Last updated: Oct 14, 2022

Updated booster shots are here. Learn when is a good time to schedule one – and how to maximize your protection.

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Booster shots are an easy way to increase your protection against COVID-19. They also reduce your risk of severe infection. Even better, they’re easy to get at doctor’s offices and pharmacies.

Right now, Omicron variants BA.5 and BA.4 are spreading across the U.S. And they’re very contagious, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Here’s the good news: Updated boosters that cover these variants are now available. Boosters made by Pfizer-BioNTech are for anyone 5 or older. Moderna’s updated boosters are for people 6 or older.

The new shots are called “bivalent” boosters. This means they cover both old and new variants to increase your protection.

To get the straight scoop on the new boosters, we talked to Monica Gandhi, MD. She’s an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco.
 

Who needs a booster?
The CDC recommends that everyone 5 or older get one updated booster shot, even if you’ve already had one or two of the previous boosters. It’s the best way to extend the protection from the vaccine and prevent illness. Being fully vaccinated and boosted lowers the risk of severe COVID-19. It also cuts the risk of ending up in the hospital.

A booster shot is particularly important for people 65 or older. “In general, who is most at risk of severe disease and most in need of boosters? Older people,” Dr. Gandhi says.

For those with lowered immune function, an updated booster shot is also high priority. For example, maybe you’re getting treated for cancer or you recently had an organ transplant. This makes you more vulnerable to getting really sick from COVID-19.
 

How to choose a booster
Adults can mix and match: People can get the updated Pfizer booster if they got the Moderna vaccine and vice versa. If someone got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, they can choose either the updated Moderna or Pfizer booster.

Right now, all kids 5 through 11 years, who received the Pfizer-BioNTech and from Moderna for children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 years can get the updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccine booster, says the CDC.
 

How to time the booster
The CDC recommends that most adults wait at least two months after their initial vaccine series to get a booster. What if you’ve already had one or two of the previous boosters? You should also wait at least two months to get the updated one, says the CDC.

But don’t worry too much if it’s been longer since your last booster shot. In fact, research has found that we get better protection if we wait several months after the initial booster shot, notes Dr. Gandhi. “When you’re getting boosters too fast, you’re not as likely to get a robust response as if you give five or six months between boosters,” she says.

What if you caught COVID-19 recently but are due for a booster? You should wait at least three months from when you tested positive before you get the updated booster shot, says the CDC. Why? The antibodies your body made to fight the virus give you some extra protection. But they decrease over time.

Now that flu season is here, you may also be planning to get a flu shot. There’s no need to wait in between a flu shot and a COVID-19 booster. It’s safe, convenient, and effective to get both shots at the same time. And most Blue Shield and Blue Shield Promise plans provide coverage for both at no additional cost to you.
 

Better boosters
The bottom line on updated boosters: They are worth getting, Dr. Gandhi says. “These bivalent boosters will give you better protection against current strains.” It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor about the right timing for you.

And if you still need a COVID-19 vaccine, schedule it today. Keeping up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines and boosters is key because it protects you and the vulnerable people around you.

Blue Shield is here to help you plan ahead. Our COVID-19 website includes provider locators so you can schedule a booster shot near you. We want to make sure your family gets the shots you need to stay healthy and happy all season long.

Want to learn more about flu shots and COVID-19?
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Your helpful guide to COVID-19 vaccines for little kids

COVID-19 vaccines are now available for children as young as 6 months. This milestone is bringing a sense of relief to many parents.   

In fact, parents can feel confident knowing that the vaccines are safe and effective for young kids.  

“Technically, the two vaccines approved for children ages 6 months to 5 years aren’t new,” says Annabelle de St. Maurice, MD. She’s an assistant professor in the infectious diseases division at UCLA. “They’re simply a lower dose of the same Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines given to adults and older children.” That means they have already been thoroughly researched.  

If you haven’t vaccinated your little one yet, you may still have questions. Here are some facts to help you make your decision.  

Fact: Studies show that COVID-19 vaccines are overwhelmingly safe for little kids 

Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for children 6 months to 5 years have been authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They have been studied in thousands of children around the world. The vaccines are safe and effective for everyone 6 months and older, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

And there have been no severe side effects that would outweigh the benefits of vaccination, says Dr. de St. Maurice. Plus, experts continue to keep an eye out for very rare vaccination side effects. This helps to ensure that the shot is safe.  

Fact: COVID-19 vaccine side effects in young kids are usually mild  

In clinical trials, side effects of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines in young kids were similar to the ones in adults. They include injection site pain, achiness, and fever. They are usually mild or moderate and go away in a day or two. With infants, you may notice some fussiness or tiredness.  

Keep in mind that these side effects don’t mean your child is ill. Rather, it’s a sign that the vaccine has triggered their immune system to build a defense against COVID-19.  

Fact: Young children are eligible for either Pfizer or Moderna shots  

Pfizer and Moderna shots use the same science to protect against the worst effects of the virus. Both are proven to be effective, says the American Academy of Pediatrics. But there’s a difference in how the vaccines are given to this age group, per the CDC.  

Pfizer 

  • Three-shot series for children 6 months to 4 years old 
  • Two-shot series for children 5 and older 
     

Moderna 

  • Two-shot series for children 6 months to 5 years old 
  • If you have questions about which vaccine is best for your little one, talk to your child’s doctor.   


Schedule your child’s COVID-19 vaccine today. 

Fact: The vaccine can keep little kids from getting really sick 

It is true that a COVID-19 infection is generally not severe in young children. But it can be.   

It’s especially important that children who have health conditions like leukemia get vaccinated, says Cody Meissner, MD. He’s a pediatric infectious disease expert at Dartmouth Health Children’s in Lebanon, New Hampshire. He’s also a member of the FDA advisory board that approved the vaccines for emergency use in young kids.   

If your child is in a high-risk group, consult with their doctor about the vaccine.

Even if your child isn’t in a high-risk category, vaccinating them is a smart prevention move, Dr. de St. Maurice points out.  

“We do see healthy kids who get very sick from COVID-19 and have to be hospitalized,” she says. “While it may happen very rarely, what if your child is one of those unlucky few? In a distressing situation like that, many parents’ first thought is, ‘What could I have done to prevent this?’”  

Fact: Vaccinating young kids may help protect against long COVID 

As you know, vaccination doesn’t 100% protect you from catching COVID-19. The main purpose of getting the shots is to lower the odds of getting really sick. Now research is showing an extra benefit. The vaccine may also help protect people from developing long COVID.  

People with long COVID <add link to Long Covid article> still have at least one symptom 4 weeks after a COVID-19 infection. Symptoms can last for many months. 

Another benefit of vaccinating children is that it’s good for everyone. Higher vaccination rates can reduce the risk that folks of any age will catch the virus.  

“When fewer people are infected with COVID-19, fewer new variants of COVID-19 develop,” Dr. de St. Maurice says. And that can help keep all of us safe and healthy.  

 

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