Booster Shots for Students

Booster+Shots+for+Students

Sahasra Ponnuswamy

The vaccine against Covid-19 and it’s variants started from being exclusive for 18 and above, to now being available to even 5 year olds. The coronavirus is rapidly spreading and medical experts recommend that eligible persons take it in order to decrease chances of spreading the virus.

According to CDC.gov, there are different vaccination requirements to take the booster. If they previously received Pfizer-BioNTech an individual must be 12 years or older to receive the booster. There also should be at least a 5-month gap between their second dose and their booster shot. 5-months is the recommended time because the previous doses’ effects would have started to wear off. Students here at Rio Norte and adolescents ages 12 – 17 are only eligible to receive the Pfizer – BioNTech formula for the first and second doses, including the booster shot. Kids and teens ages 5-17 can only take the Pfzer vaccine for all three shots. The other two formulas Moderna and Johnson & Johnson’s, which is also known as the Janssen vaccine, are authorized by the FDA through Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

According to CDC.gov, “Data shows that COVID-19 boosters help broaden and strengthen protection against Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants.” The ACIP reviewed the following safety data, and after over 25 million doses were administered to adolescents declared the Covid – 19 vaccines are safe and effective. At this time of sickness and bad health, doctors, experts, and probably some of your family and friends are recommending getting the booster shot if or once you are eligible to receive the dosage.

The CDC Director, Dr Rochelle Walensky says that, “It is critical that we protect our children and teens from COVID-19 infection and the complications of severe disease. Today, I endorsed ACIP’s vote to expand eligibility and strengthen our recommendations for booster doses. We now recommend that all adolescents aged 12-17 years should receive a booster shot 5 months after their primary series. This booster dose will provide optimized protection against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. I encourage all parents to keep their children up to date with CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.”

If you cannot take the vaccine for any reason or you just don’t want to take it you can protect yourself in other ways. You can stay healthy, wash hands regularly and properly, sanitize after going out, wear quality masks and wear them properly. These are just some of the many ways you can protect yourself, without taking the vaccine.

To get the booster or the first and second doses, the William S. Hart School District is offering clinics at certain schools in the district. On February 12th, 2022 there will be a vaccination clinic offering injections for eligible students and their family members. There will of course be side effects which come with any vaccine including Covid-19 vaccines, but those symptoms will help strengthen your body and it’s immune system and keep you and the people around you healthy and safe. Protecting yourself and others is a step in defeating Covid – 19, and ending the pandemic. Stay Safe Rio!