Will COVID-19 Booster Shots Be Needed? Data Says It Is Unclear

Oklahoma, and the U.S. in general, are seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases, with the Delta variant contributing to many of those. Some who are vaccinated now wonder if they will need a booster shot to keep COVID at bay. If so, does it depend on which vaccine you got? 

As of right now, there is not enough data to show whether a booster will be necessary. Last month, a working group with the CDC said there is not enough evidence to suggest that a booster is needed.

However, a few doctors are choosing to get one, like Doctor Angela Rasmussen, a virologist in Canada. She recently tweeted that she got a booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine "to top off the Johnson and Johnson vaccine [she] received in April."

Doctor Rasmussen cited her concerns about the effectiveness of the J&J shot against the Delta variant.

However, Doctor Anthony Fauci recently said on MSNBC'S Meet the Press that there is not enough data for the government to recommend a booster for those who got the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

On Thursday afternoon, Pfizer announced plans to file for emergency use authorization for a vaccine booster. Pfizer said it's currently undergoing trials to see whether it's effective.

Right now, it's unclear if the vaccine itself, without any boosters, is effective against new variants, like the Delta variant, including the Pfizer and Moderna ones. The CDC said that will require further study. It's also not clear right now just how long the vaccine itself is effective, as the CDC claims it is still figuring that out.