What To Know About The COVID-19 Booster Shot

As the Food and Drug Administration approves COVID-19 booster shots for selected populations, it’s important for facility cleaning managers, BSCs and others working with frontline employees to understand eligibility, potential side effects and other important details if questions are to be asked in the workplace. To help streamline the important aspects, the New York Times provided a rundown on frequently asked questions about the booster shot. 

Eligibility

As it stands, booster shots are eligible for people aged 65 and older — or those living in long-term care facilities — at least six months after their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Exceptions include adults with underlying health conditions making them high-risk, along with employees in healthcare, education, retail, prisons or shelters, and first responders. Frontline employees aged 18-49 have not been recommended yet for the booster unless underlying health conditions are a consideration. Examples include pregnancy, chronic lung, liver or kidney disease, current or former smokers, cancer, diabetes, obesity, hypertension and blood disorders.

Potential Side Effects

Similar to the first and second doses of the regular Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, those taking the booster can expect temporary fatigue, along with pain at the spot of the injection. 

Where To Receive A Booster

Eligible recipients can look to pharmacies and health departments as a starting point, similar to the process of getting the first and second main doses. Appointments are recommended, although walk-ins can be a possibility depending on the location. Other locations may also offer the Influenza vaccine to be taken in the same session. 

In similar news, last month the CDC created a COVID-19 toolkit with communication resources explaining in plain language how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and caregivers can protect themselves from the virus. Click here for more information.