Boosting Booster Shots

Oregon is following the FDA and CDC, which recommend booster shots for people 65 and older who received the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago.

Boosters are also encouraged for younger people at risk of severe infection because of other medical conditions, and for front-line workers.

Dr. Kristen Dillon, senior advisor of the COVID Response and Recovery Unit for the State of Oregon, said the vaccines provide good protection, but decline over time and in a more pronounced way for older people.

"That's why the recommendation is so strong, particularly for those who are older, to get the booster, to just get their immunity back up again," Dillon advised. "It's pretty common with vaccinations that it takes multiple shots for us to get to really robust ability to resist infection."

Dillon pointed out booster shots are common for other vaccines, such as tetanus and flu shots. She urged people to speak with their primary care doctor or go to getvaccinated.oregon.gov to find a vaccine site.

Boosters are not yet recommended for the Moderna or Johnson and Johnson vaccines, but that could change in the coming weeks.

Dillon argued vaccines are the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel for the pandemic.

"For anyone who's willing to be vaccinated, who sees the value in vaccination, getting boosters just makes the protection that much better for us and helps us all get back to life the way that we really want to," Dillon said.