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U.S. health officials are calling for booster shots against COVID-19. Will you get your extra dose?

Booster doses could be administered beginning the week of Sept. 20, according to the CDC.

By Zipporah Osei

August 20, 2021

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health officials said this week that fully vaccinated Americans should receive booster shots against the COVID-19 virus. 

The agency has released a number of studies that suggest the current vaccines are less effective against the highly contagious Delta variant. According to the CDC, booster doses could be administered beginning the week of Sept. 20. 

Officials said people who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines should get their extra dose eight months after their second shot. People who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will also need extra shots, but health officials said more studies are needed.

While a plan has been outlined, the safety and effectiveness of a third dose is still pending evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration. The plan would also need to be reviewed by a CDC advisory panel.

“Our plan is to protect the American people, to stay ahead of this virus,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said.

The decision to offer booster shots has been criticized by some health officials abroad, including the Africa director of the World Health Organization, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, who said the moves by some wealthy nations to hand out third doses “make a mockery of vaccine equity.” The World Health Organization has called on wealthy nations to pause booster shots until the end of September to free up vaccine supplies for low-income nations.

Gov. Charlie Baker said he was surprised by the announcement from federal officials, saying that while he’s supportive of aggressive action to control the pandemic, he was a little “bummed” about not getting a heads up from the White House. 

“Once we know more from the feds, about what they’re thinking about in terms of timing and all the rest, we will move very aggressively to make sure that those who are eligible to get boosters to get them, and especially those who were part of those communities that got it first the last time because they’re with the most at risk,” Baker said.

There are currently 4.4 million people in the state who are fully vaccinated against the virus. If you’re one of those people, another dose of the vaccine could be made available to you as soon as this fall. 

We want to know: Do you plan to get the COVID-19 booster shot? Once extra doses are made available, will you be willing to receive one or do you have some reservations? Let us know how you feel about the new guidance on booster shots by filling out the survey below or e-mailing us at [email protected], and we may feature your response in a future article.