Should You Get Boosted?
Covid-19 Booster Shot Debate
I made an Instagram post not so long ago about whether or not to get the covid-19 booster shot.
Here is the caption:
The debacle over the booster shot seems serious with only 42.8 percent of the country receiving a booster.
A lot of people feel for a booster shot is unnecessary but the data seems to suggest that isn’t the case. One trial with over 10,000 participants showcased an efficacy of 95% for booster shots.
This means those randomized to a 3rd dose had 95.3% fewer COVID-19 infections compared to those with 2 doses.
This is also supported by observational data from the UK. The risk of symptomatic infection was cut by 80% relative to 2 doses. Getting three doses also provided greater protection.
When should you get boosted? This will depend on a number of factors such as which vaccines you received initially. However, everyone 12 and older should receive a booster shot at least 5 months after getting two doses. Preferably you’re boosted with mRNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer). If you aren’t a booster but should be, schedule an appointment as soon as possible with a local hospital, pharmacy, or health clinic.
But I want to add to that.
Reason #1: The USA is F#cked
The majority of my audience resides in the United States.
Compared to other western countries our death count from covid-19 is pretty high.
Not to mention our vaccination rate is pretty low by comparison.
With the omicron variant surge, it can be fair to say the vaccinations we have administered are reducing what could have been a catastrophic winter. Even though hospitalizations have increased and covid deaths are still around 2000 daily at the time of this writing.
If a booster can reduce the number of deaths remotely, then isn’t it worth considering?
Reason #2: What are the downsides?
Without me throwing a bunch of math, stats, and studies down your throat let’s have a real chat.
What are the serious downsides to getting a booster?
If you are already vaccinated with two doses then a third dose won’t hurt.
It’s not like a third dose can magically cause side effects unknown from the first two doses.
Even though these side effects do suck they’re way less bad than the actual virus.
The cost-benefit analysis is clearly in favor of getting a third dose of this safe and effective vaccine. With the newer omicron variant, we need to take into consideration two doses might not be enough.
In fact, the fancy numbers and data reports suggest it isn’t enough.
Reason #3: The Omicron Variant
The omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 proved to be more infectious than the delta variant and it reduces the efficacy of the vaccines available.
The data we do have seems to suggest booster shots make up for this reduced efficacy brought on by omicron.
The virus created a curveball so we have to change strategies and adapt. This means getting a third dose booster shot if you haven’t already.
Millions of people have died from this virus, getting boosted helps in the fight to save lives.
Not getting boosted puts you and those you love at unnecessary risk. These are three main reasons to get your covid-19 booster shot if you haven’t already.