If you’re fully vaccinated and age 18 or older, you’re likely due for a booster dose of safe, free, and highly effective COVID-19 vaccine.
On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strengthened its recommendation for boosters, saying everyone 18 and older should get them – and sooner rather than later. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the emergence of the Omicron variant further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and precautions such as wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, and staying home when sick.
The CDC and ADHS strongly recommend that adults get a booster dose if they are at least six months past their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or at least two months past their Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccines continue to be effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death, including against the highly contagious Delta variant. However, the CDC notes that some public health experts are starting to see reduced protection against mild and moderate disease among certain populations.
While all adults should get boosters to ensure they have the best possible protection against COVID-19, older individuals and people with immune systems weakened for other reasons are more prone to severe illness if they get a breakthrough case. Booster doses are available at hundreds of locations around Arizona.
While much remains unknown about the Omicron variant, it provides one more reason for fully vaccinated adults to get that booster dose now, along with following other steps proven to slow the spread of COVID-19.
