Omicron, a variant of COVID-19, is dispersing more rapidly than the original strands of COVID-19, thus, students have already begun getting their booster shots. 

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 13-1 in favor of recommending the booster shot for 12-17 year olds in a meeting on Jan. 5. The booster shots have been proven to be 70-75% effective to prevent getting COVID-19 or serious COVID-19 symptoms based on a study by the UK health security Agency. 

On that same day, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said, “This booster dose will provide optimized protection against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant.”

Some individuals are wary of receiving their vaccine, and in turn their booster because of possible side effects and potential long term health risks.

Reactions to the vaccine and booster like myocarditis and pericarditis, which are inflammations of the tissue around the heart, are extremely rare. In a study by Sharon Alroy-Preis, a member of Israel’s Ministry of Health, she found two cases of myocarditis reactions in 41,610 doses given to 12 to 17 year olds in Israel, and one child had pericarditis, unrelated to COVID-19 vaccination.

As the fight against Omicron continues, people have different thoughts about whether it is more important to make boosters or vaccines more accessible to everyone. Helen Talbot, the only member of ACIP to vote against recommending the booster, shared how she feels about this.

“I just really want the U.S. to move forward with vaccinating all kids so that all kids can get back to a normal life, and I don’t think it’s fair for 12 to 17-year-olds who have been vaccinated to risk myocarditis again because their colleagues won’t get vaccinated,” Talbot said.

There are positives about the booster, and even with certain negatives, many healthcare professionals argue that the booster is more beneficial than harmful. According to a Medscape poll, 71% of 575 U.S. doctors recommended everyone eligible to get the booster.

“The vaccine is safe and effective, and yes, the booster may hurt for a couple days, but is the death of your loved ones less important than if your arm hurts for two days?” Corinne Adams, ‘24, said. Adams got her booster less than a week after it had been approved, and is glad to have gotten it.

According to the CDC, the COVID-19 vaccine wears off after a certain amount of time, which is caused by the mutations which occur when a virus mutates, causing new variants like Omicron to form. 

A majority of students surveyed recommended the booster. One of these students was Madison Meyer, ‘27. “Listening to medical professionals and getting your booster is the right thing to do,” Meyer said.