People From 50+ Age Groups Are Now Eligible For Their Second Booster Shots! Here’s More
Why Another Booster Shot?
As per the experts, the second booster shot is likely to keep the American population protected from severe covid illness. Does that mean the first booster wasn’t enough? It isn’t so!
The single boosters have protected various Americans from Covid19 severity, hospitalizations, and even death. But, for lasting and better protection, the 50+ age group, who have taken the first dose, should consider taking the second dose too.
Earlier, the second boosters were only considered for the age group 60+. But looking at the number of individuals having chronic conditions in the 50+ groups, Dr. Peter Marks (the expert who supervises F.D.A. ‘s vaccine division) thought the latter group would be more logical.
First Booster Protected People From Higher Death and Hospitalization Rates
The requirement for a second dose came into the limelight when F.D.A. looked at the data sourced mainly from Israel. As per the experts, the virus has become more transmissible with the capability of invading vaccine immunity. Although, there isn’t much data on whether the second dose would be enough to keep people protected from such invasion.
The first booster shots that were administered last fall were fairly protective against severe disease in the Omicron wave. As per C.D.C., people who received the booster were 21 times less likely to succumb form the disease.
It also contributed to lower hospitalization, with rates being seven times lesser than unvaccinated individuals. However, an infectious expert from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Dr. Eric Rubin, says that all these booster doses add little or significant value.
Data from Israel in Support of Booster Shot 2
As per an Israeli study, Covid death rates were studied for about 40 days. This was conducted on half a million adults in the age group 60 to 100. All these individuals had received at least one booster shot.
It was later seen that, among 234,868 individuals who received one booster, 232 people died of the virus. Similarly, of those who got second booster shots, only 92 individuals succumbed to the virus. This signified that the mortality rate for those who received a second booster is low. However, this study hasn’t been peer-reviewed yet.
Get Your Shot!
Take advice from your healthcare professional and get your second booster shot if you fall in the required age group. The new variants are still emerging and you never know when other waves will come. It’s always better safe than sorry!
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