What to know about COVID booster injections, as eligibility could expand – NBC Chicago

With the emergence of the rapidly spreading omicron variant, COVID-19 booster injections are now highly recommended not only by health officials in Chicago and Illinois, but also by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Everyone 18 and over should get a booster shot… when they are six months after their first Pfizer or Moderna series,” CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in November.

“The recent emergence of the omicron variant (B.1.1.529) further underscores the importance of vaccination, boosters and prevention efforts needed to protect against COVID-19,” she added.

The World Health Organization echoed this sentiment, saying the omicron variant is highly contagious and that “preliminary evidence suggests there may be an increased risk of reinfection.”

Here’s what the CDC says about the side effects of each booster shot currently available.

What are the most common side effects of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID booster?

According to data from the CDC.

What are the most common side effects of the Johnson & Johnson booster?

Data available for Johnson & Johnson was more limited, but people have reported fever, fatigue and headaches after receiving a second dose of this vaccine, the agency said.

Omicron variant in the US: where it was detected and what we know about each case

How strong are the side effects of COVID booster injections?

Overall, the CDC says that so far, reported reactions after receiving a booster have been similar to those after the primary two-dose or single-dose series.

Fever, headache, fatigue and pain at the injection site were the most frequently reported side effects and overall most side effects were mild to moderate. However, as with the two-dose or single-dose primary series, serious side effects are rare but can occur.

What booster should you receive, based on your first dose of COVID vaccine?

Federal regulators have recommended receiving the same injection as your first dose for booster doses, and Dr Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, said this particularly applies to those who have received a booster dose. mRNA vaccine.

“If you have Moderna or Pfizer, I would recommend staying with the same one you originally had,” Arwady said.

Some advisers, however, have said they would prefer Johnson & Johnson recipients to receive a competitor’s recall, citing preliminary data from an ongoing government study that suggested a greater increase in anti-virus antibodies from this. combination.

Where in Chicago can you get a COVID booster shot?

“If you have Johnson & Johnson, I advised people if they had J&J, based on why they chose J&J the first time around, if they want to get that booster, I recommended getting probably one of the mRNA series – the Moderna or the Pfizer, ”Arwady said. “This is where we saw the biggest increase in antibodies in the studies.”

What is the difference between the Moderna booster and Pfizer?

According to the CDC, the COVID boosters from Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson have the same dosage as the first round of shots.

Moderna, however, is half the dose of the vaccine used in the initial series.

The reason Moderna is a half dose is because Moderna had a higher dose of mRNA, the only active part of the vaccine to begin with. So this is partly why the side effects are sometimes a little higher and the people who have Moderna.