Now that booster doses of COVID vaccines are available for school age children and adults, what it means to be up to date has changed.
So while you may be vaccinated, if you aren’t boosted, you may not be fully protected or up to date.
Are Your COVID Vaccines Up To Date?
Still, that doesn’t mean that you need a COVID vaccine booster to be up to date…
Wait, what?
While that likely sounds a bit confusing, just understand that you are considered up to date and fully protected if you have completed your primary series and have had all of your recommended doses of COVID vaccine, which depending on the timing, might include a booster dose.
For example, if you received your second dose of the Pfizer COVID vaccine last month, then you aren’t yet eligible for a booster dose.
You are fully protected and up to date!
On the other hand, if you received your second dose of the Pfizer COVID vaccine seven months ago, then you are past due for a booster dose. You are not yet up to date and are no longer considered fully protected, even though technically, you are still fully vaccinated.
“Individuals are considered fully vaccinated once they have received their primary series.”
The C.D.C. now recommends that people stay ‘up to date’ with Covid vaccine boosters.
And if you are immunocompromised, keep in mind that you are eligible to get an additional third dose of vaccine twenty-eight days after your second dose of either mRNA vaccine and then, if you are at least twelve years old, a booster dose 5-6 months later, depending on whether you are getting the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
Does that mean you need 4 doses to be up to date or fully protected if you are immunocompromised?
It does if it has been more than 5-6 months since you completed your primary series. But keep in mind that if you completed your primary series last month, then you would be considered fully protected and up to date until it is time for your booster.
Still confused?
“CDC recommends that people remain up to date with their vaccines, which includes additional doses for individuals who are immunocompromised or booster doses at regular time points.”
Stay Up to Date with Your Vaccines
Consider these questions…
- are you past due for another dose in the COVID vaccine primary series? if yes, then you are not yet up to date
- are you eligible for a COVID vaccine booster dose? if yes, then you are not yet up to date
Get vaccinated and protected and get your COVID vaccine booster dose as soon as you are eligible.
That’s the easiest way to make sure your COVID vaccines are up to date.
More on COVID Vaccines
- 7 Things to Know About COVID-19
- The Truth About COVID-19 Vaccines
- COVID-19 Vaccination Questions and Answers
- Get All of Your COVID-19 Questions Answered
- COVID-19 Vaccination Questions and Answers
- How Long Does It Take for the COVID-19 Vaccines to Work?
- I’m Not Anti-Vaccine, I Just Don’t Believe in the COVID-19 Vaccine
- When Will New COVID-19 Vaccines Be Approved for Kids?
- CDC – CDC Recommends Pfizer Booster at 5 Months, Additional Primary Dose for Certain Immunocompromised Children
- CDC – Stay Up to Date with Your Vaccines
- CDC – COVID-19 Vaccines for Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised People
- The C.D.C. now recommends that people stay ‘up to date’ with Covid vaccine boosters.
- On “natural immunity” to COVID-19 (and every other vaccine-preventable disease)
- COVID-19 vaccine boosters FAQs – what you should know
- Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 Vaccines: Should You Be Worried?
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