Boost now or Boost later: That is the question

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1. Has it been 6 months or more since your last dose or infection? 
   • • Yes (2) 
     • No (3)
2. Get boosted soon. 
   • • Fall means more indoor gatherings and with it increased community transmission. Plus, it’s flu season! You want to have maximal protection when that time comes (1).
3. Has it been at least 3 months since your last dose or infection? 
   • • Yes (4)
     • No (5)
4. Do any of these describe you (2)? 
   • • • • Over 65 years old
         • Moderately to severely immunocompromised
         • Resident of a long-term care facilities or any other congregate living settings 
         • Have an underlying medical condition that places you at high risk of severe COVID-19
         • Pregnant
         • From First Nations, Métis, or Inuit communities
         • Part of racialized and/or marginalized communities
     • Yes (6)
     • No (7)
5. You should wait before getting boosted.
   • • A longer interval between booster dose and a prior dose/infection leads to a more robust immune response (3).
     • Don’t forget to revisit this chart once it has been 3 months since your last infection or vaccine.
6. Get boosted as soon as possible 
   • • You are considered at higher risk of developing severe disease from a COVID-19 infection. If the bivalent vaccine is not available, an original booster should be offered for timely protection (2,4). 
7. Can you answer YES to any of these questions?
   • • • Are the COVID-19 cases high in your area? 
       • Does your work, hobbies or planned events put you at higher exposure risks? 
       • Do you live or are you in contact with people that are at higher risk of severe disease? 
     • Yes (8)
     • No (9)
8. You might consider getting a booster now.
   • • You want peak immunity for higher risk activities (e.g. a wedding) (6). 
     • Consider using other layers of protection (e.g. masks) to decrease your risk of infection (5).
     • You might benefit from a bivalent vaccine in order to prime your immune system against Omicron variants (4).
9. You can consider waiting to get a booster
   1. • A few other things to consider: 
        • Hybrid immunity (immunity conferred from both vaccination and infection) gives better protection than infection or vaccination alone (4).
        • Using multiple protective measures creates added layers of protection (5).

 Consider the following

What about the bivalent vaccine? 

Moderna’s bivalent vaccine is authorized in Canada for any adult (18 years old and over) and at risk adolescent (12-17 years old). The roll-out is expected soon but delays happen. If your risk is high don’t delay. Any booster is better than no booster (4). 

Don’t forget to reevaluate

If your current situation changes, so might your booster needs.

 Still unsure? 

You should talk to your health care provider. They will help you make the best decision for your situation. 

To boost now, or to boost later, that seems to be the question on everyone’s mind lately.

First of all, if you still have not gotten your first booster, stop scrolling and book an appointment. Boosters are going to provide you with the most protection possible.

If you already had your first booster you might wonder whether you should get your second booster now or wait. The reality is that this decision will depend on many factors such as the amount of time that has passed since your last dose or infection, if you are at higher risk of severe outcome as well as your level of risk exposure.

We have put this decision tree together to help you decide how soon you should get your second booster. If you are still unsure, please reach out to your health care provider. They are the best resources to help you make an informed decision.

Don’t forget to revisit this decision tree often. If your situation changes, your booster needs might too. 

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To boost now, or to boost later, that seems to be the question on everyone’s mind lately.

We have put together a decision tree to help you decide how soon you should get your fall booster.#ScienceUpFirst pic.twitter.com/am7d4oa9KC

— ScienceUpFirst | LaScienced’Abord (@ScienceUpFirst) September 8, 2022

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