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Even though the COVID-19 case numbers are dropping across the United States and in Florida now and some experts are feeling optimistic about the future, getting vaccinated and getting booster shots remain an important tool in the fight against this fast-spreading virus.
The omicron variant (and its variants) swept across the world and drove numbers and deaths back up with startling rapidity at the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022, but it also resulted in a lot of people getting immunity from the virus and a lot of people protected by vaccines and boosters, at least for the short term. Could another variant surge again? We don't know.
"We don't know where we're headed," said Dr. Jeremy Luban, a virus expert atUMass Medical School and a member ofthe Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness. "We don't know what the virus is capable of. There have been plenty of surprises. Omicron pushed our noses in it."
Experts agree that boosters are needed to keep the vaccines effective as time goes by. Here's what you need to know about COVID-19 boosters.
Why do I need a COVID booster if I'm vaccinated? Doesn't the vaccine work?
It does. But vaccines work by imitating an infection to cause your immune system to develop an immunity to the infection. After the imitation goes away, your body remembers how to fight it, which gives you protection against the real virus.
But some vaccinesrequire more than one shot to help provide full immunity, and for some viruses immunity begins to wear off after a time and a "booster" shot is needed. Many vaccines for childhood diseases such as DTaP -- which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis -- require multiple shots and later boosters, and flu shots are a good idea every year. Vaccineswork, they just don't last forever.
Who can get the COVID-19 booster vaccine?
Everyone ages 12years and older can get a Pfizer booster shot. You must be 18 or older for a Moderna booster.
Everyone 18 and older who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine shouldget a booster dose of either Pfizeror Moderna.
Boosters for everyone:CDC urges kids ages 16-17 to get newly cleared boosters; your 3rd shot unlikely to be your last: Live COVID updates
Is it the flu, a cold, or omicron?How to know, and when to get tested for COVID
How soon can you get a booster shot?
If you are 18 and older and received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, you should get a booster — of either vaccine — at least fivemonths after getting your second shot. Teens 12-17 years old who received a Pfizer vaccine should get a Pfizer booster, according to the CDC.
If you are 18 and older and received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you should get a booster at least two months after getting your J&J shot. Your booster can be any of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines, although the CDC now highly recommends that adults 18 or older getPfizer or Moderna boosters over another J&J shot.
How soon can you get a booster shot after having COVID-19?
If you've been diagnosed with COVID, if you're showing symptoms, or if you've been exposed to someone with COVID, you need to wait until you've recovered from it and have met the criteria for ending your isolation:
- For most people, 10 days after symptom onset and after 24 hours without fever or other symptoms.
- For people who are severely ill or immunocompromised, 20 days after symptom onset and resolution of fever or other symptoms
- For people infected but without symptoms, 10 days after the first positive test.
How long do the COVID boosters last?
Good question. We won't know until months have passed and experts can compare antibody levels and other indicators to see how much the boosters' effectiveness has dropped, in the same way experts didn't know for sure if we'd need boosters until at least six months since people started getting COVID vaccinations.
Looking forward:A year after first COVID-19 vaccine, here's what's next for researchers –and what worries them
Where can I get a COVID booster shot in Florida?
PUBLIX
Pfizer booster shots are available at all Publix Pharmacy locations in the state of Florida for walk-ins andappointments.
If you walk in, you must bring your driver license, insurance card, and CDC immunization card.
If you make an appointment online, be ready to provide the last four digits of your Social Security number, Medicare ID number (if applicable), state and county, and emergency contact name and number along with your contact information. You'll also be asked questions about your allergies and long-term health history.
WINN-DIXIE, FRESCO Y MÁS AND HARVEYS SUPERMARKETS
Grocery store pharmacies from the Southeastern Grocers chain are offering walk-up and online appointments. They're also offering a $10 coupon for getting a COVID-19 shot, and another for any other vaccine received the same day.
Appointments:Winn-Dixie|Fresco y Más|Harvey's
WALMART, SAM'S CLUB
Walmart and Sam's Club pharmacies are walk-in and online appointments for vaccines and boosters.
CVS
CVS is offering booster shots at its 649 locations in Florida.You can schedule your appointment here.
Boosters are also available at select CVS MinuteClinic locations. Walk-in appointments are offeredbut they recommendscheduling your visitin advance due to potential limited availability.
WALGREENS
Walk-ins are welcome at Walgreens, although they recommend you make an appointment. You cando that onlineor by calling1-800-WALGREENS(1-800-925-4733).
