UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As the omicron coronavirus variant spreads throughout the U.S., Penn State strongly encourages its students and employees to get their booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Although the omicron variant appears to be more transmissible than the delta variant, studies show that getting the COVID-19 booster significantly reduces the risk of severe illness from both variants, and it may also lessen an individual’s ability to transmit the virus to others,” said Kelly Wolgast, director of the Penn State COVID-19 Operations Control Center. “Therefore, it is extremely important for students and employees to get their boosters to help protect our campus communities.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends the COVID-19 booster for all fully vaccinated individuals ages 16 years or older. To be eligible for a booster, people must have completed their Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinations at least six months ago, or their Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine at least two months ago. All three authorized COVID-19 vaccines are readily available at hospitals, urgent care centers, doctor’s offices and pharmacies. Providers can be easily located by visiting Vaccines.gov.
While people who completed their original COVID-19 vaccines are, at this time, still considered fully vaccinated and the vaccines continue to be highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death, Matthew Ferrari, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, said medical professionals are starting to observe reduced protection over time.
“It is normal for antibody levels to wane over time, and public health experts are seeing that happening in those who were the first to receive their initial vaccines,” said Ferrari. “Unfortunately, those are disproportionately older adults, those with certain health conditions, and health care and other frontline workers.”
According to Ferrari, waning antibody levels and the fact that all three U.S.-authorized COVID-19 vaccines appear to be less protective against the omicron variant emphasize the urgent need for people to get their boosters.
“Those who were previously infected or fully vaccinated [two doses of Pfizer/Moderna or one dose of J&J] have significantly reduced protection against infection with omicron,” he said. “However, studies suggest that the Pfizer-BioNTech booster increases immune protection against omicron to a level that is comparable to the two-dose regimen against the original variant. Preliminary data suggest the same for the Moderna booster. Further, any of the vaccines provide strong protection against omicron in those who were previously infected with a prior variant.”
Leslie Parent, vice dean for research and graduate studies and an infectious diseases physician, Penn State College of Medicine, noted that everyone who is eligible to receive a booster should do as soon as possible. “Getting a booster reduces the risk of breakthrough infections as well as hospitalizations and severe disease,” she said. “Gaining additional protection by getting a booster is even more important now that cases are rising again, as well as concerns about infections caused by the omicron variant increasing across the country.”
She noted that, in addition to the COVID-19 booster, anyone who has not yet had the influenza vaccine should get the shot right away.
“Getting both the COVID-19 booster and influenza vaccine at the same time is safe and won’t adversely affect your immune response to either one,” she said. “Preventing more cases of the flu will help reduce some of the pressure facing our highly taxed health care system. Unfortunately, many hospitals are over capacity and struggling to meet the needs of those who require hospitalization for COVID-19 and other illnesses.”
In addition to vaccination and boosters, Parent added, continuing to wear masks indoors in public settings, avoiding crowds and handwashing are highly effective tools for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections, including the flu.
“Getting COVID-19 boosters and influenza vaccines, combined with other strategies like masking, distancing and staying home if you are not feeling well are important actions to take as we enter the holiday season with more people traveling and gathering indoors,” she said. “We all want to be able to visit family and friends safely over winter break, and doing what we can to stay healthy will make the holidays much more enjoyable.”
Penn State has extended its indoor masking requirement into the spring 2022 semester. Click here to learn more.