Booster Shot Information

(10-21-21) CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation for a booster shot of COVID-19 vaccines in certain populations. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorization and CDC’s recommendation for use are important steps forward as we work to stay ahead of the virus and keep Americans safe.

For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:

• 65 years and older
• Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
• Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
• Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings

For the nearly 15 million people who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.

There are now booster recommendations for all three available COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received and others, may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.

Millions of people are newly eligible to receive a booster shot and will benefit from additional protection. However, today’s action should not distract from the critical work of ensuring that unvaccinated people take the first step and get an initial COVID-19 vaccine. More than 65 million Americans remain unvaccinated, leaving themselves – and their children, families, loved ones, and communities– vulnerable.

Available data right now shows that all three of the COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized in the United States continue to be highly effective in reducing the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, even against the widely circulating Delta variant. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and reduce the spread of the virus and help prevent new variants from emerging.

What is the difference between a booster shot and an additional dose?

A booster shot is administered when a person has completed their vaccine series and protection against the virus has decreased over time. Additional doses are administered to people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems. This additional dose of an mRNA-COVID-19 vaccine is intended to improve immunocompromised people’s response to their initial vaccine series.

For details about vaccination of immunocompromised people, see the section on special populations or CDC’s interim clinical considerations for the use of COVID-19 vaccines: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/covid-19-vaccines-us.html#considerations-additional-vaccine-dose.

Until our County is fully vaccinated, remember to wear a mask, wash up and spread out.

For more information on COVID, visit www.dph.illinois.gov/COVID-19

As a reminder, if you test positive for COVID-19

Isolate yourself: Stay home and away from others for 10 days from when your symptoms first appeared AND after going 24 hours without a fever. Stay in a separate room away from other people and animals if you can.

Identify close contacts: Make a list of your most recent close contacts.

Recommendations for close contacts are to quarantine, get tested, and wear a mask after exposure to COVID-19 which will vary depending on vaccination status and history of prior COVID-19 diagnosis within the past 90 days. Below is a summary of the current guidance:

• People who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated should quarantine and get tested immediately after being identified as a close contact. If the test is negative, they should get tested again 5–7 days after last exposure and continue to quarantine. If symptoms develop during quarantine, they should isolate and get tested immediately.

• People who are fully vaccinated should get tested 5-7 days after coming into close contact with someone with COVID-19 and wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days or until they test negative. If symptoms develop, they should isolate and get tested immediately.

• People who have had COVID-19 within the past 90 days and recovered should wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days after exposure, monitor for symptoms, and consult with a healthcare professional for testing recommendations if they develop new symptoms.

In addition, contacts should check their temperature twice daily and watch for COVID-19 symptoms, shortness of breath. Stay in touch with your doctor and if your symptoms worsen or become severe, you should seek immediate medical care. Severe symptoms include trouble breathing, persistent pain or
pressure in the chest, confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or bluish lips or face.

If you test positive for COVID-19 or were identified as in close contact with someone who did, you’ll get a call or text from IL COVID HELP. The Contact Tracing Phone number (1-312-777-1999) is the same across the State of Illinois. The system is programmed to match the phone number of an incoming call to a specific case record so the caller can be routed to the assigned Contact Tracer and the IDPH Surge Center.

During the call, they will:

• Ask you to confirm information about yourself and information about your close contacts if you are infected, answer your questions and help alleviate any concerns

• Help determine your isolation or quarantine guidelines

• Offer you additional support and resources to keep you home safely and put you in touch with community partners who can assist you

• They will never ask for your social security number, payment of any kind, bank or credit card information, or your immigration status

Public Health Guidebooks

The following two links contain guides to better help job seekers, professionals, and students understand the changing landscapes of higher education and labor trends in the Public Policy and Healthcare sectors, and their impact on careers and employment in the industry.

• http://www.publichealthdegrees.org/
• http://www.mphprogram.com/

Key updates to these websites include:

• A comprehensive look at the growth of online public health degree programs at not-for-profit universities.
• Tips for pursuing a graduate degree in public health (MPH, DPH, etc) while working
• A list of top MPH and graduate programs in public health services for ROI
• Advice for international students interested in continuing their public health education at a US college.