Breaking down the booster terminology for COVID-19 vaccines

Aug 18, 2021 | Jennifer O'Hara | @jenohara | Comments (14)

COVID-19 vaccine boosters are being recommended eight months after a person's second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

"A vaccine booster dose is generally an additional dose above and beyond the primary series needed to achieve protective immunity," says Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "So the dose that was approved this past week would be better classified as an 'additional dose' for those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised."

Dr. Poland says those people will have already received two doses, but they need the additional dose in order to improve their immune response to the vaccine.

Dr. Poland continues, "Offering a third dose of the same vaccine to older adults, health care providers and essential workers, that would be a 'booster dose.' Then if we used a variant-specific vaccine, which researchers are working on, that would be called a 'variant booster dose,'" says Dr. Poland.

In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland talks extensively about additional and booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, and he discusses the latest COVID-19 research regarding pregnancy and fertility. He also addresses concerns about the variants that experts are predicting will come after the current delta variant.

"So, for the unvaccinated they keep moving into more and more dangerous phases of the pandemic, as each new variant arises," says Dr. Poland.

NOTE: This podcast with Dr. Poland was recorded earlier this week before news of the decision to offer boosters, scheduled to begin in September.

Read the full transcript.

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For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a nonpatient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date.

Research disclosures for Dr. Gregory Poland.

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kimmgb | @kimmgb | Aug 19, 2021

My doctor did not tell me about the 8 months. I got my second dose in March. I just got my third dose..

Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Aug 19, 2021

I believe the devil is in the details here. “Third dose” is recommended for transplant and severe to moderately immune compromised people. A “booster dose” is recommended for everyone at 8 months following the 2nd dose if you had Pfizer or moderna.

kimmgb | @kimmgb | Aug 20, 2021

I should have said I have PMR and CREST disease. This is the reason for the third shot. No far no problems with the shot other than a sore arm.

Paul H Conrad | @paulhconrad | Aug 20, 2021

In reply to @kimmgb "My doctor did not tell me about the 8 months. I got my second dose in..." + (show)

So did I. Good for you, stay well

bridget43 | @bridget43 | Aug 26, 2021

I was diagnosed with GCA and PMR 3-1/2 years ago. I was given 50 mg of prednisone along with methotrexate. I was down to 2-1/2 mg of prednisone and thought doing very well until I received my 1st Pfizer vaccine shot which was in April. A week after receiving the shot I had a relapse and my crp went up to 6.0. I raised my prenisone to 4 mgs and stayed on 4 mgs for 3-1/2 months until all my symptoms dissipated. I am very nervous about getting the 2nd shot.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Aug 27, 2021

Mayo Clinic recommends that all eligible people to get the COVID vaccine.

Stay up-to-date with the latest information and medical evidence by visiting (and revisiting) Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Guide website:
– Vaccine Guide https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccine

Amanda Roe | @amandajro | Aug 27, 2021

In reply to @bridget43 "I was diagnosed with GCA and PMR 3-1/2 years ago. I was given 50 mg of..." + (show)

Hello @bridget43 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I understand your concern. I think you will find that there are members that can relate to your concern. I would invite you to join others in the following groups:

- Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) > PMR and Coronavirus:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/coronavirus-and-pmr/
You may also be interested in following the main PMR discussion here:
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR): Meet others & Share Your Story:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/polymyalgia-rheumatica-pmr-meet-others-share-your-story/

mavolyn | @mavolyn | Aug 28, 2021

In reply to @colleenyoung "Mayo Clinic recommends that all eligible people to get the COVID vaccine. Stay up-to-date with the..." + (show)

About how long after Covid-19 infection can it take to show symptoms? Am I correct to think they can develop after vaccination if infection took place before vaccination?

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Aug 30, 2021

In reply to @mavolyn "About how long after Covid-19 infection can it take to show symptoms? Am I correct to..." + (show)

Mavolyn, People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Read more here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

And yes, symptoms can develop after receiving the vaccine if the person was infected with COVID before receiving the vaccine.