Boston infectious disease expert shares benefits of new COVID-19 booster shots – WCVB Boston

Boston infectious disease expert shares benefits of new COVID-19 booster shots

Updated: 6:39 PM EDT Sep 13, 2022

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>> YOURE WATCHING WCVB NEWSCENTER 5 AT 5:30. >> NOW THAT SCHOOLS ARE BACK IN SESSION, THERES A NATIONAL PUSH TO GET MORE AMERICANS BOOSTED WITH UPDATED COVID-19 SHOTS FROM PFIZER AND MODERNA. HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IS DR. HELEN BOUCHER, THE INTERIM DEAN OF TUFTS MEDICAL SCHOOL AND AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AT TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER. GREAT TO SEE YOU. >> GREAT TO SEE YOU, ERICA. >> ALRIGHT DR., WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE RECOVERING FROM A COVID INFECTION OF YOUR OWN. SO FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU HOW ARE YOU FEELING? >> I AM OVER IT AND BETTER AND BACK TO WORK TOMORROW. THANK YOU FOR ASKING. >> WE ARE GLAD TO HEAR YOU ARE FEELING BETTER WE ARE INTERESTED IN THESE NEW BOOSTERS. AND WHAT YOU KNOW -- THEYRE DESIGNED TO TARGET THE OMICRON VARIANT, WHICH IS CAUSING NEARLY ALL NEW INFECTIONS RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING, LIKELY, YOURS. DO YOU THINK YOU STILL NEED ONE? -- IF YOU JUST HAD THIS INFECTION? >> I STILL WANT ONE BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT ANYMORE COVID. WE SHOULD ALL GET BOOSTER. BUT ALL JOKING ASIDE, THE DATA ARE VERY CLEAR THAT THIS BOOSTER WILL PROTECT US AGAINST THE STRAIN THAT IS CIRCULATING NOW. THAT IS BIG HAVE NOT HAD THAT BEFORE. I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY WHO IS 12 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER TO GET THIS IT WILL BE GOOD FOR THEM. >> ALL RIGHT. TUFTS HOSTED ITS FIRST CLINIC FOR THESE NEW BOOSTERS YESTERDAY. I KNOW YOU WERE NOT THERE BUT -- BECAUSE YOU WERE HOME WITH COVID . ANY WORD YET ON HOW IT WENT? >> PEOPLE WHO GOT THERE BOOSTER IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS -- WE OFFER WALK-IN COVID TESTING AND VACCINATIONS FIVE DAYS A WEEK FROM NOON UNTIL FIVE. >> THAT IS GREAT. NOW WE KNOW THAT NEARLY 80% OF AMERICANS ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID, BUT THAT NUMBER DROPS DRAMATICALLY FOR EXTRA SHOTS. WHAT SHOULD HEALTH OFFICIALS DO TO INCREASE INTEREST IN THESE NEW BOOSTERS? OBVIOUSLY, YOU ARE SPEAKING WITH US ON TELEVISION BUT WHAT DO PEOPLE KNOW? >> I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT THESE BOOSTERS ARE REALLY EFFECTIVE AND THEY ARE DIFFERENT WE COVERED THE STRAIN THAT IS CIRCULATING. THE BENEFIT IS ASSURED AND WE NEED TO MAKE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO GET THEIR BOOSTERS. YOU NEED TO GO OUT AND WHERE THEY ARE. -- CHURCHES MAKE IT EASY FOR FOLKS TO GET THIS LEVEL OF PROTECTION. NEXT ALL RIGHT DR., WE WISH YOU A SPEE

Boston infectious disease expert shares benefits of new COVID-19 booster shots

Updated: 6:39 PM EDT Sep 13, 2022

Dr. Helen Boucher, of Tufts Medical Center, said she wants the updated booster after she recently contracted the coronavirus.

Dr. Helen Boucher, of Tufts Medical Center, said she wants the updated booster after she recently contracted the coronavirus.

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Boston infectious disease expert shares benefits of new COVID-19 booster shots - WCVB Boston