The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has modified the waiting period before adults get a booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
With immediate effect, individuals 18 years and older can now get a booster shot after finishing the primary series of the Moderna vaccine.
In light of the ongoing wave of SARS-CoV-2 variant-of-concern Omicron, the existing authorization was changed due to Omicron’s higher contagiousness than the previous variants.
In light of its unprecedented worldwide spread, the FDA has decided to shorten the interval between the primary vaccination series and the booster shot of the Moderna vaccine.
Getting vaccinated is the best way to reduce the risk of contracting COVID, says Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
Marks explained, “Vaccination is our best defense against COVID-19, including the circulating variants, and shortening the length of time between completion of a primary series and a booster dose may help reduce waning immunity.”
Who can get the Moderna booster shot?
A recent FDA announcement details which might qualify for the third COVID-19 vaccine and the side effects that may result.
As long as you have been vaccinated once before and five months since your first vaccination, you can get vaccinated again for the Moderna booster shot.
Taking the Moderna booster shot is possible even if you previously received a Pfizer or a (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine.
Booster shots are only available from Pfizer for teens aged 12 to 17, as Johnson & Johnson and Moderna aren’t yet authorized for that age group.
Its website provides information on scheduling a booster shot. The CDC notes that both the J&J and the Pfizer vaccines are generally preferable to the J&J vaccine.
According to the FDA, the possibility of side effects of a COVID-19 booster shot is about the same as those of primaries. Pain, swelling, and redness may occur at the injection site.
As well as fatigue and joint and muscle pains, you may also have feverish symptoms and chills. For more information, visit the official CDC website.