The guidance on COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters in 2022 is always evolving. Here are the most current recommendations from the global health authorities.

Key takeaways:

• Three manufacturers are approved to distribute vaccines.
• Age and current health details affect who is eligible.
• Some vaccines are more favored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Boosters have their own set of recommendations for safe use.

COVID-19 continues to impact people around the world, making scheduling a vaccination appointment a priority for millions. There is still a degree of hesitancy regarding the vaccines and their associated booster doses, however, and that is largely due to the sheer amount of information and misinformation currently circulating.

This guide will clarify some of the key factors impacting COVID-19 vaccines and additional doses in 2022, such as eligibility, CDC-approved doses, and booster shots.

Please note: The following information may be subject to review and alteration by health authorities as new evidence on the pandemic, vaccine series and treatments become available.

Who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccines and boosters in 2022?

Eligibility depends on the individual’s age, current health status, medical conditions, and allergy history. The general CDC recommendations are for those five years and older to begin their primary vaccine series and for those 12 and over to begin taking booster shots, especially moderately or severely immunocompromised people.

The precise dosage, inoculation schedule, and best-suited manufacturer of the vaccine will vary according to age, as demonstrated in these recommended steps for recipients of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Some people who are allergic to ingredients contained in the COVID-19 vaccines and boosters (or to any vaccines or injectable medications) are advised to seek guidance from their healthcare provider before making any decisions.

What is natural immunity?

As with any contagious disease, a portion of the population will be naturally immune from the serious effects caused by naturally acquired disease infection. Here’s what to know:

• Some may experience relatively little discomfort, while others have none at all.
• The antibodies produced during a body’s battle with infection can sometimes be enough to create natural immunity against it for life, such as with measles.
• Natural resistance can also be kickstarted via vaccine-induced immunity, which introduces a small amount of a disease into the body to force it to generate the necessary antibodies that will help fight reinfection.
• It is the case with COVID-19 that natural immunity without vaccination does not last forever.
• An article by Nebraska Med highlighted how independently generated antibodies can be depleted in between 60 to 90 days following COVID-19 infection.

The same article reveals another important fact: 33 percent of COVID-19 infections produced no antibodies in the host at all. This data has led the CDC and other health organizations to place greater faith in vaccine-induced immunity, since healthcare providers can be more certain that some form of immunity has been generated.

The three CDC-approved vaccines

Three manufacturers have been approved by the CDC to supply COVID-19 vaccines and boosters in 2022. These are Moderna, Pfizer-BioNtech, and Johnson & Johnson. The CDC expressed reservations about Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine booster due to its link to rare occurrences of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome and Guillain-Barré Syndrome post-vaccination. This led them to prioritize the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to the public, but both have been recorded as causing pericarditis and myocarditis in thousands of reported cases. This makes it essential to speak to your healthcare provider before selecting a vaccine from a particular manufacturer.

A single dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine proved remarkably effective among healthcare workers by successfully immunizing 80 percent of study group recipients. Efficacy was noted to increase with further doses which is where the value of booster shots becomes evident.

What is a booster?

The first and second dose of some vaccines aren’t always enough to permanently inoculate someone, as they tend to lose their protective power over time. A third dose and even sometimes further doses are thus required to increase protection back to levels more likely to prevent infection and illness.

A few facts to keep in mind:

• All three of the CDC-approved vaccine manufacturers offer “boosters” to eligible individuals.
• These doses contain the same ingredients as the primary doses, with the exception of Moderna’s booster which contains half of the original dose.
• The term “fully vaccinated” applies to anyone who has received two doses of the primary vaccine; no booster shot is required to meet this criteria.
• Being “up to date” requires having taken a booster after the recommended post-primary period.

Additionally, those receiving a two-month booster following a Johnson & Johnson dose are advised to receive their first booster from either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. Further CDC information detailing booster eligibility is as follows based on which manufacturer provided the primary dose:

• Moderna – Boosters are recommended for those 18 years and up. Boosters from either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech are generally recommended, and should be taken at least five months after the primary dose.
• Pfizer-BioNTech – Boosters are recommended for those 12 years and up to be taken at least five months following the primary dose. Boosters from Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech are generally recommended, however those 12-17 years old are advised only to get the Pfizer-BioNTech booster.
• Johnson & Johnson – Boosters are recommended for those 18 years and older at least two months following the initial vaccine series, with boosters from Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech being generally recommended.

The CDC offers further advice on important next steps like scheduling your booster shot, what documentation to bring, and how to manage and report any of the vaccines’ potential side effects.

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