Is the Pfizer booster shot for covid-19 a full dose and Moderna a half dose?
Both the Moderna and Pfizer booster shots offer the same benefits, but Moderna's is administered as a half dose where as Pfizer's is a full dose
For those looking to get their third dose of the vaccine, there are slight differences between those available by Pfizer and Moderna.
Are the doses of the booster shots different?
Yes. While Modern's booster is a half dose of the original vaccine, the Pfizer shot is a full dose. Both companies ran clinical trials to determine which dosage would provide the best immunity, and the doses set are based on the findings.
Who is eligible for a covid-19 booster shot?
All those over the age of twelve who have received their first round of vaccinations can receive a booster shot after a specific amount of time has passed.
For those under eighteen, Pfizer's vaccine is the only one available. The decision to expand eligibility to those as young as twelve was made by the CDC this week, with Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky saying "It is critical that we protect our children and teens from COVID-19 infection and the complications of severe disease. Today, I endorsed ACIP’s vote to expand eligibility and strengthen our recommendations for booster doses."
Ages: Twelve to Seventeen
When can I get my covid-19 booster shot?
- Pfizer: Five months after completion of first round of vaccinations
Ages: Eighteen and Over
When can I get my covid-19 booster shot?
- Pfizer: Five months after completion of first round of vaccinations
- Moderna: Six months after completion of first round of vaccinations
How effective are booster shots?
With almost a million new positive cases of covid-19 being diagnosed a day, many are wondering how effective the booster shot actually is. While experts have said that it is likely that many who have received their boosters may get covid, they are far less likely to become severely ill with the virus.
So far, no hard numbers have come out about the efficacy of the vaccine against Omicron, but most reports show that if you are vaccinated, and booster, typically have a mild case. Those with very severe infections still tend to the those who have not gotten their shots, and as hospitalizations near-record levels, the health system in the US could be pushed to its breaking point. CDC Director Wallensky reported in late December, that an unvaccinated individual is "10 times more likely to be a case and 20 times more likely to be a fatality [... and] 17 times more likely to be in the hospital.