Once available, everyone should get booster shots

KEVIN REILLY
Staff Writer

Everyone at UMW should get a COVID-19 booster shot when they are available, especially if they have underlying health conditions.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Pfizer booster shot is available for individuals who were fully vaccinated by the same vaccine at least six months ago, and the Moderna booster is now recommended for emergency use by the FDA. Booster shots are an additional layer of protection against COVID-19, with data from the CDC showing that protection rates from the vaccine may decrease over time and that booster shots lead to increased immune response and protection from the virus. 

Of course, booster shots are only something to be considered if the person has already been vaccinated. While approximately 66 percent of people living in the United States have received their first dose of a vaccine, only about 57 percent have been fully vaccinated, as stated by the CDC vaccine tracker.

In Virginia, approximately 61 percent of the state’s population has been fully vaccinated, according to USA Facts. This high vaccination rate won’t mean too much if the vaccine’s effectiveness lessens as the months continue. Utilizing booster shots along with practicing protocols already in place will help ensure that the COVID-19 virus is maintained as well as possible.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the most high-risk groups include older adults over 65 and those with underlying health conditions. Over the course of the year and into 2022, the booster shots are likely to be available to most people in the U.S. The CDC also states that people who work in high-risk locations, such as health care facilities and schools should highly consider getting a booster shot as well.

In the past, the risk of side effects affecting daily life has been a concern, and the CDC reports rare but reported serious side effects from the booster shorts. The most common side effects are overall fatigue and pain at the injection site.

We are now halfway through UMW’s fall semester and have done a great job at keeping each other protected as much as possible from the spread of COVID-19, as well as the Delta variant. As of Oct. 21, UMW has had 68 known cases, with 425 total tests being conducted at the Student Health Center.

That being said, continuing to wear masks and practice social distancing is beneficial, but getting COVID-19 vaccine booster shots could lower the risk of contracting the virus even further. Due to many students living in dorms and attending in-person classes on campus, UMW would be considered to be a high-risk zone, meaning all students should get the booster shot.

“I am strongly in favor of everyone getting the vaccine; that is a top priority. As for the booster shots, they are a high priority for anyone in a high-risk category,” said Dr. Anand Rao, professor of communication and digital studies. “Eventually I would think that everyone should get a booster, and, on an individual level, I would encourage getting it.”

Junior political science major Molly Sharman said, “I do think it’s important for UMW students and the community to get the booster if we want to start getting back to normal. I think our school should be trying to set an example for other colleges and have a high vaccination and booster rate. I hope everyone considers getting vaccinated and the booster shot when it’s available for them, since [the Pfizer vaccine is] now FDA-approved.”

As it stands, the booster shots are meant for individuals in high-risk categories, but as time goes on, it will be important for everyone to get a booster shot to help keep their immunity to COVID-19 strong. Ideally, these shots should be administered sooner than later, as someone’s immunity to the virus will decline the longer they wait. In order for us to get past this pandemic, it’s better to be safe than sorry and to do all we can to protect ourselves and the people around us.