The COVID-19 Booster: What Seniors Should Know

If you search hard enough, you can find plenty of both good and bad information about COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots. However, the majority of the research shows that these vaccines and booster shots are safe and effective.

Booster shots are needed because the effectiveness of preventing infection and severe illness lessens over time after a vaccination.

People 65 and older should be extra vigilant in following vaccine and booster shot guidelines, as they are more susceptible to the serious effects of COVID-19.

So, what should you know about COVID-19 booster shots?

The following information is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is based on information as of January 25, 2022

Who is Eligible for the COVID-19 Booster?

If you received the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine:

• Who: Everyone 12 years old and older
• When can you get your booster: At least five months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series
• Which booster can you get: Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 are preferred in most situations *
• Note: Teens 12-17 years old may only get a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine booster.

If you received the Moderna mRNA vaccine:

• Who: Adults 18 years old and older
• When can you get your booster: At least five months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series
• Which booster can you get: Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 are preferred in most situations *

If you received Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine:

• Who: Adults 18 years old and older
• When can you get your booster: At least two months after receiving your J&J Janssen COVID-19 vaccination.
• Which booster can you get: Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna are preferred in most situations *

*J&J/Janssen booster may be considered in some situations.

Booster Safety Questions

Do booster shots use the same ingredients as existing vaccines? Yes. COVID-19 booster shots have the same ingredients as the actual COVID-19 vaccines. In the case of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster shot, the dose is half of the amount of the vaccine people get for their primary series.

What are the risks of getting a booster shot? Adults and children may experience some side effects from a COVID-19 vaccine, including pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever and nausea. Serious side effects are rare, but may occur.

Should you still wear a mask if you have received your booster shot? The CDC continues to recommend mask wearing in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high community transmission, regardless of vaccination status.

What are your chances of becoming infected even if you have been fully vaccinated? Just like the flu shot, COVID-19 vaccines are not 100 percent effective in preventing infection. When this occurs in a fully vaccinated person, it is called a “breakthrough infection.” If you are fully vaccinated, you are less likely to develop a serious illness than people who are unvaccinated. If you get a vaccine breakthrough infection, you can be contagious.

Should you get a booster shot if you test positive for COVID-19? The CDC advises to wait to get your booster shot if you have tested positive. You should isolate yourself even if you have no symptoms. If you’re positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms, you should isolate and wait until your symptoms resolve before receiving your booster shot. As the timing and information in these guidelines change, refer to this CDC site for updates.

Where can you get a booster shot? The Vaccines.gov website provides information on locations offering vaccines and booster shots.

Remember to take your vaccination card with you when you receive your booster.

How much will it cost you? COVID-19 vaccines are free to all people living in the U.S., regardless of their immigration or health insurance status. You may be asked to show ID or health insurance, but it is not a requirement.

5 Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines

Here are a few examples of the many myths circulating about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters:

Myth: They don’t work.

Fact: Yes, they do. The vast percentage of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths have been among unvaccinated people.

Myth: The vaccines and boosters haven’t been properly tested.

Fact: Extensive testing and review were employed in the approval process, and no widespread death or serious disease has been credibly linked to the vaccines.

Myth: Vaccines alter your DNA.

Fact: The vaccines don’t alter your DNA. They work by instructing your cells to build protection against the virus.

The CDC provides a more extensive list of COVID-19 vaccine myths and facts that refute them.

Find more articles about senior health and wellness on Bethesda’s blog.