Vaccine Boosters & Breakthroughs [Video] | hioscar Blog | Oscar
Vaccine Boosters & Breakthroughs [Video]
We're here to help you make sense of everything going on related to COVID-19 vaccine booster shots and breakthroughs.
Virtual CareClinically Speaking
3 min read
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Note: Since this video was filmed, the FDA is now recommending (opens in new tab) a booster of the Pfizer shot for certain patients at higher risk of COVID complications.
We're here to help you make sense of everything going on related to COVID-19 vaccine booster shots and breakthroughs.
"Hi everyone. This is Dr. Stephanie Camaglia Reznick. I'm a board certified internist and one of the medical directors for Virtual Primary Care here at Oscar.
A lot has gone on regarding COVID-19 vaccinations and I wanted to give an update.
As of late 2021, 2 billion people worldwide and 172 million people in the United States have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This is great, but there's still room for improvement.
Understanding breakthrough infections
Now, a lot of people have been worried because they're hearing of something called breakthrough infections, and they're concerned that the vaccines are not actually protecting them. I want to address this first.
To define a breakthrough infection, this means that somebody who has (at least two weeks out from the final vaccine in their series) — or in the case of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, the one dose — tested positive with a PCR antigen test for COVID-19.
And while we are certainly seeing breakthrough cases, vaccinated patients are still significantly less likely to become infected than those who are not vaccinated. Most importantly, if you do become infected, if you've been fully vaccinated, you're much, much more likely to have a mild course. The vaccine is protecting people from hospitalizations and deaths which is exactly what it is intended to do.
COVID-19 vaccine boosters
So, what about boosters? As I film this in early September 2021, there is no formalized recommendation regarding boosters. The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are studying and we expect some updated recommendations to be coming out shortly.
Long story short, data seems to show that months after getting the vaccines that immunity does wane a bit. The question is exactly how long after the vaccination and who needs the boosters.
All that said, the CDC did recently announced that those who are severely immunocompromised - to the level as of somebody who has undergone an organ transplant - can and probably should have a third dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine if that's the vaccination they received initially.
If you are immunocompromised, talk to your primary care physician or other clinician to see if they think that you should get the third shot. The third shot can be received any time after 28 days of completing the initial vaccination series.
As always, never hesitate to reach out to your provider to ask questions.
If you're an Oscar member, the Virtual Urgent Care team it's available to you 24/7 through your app.
If you're eligible for Virtual Primary Care and are looking for a new primary care provider, please check out your app and make an appointment with us. We'd be happy to see you as one of our patients."
Last updated on September 24th, 2021.
This content does not constitute medical advice and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, including diagnosis or treatment. Contact your physician with any questions you may have regarding COVID-19 or your personal health. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, dial 911 for immediate assistance.
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