REGIONAL LOCATIONS:Many county-run sites either are or soon will be offering booster shots. Check with your local site for details.
Do COVID vaccines work against the omicronvariant?
Yes, but not as well, according to early studies. A study fromDiscovery Health, South Africa's largestprivate health insurer, shows that two shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which provided over 90% protection against infection with the original version of the virus,is only 33% protective against any omicron infection.
Keep in mind, that's protection against catching it at all. Full vaccination still provides 70% protection against severe disease or death, the study showed, although it declined somewhat in people over 60 and more so for people over 70. It's still too soon to say for sure.
A booster shot is recommended to help provide more complete protection against the omicron variants.
Fact check:6 of the most persistent misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccines
Do antibody drugs work against the omicron variant?
According to Regeneron and Eli Lilly, the companies whose antibody drugs have been instrumental in fighting off severe disease after infection, laboratory testing suggests they will be much less effective against omicron.
Omicron contains dozens of mutations that make it harder for antibodies to attackthe virus, and while the companies say they can quickly develop new versions, they aren't expected for several months. And antibodies from other companies may be more effective against omicron.
Will I need to get another booster shot later?
Quite possibly. The effectiveness of vaccines and booster fade in time, as they do for other viruses and diseases, and we may well need additional shots on a regular basis.
"While we are hopeful that we are about to enter a period of relative stability in the Northern Hemisphere, we believe firmly that a vaccine booster dose will be required for the fall of 2022, to provide ongoing protection against this virus,"Moderna's chief medical officer, Paul Burtonsaid.
A fourth shot may berecommended for people who are immunocompromised, for whom the first three shots are considered a full vaccination. Talk to your doctor about your personal needs.
Is there a difference between a booster shot and the COVID-19 vaccine?
Pfizer booster shots are the same formulation as their vaccines. Moderna reduced their booster shot to half the dose as their vaccines to try to reduce side effects.
What's the difference between a third dose of the COVID vaccine and a booster shot?
Third shots aregiven to people with compromised immune systems who may not have gotten the full effect from the first two doses. They'reconsideredpart of the normal vaccination course forseverely immunocompromised people.
The severely immunocompromised are often left unprotected by the two-dose vaccine regimen from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, studieshave shown. Roughly 40% to 44% of people hospitalized with severe COVID-19 infections after vaccination are immunocompromised,the CDC said.
Back to the hospital:Stressed hospitals, weary nurses brace for another COVID-19 winter surge
What if I can't find my COVID vaccination card?
If you've misplacedyour COVID vaccination card or didn't receive one, contact the clinic, pharmacy, or other placewhere you received your vaccine to find out how to get a replacement. They can print you out a new card from your records.
If you received your shots with a registered Walgreens pharmacy account you can access your vaccine records online or through their mobile app. You can also access your records online if you received your shots from CVS, Walmart or Sam's Club.
If you can't contact your provider or you received your vaccination from a FEMA clinic, contact theFlorida Health Department's immunization information systematflshots@doh.state.fl.usor by calling 1-877-888-7468. All vaccination providers mustreport COVID-19 vaccinations to their IIS.
State health departments will either email or mail a copy of your vaccination card, although it may take one to two weeks.
If you registered withV-safeorVaxTextafter getting your shots, you can access your information through their apps.
Lost your COVID-19 vaccine card?Don't worry, you can get a new one.
Vaccination cards:Lost your COVID vaccination card? Will you need a vaccine passport? Our FAQs on vaccine cards
If another COVID variant causes a new surge here, will Florida see more lockdowns, mask mandates or vaccinate mandates?
No, according to Governor Ron DeSantis, who said at an event in Oldsmar that there would be no further lockdowns or other restrictions because of the omicron variant.
A special session of the Florida Legislature,demanded by DeSantis to stop mandatory COVID safety measures for large businesses from the Biden administration and to stop local governments and schools from enacting their own, produced four laws, which added more opt-out options from federal COVID rules and banned all government and school COVID-related mandates, with stiff fines for violations.
Are vaccine mandates banned in Florida now?What happened in the Legislative Special Session
Contributors:John BaconKaren WeintraubCelina TeborDoyle Rice, USA Today Network
C. A. Bridges is a Digital Producer for the USA TODAY Network, working with several newsrooms across Florida. Local journalists work hard to keep you informed about the things you care about, and you can support them by subscribing to yourlocal news organization.Read more articles by Chris here and follow him on Twitter at @cabridges
