COVID booster shots likely in the future, what you can expect

NEWTON COUNTY, Mo. – As more COVID-19 vaccines are administered many are wondering now if a booster shot will be required and if so, when that may be. We spoke with two local health professionals to get the latest.

As we get further into getting everyone who wants a vaccine vaccinated, the next question, is determining whether or not you’ll need a booster shot, and just how often you’ll need it. Mercy’s Infectious Disease Preventionist Donna Stokes says there are still some unanswered questions, but some things are certain. “We know that it’s not going to give you a lifetime immunity so, somewhere along the way, whether it’s in a year, whether it’s in a few months, the booster is going to become necessary to help continue our immunity against the virus.”

The flu virus changes from year to year, which is why it’s recommended you get a flu shot every year. Stokes says COVID boosters will likely be handled the same way. “Seeing the new variants, what vaccine, ingredients if you will, will be effective against that new variant, so that’s going to be on-going and probably will be what influences the boosters in the future.”

For health departments, Larry Bergner with the Newton County Health Department says they’re already thinking about how to handle future booster clinics. “Yea, that’s exactly the way I see it is that it will be a very similar clinic as our flu vaccination clinics and so we’ll do on-site, we’ll do off-site, we’ll create after hours clinics so that everyone will have the opportunity to come get that vaccine, but it will be very similar to our flu vaccination clinics.”

Stokes says there are still a number of variables and unanswered questions, but she’s hopeful we’ll have more information in the coming months.

Stokes says trials for booster shots are already underway.

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