Difference between a booster shot and third COVID vaccine dose
Coronavirus vaccine: Difference between a booster shot and third COVID vaccine dose
COVID-19 is one of those diseases that made the world stop for a while. It caused severe loss of life and left some bad scars in the history of the human race. To fight this disease, scientists developed vaccines in a very short time. Now, at present, we have several vaccines, and the choice is complicated. People are also getting booster shots of vaccines. All this can be confusing, so first, we understand the difference between booster shot and third COVID vaccine dose.
What is a booster shot?
“A booster shot is for people whose immune response may have weakened over time,” Roldan said. People with weak immune systems tend to get an additional shot, or we can say a booster shot. Clinical studies have shown improved immunity with current vaccine models. Experts are considering using booster shots to protect people from the risks of deadly COVID-19 variants.
What is the third dose of the COVID vaccine?
The third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is similar to the first two doses, targeting weak immunity people. The period of getting a shot of the third dose may vary from vaccine to vaccine. It would be better to get a third dose of the same brand. So, who can get the third dose?
Eligibility:
For the third dose: People whose immune system is moderate to severely compromised can get the third dose of vaccine. This includes people who received active cancer treatment, organ or stem cells. People who were diagnosed with DiGeorge syndrome or Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. If you are not sure about your third dose, it would be better to connect with your medical consultant.
For Booster shot: The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shot to certain individuals:
- People of the age group 65 years and residents of long-term care facilities can get booster shots.
- People having age between 50 to 64 years old with underlying medical conditions.
- People of age group 18 to 49 with underlying medical conditions.
These booster shots and third COVID vaccine dose help in maintaining and improving immunity of persons. It is advised to consult your doctors first and then decide what suits you best. It will also help you in finding the right time to get a third dose or booster shot. Various brands offer vaccines but do not use different brand vaccines for every dose. Use the same brand for all three doses.
If you are not sure whether to take a third dose/ booster shot or not, discuss it with a health care provider. The vaccine provides an extra shield to protect your health from COVID-19 and its variants. Various countries started the booster shot to protect their citizens. So, check your eligibility and get your immunity improved by getting any one of them.
