Wondering if you should get a COVID-19 booster shot, when you might be eligible or which is the right shot for you? All three vaccines have been approved for single-dose boosters and more and more people are becoming eligible for boosters. As we move into the holiday season, it\u2019s important to know the facts. Find commonly asked booster-related questions and answers below.<\/p>\n
YES! Booster shots help train the body to fully respond to pathogens.\u00a0They\u00a0assist the body in creating memory cells that are durable and\u00a0capable of fighting off pathogens for stretches of time. With previous coronavirus variants, vaccine antibodies from the initial doses may have been good enough to protect against catching the virus for up to six months, but the more contagious delta variant has underscored the need for booster shots so the body can continue fighting against serious illness or hospitalization.<\/p>\n
As an NAU\u00a0employee\u00a0or student worker,\u00a0YES\u00a0<\/strong>(assuming it has been at least six months since you received your Pfizer or\u00a0Moderna\u00a0vaccines, or two months since you received your Johnson & Johnson vaccine)! Currently, individuals 65 years and older and those age 18+ who live in long-term care settings, who have underlying medical conditions (which includes asthma, hypertension, depression, obesity, smoking, etc.) or who live or work in situations putting them at greater risk of expose are eligible to receive a booster.<\/p>\n Examples of workers who may get COVID-19 booster shots:<\/p>\n Check the CDC website for a frequently updated list of who\u2019s eligible.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer are all approved by the CDC and the FDA to administer a single booster dose to eligible individuals who previously completed a full COVID-19 vaccine series. New CDC guidance allows individuals to choose which type of vaccine booster they receive, allowing for mixing and matching of vaccines\u2014there is no evidence that receiving two different coronavirus vaccines causes any harm.<\/p>\n Any booster shot, even if it is the same as your first vaccine, will increase the number of antibodies that can fight the coronavirus. But, in some cases, mixing vaccines may offer better protection, experts say. Early data has shown that following up a first dose of Johnson & Johnson with an mRNA vaccine\u2014Moderna\u00a0or Pfizer\u2014provided significantly higher levels of neutralizing antibodies.<\/p>\n For people who initially received\u00a0Moderna\u00a0or Pfizer, experts say it is both safe and effective to stick to the same vaccine.<\/p>\n Data collected to this point suggests\u00a0<\/strong>the side effects brought on by the booster are very similar to the symptoms some people experienced after the initial set\u2014possibly even milder.\u00a0Pain and soreness around the injection site was the\u00a0most reported\u00a0reaction, followed by mild to moderate fatigue or headache, muscle and joint pain, chills, diarrhea, vomiting and fever.<\/p>\n NAU\u2019s sit-down state vaccination site is located at the\u202fNAU Fieldhouse<\/a>, 1050 S. Knoles Drive, and is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 2-6 p.m.\u202fModerna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson booster vaccines are available for approved populations.\u00a0Register\u202ffor a booster shot.<\/a><\/p>\n NAU\u2019s Campus Health Services is offering\u00a0Moderna\u00a0booster shots. Schedule an appointment through the\u202fCampus Health Portal<\/a>\u202for call (928) 523-2131.<\/p>\n For information about vaccine distribution in Coconino County, visit the\u202fcounty\u2019s vaccine website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Statewide students, faculty and staff can\u202ffind a vaccine location near you<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n
Based off my previous vaccines, what booster should I\u00a0get?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
What\u00a0are the side effects associated with\u00a0a\u00a0booster?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Where can I get a booster?<\/strong><\/h3>\n