Brigham and Women’s doctor discusses third option for COVID-19 booster shot
Brigham and Women’s doctor discusses third option for COVID-19 booster shot
Updated: 9:54 PM EDT Oct 19, 2022
JESSICA: AMERICAN ADULTS NOW HAVE A THIRD OPTION FOR A COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOT. HERE TO EXPLAIN IS DR. DANIEL KURITZKES, CHIEF OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AT BRIGHAM AND WOMEN’S HOSPITAL. BEN: THE FDA AND CDC SIGNED OFF TODAY ON OFFERING THE NOVAVAX VACCINE AS A BOOSTER. WHAT MAKES THIS SHOT DIFFERENT THAN THE ONES ALREADY AVAILABLE FROM PFIZER AND MODERNA? >> THIS BOOSTER IS REALLY JUST THE SAME NOVAVAX VACCINE THAT HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED FOR USE. IT’S VERY MUCH LIKE WHEN THE ORIGINAL PFIZER OR MODERNA VACCINES WERE USED FOR BOOSTING. THE BIG ADVANTAGE FOR THE NOVAVAX AS A BOOSTER IF SOMEONE DOESN’T WANT TO GET MRNA, YOU NOW HAVE ANOTHER OPTION. JESSICA: PFIZER AND MODERNA UPDATED THEIR BOOSTER SHOT TO TARGET THE LATEST OMICRON VARIANTS. DO YOU THINK THE NOVAVAX BOOSTER OFFERS SIMILAR PROTECTION AGAINST THE STRAINS THAT ARE CIRCULATING RIGHT NOW? >> PROBABLY NOT. THE NOVAVAX VACCINE IS BASED ON THE ORIGINAL VIRUS. WE KNOW THAT BOOSTING WITH THE ORIGINAL VACCINE WILL ENHANCE PROTECTION, WHETHER IT GIVES THE SAME LEVEL OF PROTECTION AS A MORE FINELY TUNED UPDATED BOOSTERS LIKE THE BIVALENT BOOSTERS. BEN: AS YOU KNOW, AMERICANS HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO SCHEDULE A BOOSTER SHOT. I GOT MINE LAST WEEK. I DIDN’T HAVE A SIDE EFFECT. HAVE YOU FOUND REASONS THAT WORK WHEN YOU’RE TRYING TO PERSUADE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO GET ONE? >> GOOD FOR YOU, I’M GLAD YOU DID GET BOOSTED. WHAT WORKS MOST IS TRYING TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT KEEPING THEMSELVES HEALTHY IT IMPORTANT FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM AND THE PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON THEM. THAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON THAT THEY SHOULD GET A BOOSTER IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEIR HEALTH. JESSICA: DR. KURITZKES THANK YOU
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Brigham and Women’s doctor discusses third option for COVID-19 booster shot
Updated: 9:54 PM EDT Oct 19, 2022
The FDA and CDC have both signed off on offering the Novavax vaccine as a booster.
The FDA and CDC have both signed off on offering the Novavax vaccine as a booster.
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