 2021. Given the pandemic is still active despite vaccinations, is there a need for Covid booster shots?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is addressing the idea of booster shots, because the effectiveness of vaccines decreases over time, and variants such as Delta require stronger immunity for protection. The Covid-19 vaccine booster shots are already available in the U.S. But who is eligible to get additional shots?
First, the recipient must have received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. Although booster shots are also recommended for the recipients of the Moderna or J&J/Janssen vaccines, data on the effectiveness and safety of their booster shots have not been fully collected to make a decision, according to the CDC. Furthermore, the CDC is currently collecting data on the effectiveness and safety of using ‘mix-and-match’ Covid-19 vaccines, though it is considered dangerous by some experts. Thus, only the recipients of Pfizer are currently eligible for the booster shots.
However, two doses of Pfizer is not the only requirement that must be met. The recipient must have received two doses of vaccination at least 6 months prior to one’s appointment for the booster shot. This is because the purpose of giving an additional dose of a vaccine is to prevent the effectiveness of the first two doses from decreasing, and the effectiveness decreases around that given time of six months. However, if you are considered immunosuppressed according to the categories listed by the CDC, then you may receive your booster shot at least 28 days after the second dose.
In addition, at least for now, the recipient must be 65 years or older, or must be at least 18 years old or older and belong to at least one of the four categories that are specified by CDC: 1) they must live in long-term care settings 2) they must have an immunocompromising medical conditions 3) they must work in a setting with a great risk for Covid-19 exposure and transmission 4) they must live in a setting with a great risk for Covid-19 exposure and transmission. Most of the students attending Andrews University do not meet these requirements and thus are not eligible for booster shots yet. However, this information is very useful to those close to us and around us. Also imagine. If the booster shots become available to you, probably very soon, what would you choose to do?
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.