Coronavirus FAQs - Vaccines

What’s the difference between a COVID-19 booster shot and an additional dose of vaccine? Do I need either one?

COVID-19 vaccine booster shots and additional doses (often called third doses), are now available at the DeWeese Health Center.

A booster shot is administered when a person has completed their vaccine series but protection against the virus has decreased over time.

Definitions as they relate to "fully vaccinated" and "up to date" - what is the difference?

• The CDC defines “fully vaccinated” as a person who is at least two weeks past the final dose of their primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine. Primary series means two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
• According to the CDC, being fully vaccinated is not the same as being optimally protected. To be optimally protected, a person needs to get a booster shot when eligible.
• The CDC defines a person as “up to date” on their vaccines if they have received all recommended doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster doses when eligible. Being up-to-date impacts quarantine guidelines for those who are close contacts. 

Which Booster Shots Are In Use?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for those who have received Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

• Booster doses are recommended five months after the completed Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series, or two months after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Those who are taking immunosuppressants or who are immunocompromised should check with their health care provider as additional primary doses and booster doses are recommended.
• It is not necessary to receive a booster of the same brand as one’s original vaccine series. However, those who receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are recommended to get a booster shot of either Pfizer or Moderna.
• The Pfizer vaccine remains the only shot approved for youths ages 12 to 17, and the only brand of booster recommended for this age group.

Kent State's vaccine and booster requirements

• Kent State’s vaccine requirement calls for all students, faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated. Kent State does not require COVID-19 booster shots as part of its vaccine requirement, however, the university strongly encourages booster shots for those who are eligible. 
• If you already have received your booster dose, please report it here. The university uses vaccine and booster data to help guide our COVID-19 prevention strategy. 
• The university may make a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine part of its vaccine requirement in the future. 

Why Are Booster Shots Important?

According to the CDC, available data as of October 2021, show that all three of the COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized in the United States continue to be highly effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death, even against the widely circulating delta variant. Current vaccines are also expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths due to infection with the omicron variant. However, breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated are likely to occur. With other variants, like delta, vaccines have remained effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths. The recent emergence of omicron further emphasizes the importance of vaccination and boosters. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and reduce the spread of the virus and help prevent new variants from emerging.

University Health Services is offering COVID-19 vaccines at the DeWeese Health Center on the Kent Campus from Monday through Friday, at varying times between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Use this link to schedule an appointment or call the health center at 330-672-2322 to schedule a vaccine appointment. While walk-ins are not accepted, those who want a same-day appointment should be able to register for one. The Moderna and Pfizer brand vaccines are available, and you may select which vaccine you prefer at the time you schedule your appointment.

Vaccines also are available at a variety of other locations statewide. Register through Ohio’s vaccine portal at https://gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov.

• The government is providing the vaccine free of charge, and health plans are required to cover the cost of administration.

• Two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine separated by 21 or 28 days are required for the Pfizer and Moderna brand vaccines, respectively. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires just one dose. Currently the Pfizer vaccine is the only one approved for youth ages 5-17. A lower dose of the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for children ages 5 to 11. However, those shots are not available at the university at this time.
• The COVID-19 vaccines are not interchangeable; recipients must receive the vaccine made by the same manufacturer for each dose. In the future, it is expected that additional manufacturers and guidelines will be available, including the potential for single-dose vaccines. However, for booster shots, it is permissible to receive a different brand than one’s original vaccine.

• Currently in Ohio, everyone age 5 and older is eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Kent State strongly urges all members of our community to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Would there be any problems if I were to get the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine at the same time or in close proximity to one another?

• The CDC states that COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines may now be administered without regard to timing.

You may have heard about fake vaccination cards in circulation. Rest assured, the system used by the university, Med+Proctor, validates vaccine cards that are uploaded to its system.