Curious about getting a COVID vaccine booster shot in Middle GA? What you need to know

Justin Baxley
·3 min read

It’s been a year since the first COVID-19 vaccines became publicly available, and now millions of Americans are eligible for booster shots.

Getting vaccinated is the best line of defense against COVID-19, according to Michael Hokanson, a spokesperson for the North Central Health District.

“The booster will help with those who get COVID, it will help reduce hospitalization or other severe outcomes,” he said. “Transmission can still occur even in boosted individuals, but the biggest thing the vaccine does is give you that defense against severe outcomes. We want to make sure people, especially the medically fragile, have that defense.”

Here’s the latest public health guidance on COVID-19 vaccine boosters:

When should I get a booster shot?

That depends on when you received your second vaccine dose, and which company manufactured that vaccine. People who received a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna can get a booster shot five months after their last COVID vaccine shot. People who got a single J&J vaccine are eligible after two months.

Teens and adults can receive a Pfizer booster shot, while Morderna and J&J boosters are only available for adults. The CDC recommends getting either a Pfizer or Moderna booster, when possible.

What if it’s been fewer than five months since I was vaccinated?

You will need to wait the recommended amount of time unless you are severely immunocompromised. Getting a booster too soon might not provide the optimal protection and could take a dose from someone who needs one.

What are the side effects of booster shots?

The side effects are similar to those that come with initial doses. This typically includes fatigue as well as pain where the vaccine was injected. According to the CDC, most of the side effect symptoms were reported as mild to moderate.

In addition to pain, swelling and redness at the injection site, here is a list of possible side effects:

  • Exhaustion

  • Headache

  • Muscle pain

  • Chills

  • Fever

  • Nausea

If the redness and tenderness get worse after the first 24 hours then contact your doctor. If side effects last more than a few days or are intense and worrisome then contact a doctor or seek medical treatment.

How long does it take a booster shot to start working?

According to health experts, your body could have a strong immune response within the first few days.

This is due to the immune system’s response to the initial doses: your body has already been trained to elicit a response to the vaccine. This protection continues to grow over the first two weeks after getting the booster

Can I mix Covid vaccines?

The FDA authorized a mix-and-match booster shot strategy: you can get any kind of booster, regardless of which company produced your first dose or doses.

Early research shows choosing a different manufacturer might even elicit a stronger immune response than simply sticking with the initial brand an individual received, according to a lead researcher at the University Of Maryland School of Medicine.

Do I need a booster shot if I’ve already had Covid?

Even if you’ve had COVID-19, you should still get the booster shot. Data shows that antibodies from previous variants haven’t been enough to avoid infection from omicron.

With this in mind, it is best to get a booster shot to not only protect against the likelihood of transmission but also against potential severe outcomes.

What to expect at my booster appointment?

Bring your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record card to your booster shot appointment so your provider can fill in the information about your booster dose.. If you don’t have the card contact the location where you received your first dose or your local health department.

Should I use the COVID-19 antibodies treatment?

The FDA announced last week it was discontinuing the two monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatments for COVID-19 because they have limited effectiveness against the Omicron variant.

If I get the booster shot can I stop following the other CDC guidelines?

No: Keep wearing a mask in public, physically distancing when possible and washing your hands frequently with soap and water.