Hey all!
Thanks for taking time to read my blog on current topics related to the COVID vaccine! First, a shameless plug for the vaccine. Please get vaccinated! Your neighbor will thank you! Second, there has been a lot of news concerning the vaccine. Here is what we know right now.
Absent the very rare contraindications to vaccination, everyone twelve years of age and older should start the vaccine series. If you are moderately to severely immunocompromised and get one of the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna), get a third shot at least 28 days after the second. The J&J vaccine is a single shot, and a second dose is not currently recommended. Generally, the best vaccine for you is still the one that is immediately available to you, but talk to your doctor if you have specific questions.
There is chatter about recommending a third mRNA shot for all people eight months after the second mRNA vaccine dose. This is not currently approved and is just now becoming a potential issue for the first folks vaccinated back in January 2021 (mostly healthcare workers). Anticipate this approval happening in the near future. Stay tuned for communication on how to best access a third dose of your mRNA vaccine, if and when it is approved. Also, watch out for approval of one of the mRNA vaccines for children age 5-11 this fall or winter.
You should anticipate that recommendations for vaccination will continue to change. Those changes are not a bad thing. They are expected and reflect our growing knowledge of the safety and efficacy of the COVID vaccines in various groups.
Thanks and stay safe!
