The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the green light on Tuesday to a second covid vaccine booster shot for people aged 50 and older in an effort to ward off another potential spike in infections due to a subvariant of omicron.
People in that age group can now get a fourth dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines at least four months after their previous booster.
The FDA also cleared a fifth dose for people 12 and older who have severely weakened immune systems.
About two-thirds of Americans are fully vaccinated, but half of those eligible for a first booster haven’t gotten one.
Doctors urge those who have not gotten a first COVID vaccine booster to schedule it with the BA.2 variant now dominant.
For those wondering whether they should get the fourth shot now, experts say to talk it over with your doctor.
“It’s important to have a conversation with your provider about your personal risk or past medical history to understand the benefits of an additional dose,” said Dr. Darien Sutton, ABC News Medical Contributor.
How to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment
Prepare to schedule
• Create a Walgreens.com account ahead of time to make scheduling fast and easy
• Get updates on vaccine availability near you at Walgreens.com/VaccineUpdates
