As fall closes in, conversations about what the season might bring during the pandemic are ramping up — and include chatter about COVID-19 booster shots.
Additional, delayed doses are a routine part of several vaccination schedules that most Americans have received. It's not clear yet if extra COVID-19 shots are necessary for everyone. But experts say that the possibility of additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine isn’t too surprising, since immunologists are essentially working to protect people from a new virus as fast as possible.
Boosters — a term that often refers to shots given six months or more after the first injections — are a routine part of certain vaccination procedures in the U.S. For example, the Tdap shot, which covers tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, is something adults should receive every five to 10 years. Most booster formulas are identical to the earlier doses, says Birgit Weinberger, an immunologist ...
