On September 24, 2021, the Washington Department of Health announced that certain Washingtonians are now eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine booster shot. This announcement came the same day that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made their COVID booster announcement. The booster shot for those who are eligible is only for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. At this time, medical experts do not recommend switching vaccine brands.
"As COVID-19 continues to evolve, booster doses will further protect vaccinated people who are at high risk and those whose protection has decreased over time," said Secretary of Health Umair A. Shah, M.D., M.P.H.
According to the CDC, studies show that, after a full vaccination, the protection levels decrease over time and become less effective against the highly transmissible delta variant of the coronavirus. Data from a smaller clinical trial found that the Pfizer booster dose boosted immune response in those who were fully vaccinated six months prior. The increased immune response assists with improving protection against the delta variant; experts have seen reduced protection against mild and moderate illness in certain populations.
Booster doses may be recommended for additional populations in the future, although experts are evaluating how well they work in different populations. As of yet, there are no recommendations for individuals who received a Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration will be evaluating data in coming weeks.
Who is eligible?
Social inequities
People at an increased risk of social inequities include members racial and ethnic minority groups and people living with disabilities. According to the CDC, studies show that members of racial and ethnic minority groups frequently develop chronic medical conditions (and are likely to have more than one) and die at younger ages. Those living with disabilities are more likely to have a chronic health condition, face barriers in the healthcare system and live in congregate care settings.
Institutional or occupational settings
Institutional and occupational settings where there is a higher risk of transmission include healthcare settings, correctional facilities, schools and homeless shelters. Also considered at higher risk are first responders (police, firefighters), USPS workers, food and agriculture workers, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers and public transit workers.
Underlying medical conditions
If an individual has any of the medical conditions listed below, they are eligible to receive a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine. It is important to speak with a healthcare provider to determine any benefits or risks of the booster.
Things to consider
The side effects of the booster dose are similar to those of the two-shot primary series, with fatigue and pain at injection site being most commonly reported. If you are eligible and do not wish to receive a booster dose, you will still be considered fully vaccinated. If you do find yourself eligible and want to receive your booster, bring your vaccination card to your next vaccine appointment. You will want to keep this card for future reference, so it's recommended to take a picture of it on your phone to have as a backup copy. If you didn't receive your vaccination card, contact the vaccination site where you got your first dose from.
To schedule your vaccine, whether it's your booster or your first dose, visit https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/.