LAFAYETTE, La. - After more than a month of heavy debating between The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and top notch health officials under President Biden. The FDA is now saying that getting a third shot is safe and effective.
An extra vaccine dose for those with compromised immune systems, the FDAis calling it a green light.
"Further protection," said Dugas.
Greg Dugas is 70 years of age and can't wait to get his booster shot, he's watched people of all ages, healthy or not die of covid-19.
"I'm not going to take the chance, you know, of not getting it and then getting sick. I know people who haven't gotten it, got sick and died," said Dugas.
Here's a list of those eligible for the third dose.
- People 65 and older.
- People 18 to 64 at high risk of a sever case of COVID-19 if they get sick.
- People 18 to 64 at high risk of getting COVID-19 at work such as healthcare workers or teachers.
- People 18 to 64 at high risk of getting COVID-19 becuase of where they live such as a prison.
The FDA says the booster shot will protect those most at risk as COVID-19 continues to surge, mainly being fuled by the Delta variant. According to The CDC 64% of people 12 and older are fully vaccinated.
Joann Verrett is one of them, she's on board for a third shot.
"I have diabetes, I'm a type one diabetic. It's to protect yourself, to protect your loved ones, and the community when your'e out at the store," said Verrett.
"So even though your bodies trained to fight it, the immune system, because it isn't primed and on the ready it's in kind of a reserve status. It isn't able to respond quickly enough to prevent that positive test to prevent those symptoms and thats's where the booster shot comes into play," said Dr. Simon.
"I never thought we'd be in this position this late after since it started. I think it will continue to keep us healthy," said Dore.
At this time a panel of medical experts has advised The FDA to hold back booster shots for younger people. They say there isn't enough safety data for younger adults, highlighting the risk of myocarditis, or heart inflammation. Something that's been seen at higher than usual levels in teenagers and 20 somethings who have been vaccinated.
While we wait for our booster shot the CDC says that masks and social distancing are still crucial, because vaccinations will never be perfect at preventing every single case from spreading.
