Second vaccine booster shots for COVID-19suggested for certain groups of individuals

SNOHOMISH COUNTY — A newly available second booster dose against COVID-19 is now being suggested for people 50 and older, and also people age 12 and older who have weakened immune systems.
The guidelines say a second booster can be taken four months after taking a first booster dose.
Dr. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, the state Department of Health’s Chief Science Officer, said in a news release that a second booster is “a great way for people over 50 to get added protection, especially those with underlying medical conditions and those 65 and older.”
A first booster dose is recommended for everyone over age 12 after taking primary vaccinations.
On March 29, the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) authorized second booster doses by Pfizer and Moderna. Health agencies updated their guidelines in response.

Locally
COVID case counts remained under 100 cases per 100,000 people in Snohomish County.
Case counts dropped significantly in early February after infections of the Omicron variant receded.
A subvariant to Omicron, called Omicron B.A. 2, now is causing half of all new cases in Washington state, state Department of Health data shows.
As of March 28, nearly 308,200 county residents age 12 and up have taken a booster dose, or about 59% of the population eligible for a booster. Drugmakers are developing booster shots for children under 12.
Overall, about 575,000, or nearly 80% of residents age 5 and up in Snohomish County are fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated means taking the first regimen of doses.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use Messenger RNA (mRNA) to instruct the human body to create antibodies and put them on standby defense to fight a COVID infection. Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine uses a different method to build immunity. Neither vaccine format alters DNA.

Vaccine sales
In 2021 worldwide, Pfizer sold $36.7 billion of its COVID-19 vaccine, delivering 2.2 billion doses; Moderna sold $17.7 billion, delivering 807 million doses; and Johnson & Johnson sold $2.3 billion, according to 10-K company reports filed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.