# Vaccinated People Who’ve Already Had COVID-19 Don’t Need to Rush a Booster Shot

By Human Events · Published 2021-10-11 · News & Analysis › Economy · https://humanevents.com/news/vaccinated-people-whove-already-had-covid-19-dont-need-to-rush-a-booster-shot

> If you’ve already had COVID-19 and received the vaccine, there’s no rush to get the booster shot, according to health experts. Millions of Americans who received the Pfizer vaccine now qualify for a third dose – specifically seniors and high-risk individuals. Several studies suggest that those who have already had COVID-19 and were fully vaccinated \[…\]

If you’ve already had COVID-19 and received the vaccine, there’s no rush to get the booster shot, according to health experts.

Millions of Americans who received the Pfizer vaccine now qualify for a third dose - specifically seniors and high-risk individuals.

Several studies suggest that those who have already had COVID-19 and were fully vaccinated have strong protection, including against variants, and won’t need the boost, the *Wall Street Journal* [reports.](https://www.wsj.com/articles/fully-vaccinated-and-had-covid-19-no-rush-for-a-booster-shot-experts-say-11633870803?mod=djemHL_t) The research, however, is preliminary and the data is not yet complete.

The studies suggest that COVID-19 infection serves as an additional dose of the vaccine because it prompts the immune system to generate antibodies, B cells and T cells that can fight off future infection.

People who were infected and vaccinated “just won the game,” Dr. Paul Offit, a member of the FDA’s advisory panel on vaccines, said. “I wouldn’t ask them to get a booster dose. I think they just got it” by exposure.

The protection provided by infection and vaccination doesn’t mean those people may not eventually need a booster, scientists said.

Meanwhile, those with weakened immune systems or underlying medical conditions might want to get the booster shot.