Pres. Herzog of Israel gets a 3rd dose because he is over 60.

By Paul Goldfinger, MD.  Editor Blogfinger.net.

It is clear that immunity produced by full-dose  vaccination will begin to wear off after awhile. So all who have been vaccinated will require a booster at some point after their last dose. The booster will be dose #3, and that dose is identical to the first two.

The State of New Jersey currently requires  that only the severely immunocompromised persons may now get boosters.

It is possible that the rules on booster dosing will be changed  in mid- September, but for now you can only receive a booster if you are  significantly immunocompromised, and you will be asked to sign an attestation at the pharmacy that you have such a medical history.

It is expected that the “booster” rules will be changed in September for all Americans,  but there will still be restrictions such as waiting 8 months after your second dose and probably with age cutoffs and/or special preference for certain diagnoses or residence in nursing homes or for healthcare workers.   The FDA and CDC will be following the data and making regulations accordingly.

The most compelling evidence so far  about 3rd doses  (boosters)   comes from Reuters (8/22) which reported  an Israeli study of booster jabs after  Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations:

“A third dose  of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has significantly improved protection from infection and serious illness among people aged 60 and older in Israel compared with those who received two shots;  findings published by the Health Ministry showed on Sunday.”

“Breaking down statistics from Israel’s Gertner Institute and KL Institute, ministry officials said that among people aged 60 and over, the protection against infection provided from day 10 after a third dose was four times higher than after two doses. A third jab for over 60 year olds offered five to six times greater protection by 10 days later with regard to serious illness and hospitalization.

Today, August 24, we learn that Israel will offer booster shots to those over age 30.  The Times of Israel says, “Only those who received the second vaccine dose at least five months earlier are eligible for the shot.

“Israel is the first country in the world to offer a third vaccine to such a broad slice of its population, as it seeks to combat the highly infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus.”

Here, you can  make a booster appointment on-line at Walgreens, CVS, or Target, or even walk in,  but don’t bother if you do not meet the criteria for being significantly immunocompromised.

On the other hand, if you have not been vaccinated or need a second dose, it is now easy to arrange that.