US health officials have expanded the limitations for those who can get their COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. But some of its regulations are confusing people, such as which booster shots should they get and whether mixing is allowed for booster shots.
Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Janssen COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. (Photo: Marvin Tolentino / Alamy Stock Photo)
Who Should Get Booster Shots?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people aged 65 and older are now encouraged to get their booster shots. Meanwhile, adults aged 18 and over, those with an underlying condition, and those who are working in a high-risk setting are also recommended to receive their booster shots after their last dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
They identified those people who work in high-risk settings as those first responders, teachers, daycare workers, US Postal Service employees, as well as those who work in public transit, grocery stores, food, and agriculture sector, and correction workers.
However, those who got their one-shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get a different booster two months after their initial shot, confusing many people.
What Booster Shots to Take?
Tampa Bay Times reported that all boosters for the three vaccines are authorized in the US. Those who received Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines can get a similar vaccine or get a different booster from their original vaccine.
Meanwhile, the CDC recommends those who got the Moderna vaccine get a similar vaccine or a Pfizer vaccine as their booster shot. Then those who had the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, it is ideally followed by either of the two mRNA vaccines.
The CDC’s latest recommendations allow for mixing for booster shots as long as people are getting booster shots that are enough to strengthen their immunity and offer better protection for future strains.
