The Buyt Desk
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved “mix and match COVID-19 ” booster shots for adults in the United States of America. Which booster shot is best for you?
The world wants to return to normalcy as soon as possible. For this people must have strong immunity to the COVID-19 virus. Scientists across the world are trying their best to find the best vaccine for all variants of COVID-19 that might emerge in future. Vaccinating the global population against the virus is the only solution to return to normal life. Few countries are much ahead in immunizing their population, yet many countries are suffering from a low supply of jabs. Many are struggling to get their first shot and few developed countries are already giving booster shots to their citizens.
Research has shown a mix and match approach in vaccinating people could simulate a better immune response and this could be a potential solution to the current problems. Other than Johnson & Johnson’s, all other vaccines are advised in two doses as the first dose primes the immune system and boosting this response is done by the second dose. A much-needed push for global vaccine rollouts is given by mixing vaccine doses along with providing better protection against Covid-19.
A mix and match COVID-19 booster shot strategy was recently authorized by USA’s Food and Drug Administration. This lets fully-vaccinated Americans opt for a booster shot which can be different from the one they initially received. Options are one of three Covid-19 vaccines: Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer-BioNTech. A mix and match option boosts immunity and also makes it more convenient for people to access boosters. The health officials aren’t recommending one vaccine brand over the other. Individuals need to weigh their personal benefits and risks before choosing the booster dose. Research says that mixing vaccines offers an effective shield against the hyper infectious Delta variant and this is the need of the hour. It also shows that regardless of the combination of brands it prompts a strong antibody response. In the USA there are nearly 70 million older and high-risk recipients waiting to get their booster shot.
Kirsten Lyke, a professor at the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine presented study data to the Food and Drug Administration, suggesting “They’re all safe, they’re all going to give you a boost, and they’re all going to protect you against severe disease and death”. She also stated, “Part of the beauty of the mix and match is it enables people no matter where they are—rural or in the city—to have a choice”
As the public health officials aren’t advising any specific shot, people are confused to make their own choice. To pick one, one must know to balance specific health concerns associated with each vaccine. It is always advised to talk to your doctor about your health concerns before making a choice and with their help decide on the booster shot that you want to take. The mRNA based shots are said to cause rare cases of a type of heart inflammation called myocarditis and likewise a small risk of blood clots in young women taking the Johnson & Johnson vaccine jabs.
The mix and match vaccination program will be highly beneficial in countries with lower per capita income, where there might be shortages of certain vaccines. With more data collection, there will be more clarity on interchanging vaccine types having greater advantages in some people than in others. It is guaranteed that regardless of which vaccine combination is used, booster shots will boost the immune response. Studies say that older and immune-compromised individuals will be benefitted from a Covid-19 booster but still the initial vaccine doses are extremely effective at protecting individuals against serious illness and hospitalization.
