Some People Aren’t Getting Their Second COVID-19 Shot. Why Is That?
A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control says that around 8% of people in America have received their first shot of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, but aren't going back for the second dose.
KAMC News reports that as of Wednesday, April 28th, around 7,000 people in Lubbock are due for their second COVID-19 shot, but the City of Lubbock Health Department expects some people to not receive it.
While only getting one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine gives you about a 50% to 60% effectiveness rate for protecting yourself from COVID-19, the second shot boosts that rate up to 90%.
Dr. Mike Ragain, Chief Medical Officer at University Medical Center, says that missing the second dose of the vaccine not only effects personal immunity, but also effects herd immunity. Therefore, anyone who is trying to stay protected from COVID-19 is highly encouraged to receive the second dose of the vaccine.
On the topic of why some people are skipping the second dose, Dr. Ragain said this:
Mainly what I hear from patients is that they just didn’t feel great and they don’t want to feel that way and so they don’t want to take the second dose. That’s probably not a great reason not to get the second dose.
From Wuhan to New York City: A Timeline of COVID-19's Spread