--- title: What You Need to Know About COVID-19 Booster Shots description: Tests are currently underway to see whether booster doses of all three COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the U.S. will be needed in the future. canonical: https://time.com/6080567/covid-19-booster-shot/ author: Alice Park article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2021-07-15T16:38:53.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-14T09:13:03.867Z article:section: Health og:title: What You Need to Know About COVID-19 Booster Doses og:description: Tests are currently underway to see whether booster doses of all three COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the U.S. will be needed in the future. og:url: https://time.com/6080567/covid-19-booster-shot/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt85a8a26878c2ce6b/698a1b16d07533f1fee6bc5b/GettyImages-1233977343.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: Israel Offers Third Pfizer Dose To At-Risk Adults og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: What You Need to Know About COVID-19 Booster Doses twitter:description: Tests are currently underway to see whether booster doses of all three COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the U.S. will be needed in the future. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt85a8a26878c2ce6b/698a1b16d07533f1fee6bc5b/GettyImages-1233977343.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # What You Need to Know About COVID-19 Booster Shots > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=198eb586-2b7a-49ed-87f4-b70020c33915&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### The seven newsletters | Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | | --- | --- | --- | | The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | | Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | | Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Weekdays | | Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Weekly | | D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Twice a week | | Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | | In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | Source: TIME, August 2026. ### Key data points | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 | | Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Publishing since | 1923 | TIME | ### TIME Newsletters: key statements * Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read. * All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=198eb586-2b7a-49ed-87f4-b70020c33915&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). * The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=198eb586-2b7a-49ed-87f4-b70020c33915&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What newsletters does TIME publish? TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (health, weekdays), Worth Your Time (culture, weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, twice weekly), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers. #### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to? It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters. #### Are TIME's newsletters free? Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes TIME's newsletters? TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=198eb586-2b7a-49ed-87f4-b70020c33915&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Olivia Rodrigo Visits the White House to Promote COVID-19 Youth Vaccinations [Watch (HLS stream): Olivia Rodrigo Visits the White House to Promote COVID-19 Youth Vaccinations](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/v5WND7PH.m3u8) (0:42)  _Published 2021-07-14. Pop star and singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo is at the White House today, in an effort to help promote youth COVID vaccinations._  by [Alice Park](https://time.com/author/alice-park/)  ## Alice Park Senior Correspondent Jul 15, 2021 4:38 PM UTC Pop star and singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo is at the White House today, in an effort to help promote youth COVID vaccinations.  by [Alice Park](https://time.com/author/alice-park/)  ## Alice Park Senior Correspondent Jul 15, 2021 4:38 PM UTC Since the U.S. began a massive country-wide vaccination effort against COVID-19 last winter, a majority of adult Americans have been immunized. But now it seems that all of them may need an additional dose next year. Public health experts including Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, stress that studies continue to show that the three vaccines currently authorized in the U.S. protect against COVID-19 disease, including against variants of the virus that are more transmissible. But as effective as the vaccines are, they can’t provide 100% immunity against disease. There is also early evidence that part of the immunity generated by the vaccines—specifically the antibodies created to stick to and block SARS-CoV-2 from infecting cells—could start to wane after about six months. That’s why researchers are now studying whether adding an additional dose after about a year could boost levels of immunity back up. For the two-shot vaccines from [Pfizer-BioNTech](https://time.com/collection/coronavirus-vaccines-updates/5926234/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine/) and [Moderna](https://time.com/collection/coronavirus-vaccines-updates/5926241/moderna-covid-19-vaccine/), that would involve a third dose, while for the single shot [Janssen/](https://time.com/6078081/mixing-covid-vaccine-doses/)[Johnson&Johnson](https://time.com/6078081/mixing-covid-vaccine-doses/) vaccine, it would mean a second jab. ## **Is a booster dose necessary?** Pfizer-BioNTech [reported in July](https://time.com/6079002/pfizer-biontech-covid-booster-shots/) that early studies involving people who were given a third dose about six months after their second dose showed strong antibody responses five to 10 times higher than levels after two doses. Based on those results, the companies have requested that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approve a booster dose of its vaccine. While the vaccine makers are understandably eager to sell an additional dose of their shots, the FDA said in a [July 8 statement](https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/07/08/joint-cdc-and-fda-statement-vaccine-boosters.html) that boosters for the U.S. are premature at this point. “FDA, \[Centers for Disease Control\], and \[the National Institutes of Health\] are engaged in a science-based, rigorous process to consider whether or when a booster might be necessary…We are prepared for booster doses if and when the science demonstrates that they are needed.” ## **Will the booster dose be another dose of the same vaccine?** Both Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech are studying different versions of their vaccines as a possible third dose, while J&J is studying the effects of a second dose of its existing vaccine. Pfizer-BioNTech’s July study involved another dose of the existing vaccine, but the companies are also investigating whether adding an additional dose of a new vaccine they’ve developed, specifically designed to target the Beta variant, will improve protection as well. Moderna is testing three different third dose strategies: a half-dose of the existing vaccine, an additional dose of a new vaccine that targets the Beta variant, and another dose that combines the existing and Beta variant shots. In May, Moderna [reported](https://time.com/6046405/moderna-covid-19-vaccine-booster-study/) that serum from people given the half dose of the existing vaccine neutralized SARS-CoV-2 variants at levels similar to or higher than those against the non-variant strain. And neutralizing activity of the other two boosters, which are more targeted against the Beta variant, was higher against that variant than was a booster shot of the original vaccine. Those studies, as well as the others, are continuing and won’t likely be completed until late summer or fall. When those results are available, the FDA will review the data to determine if the added protection warrants authorizing or approving an additional dose. ## **Are any countries already providing booster doses?** In July, Israeli health officials [announced](https://www.wsj.com/articles/israel-begins-pfizer-booster-shots-for-at-risk-adults-as-delta-cases-rise-11626110100) that it would provide a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to people with weaker immune systems, including those undergoing chemotherapy or people with immune-related conditions such as HIV. The decision was based on increased cases of Delta infections in the region, and data from the Health Ministry showing that protection from getting infected with any version of SARS-CoV-2 among people vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot [dropped](https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-is-less-effective-against-delta-variant-israeli-data-show-11625572796?mod=article%5Finline) from 95% to about 64% after several months. ## **When will I know if I need another dose?** In the U.S., the FDA will review the data submitted by the vaccine makers to decide if a booster dose is necessary. The agency will weigh the strength of the data showing how much another dose might add to protection against both infection and severe disease against potential side effects. For the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shots, those potential complications include a very small risk of inflammation of the heart tissue, especially among younger people. For the J&J shot, it includes both a slightly higher risk of developing blood clots and Guillain-Barré syndrome, an auto immune condition in which the immune cells attack the body’s nerve cells. The agency will also likely consider the state of the pandemic; specifically, whether the threat of new variants, including Delta, calls for the need for another dose. ## **If I need a booster, where can I get one?** It’s not clear yet where the booster doses, if they are authorized, will be distributed. Mass vaccination centers sponsored by the federal government have been closing as the majority of American adults have received at least one dose, but resources are shifting toward more local sites including doctors’ offices, pharmacies, community health centers, hospitals and mobile vaccination units. For now, a White House spokesperson said health officials are focused on ensuring that more Americans get at least the currently authorized doses before turning their attention to booster shots. --- ### More from TIME ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6080567/covid-19-booster-shot/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6080567/covid-19-booster-shot/"},"headline":"What You Need to Know About COVID-19 Booster Shots","datePublished":"2021-07-15T16:38:53.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-14T09:13:03.867Z","description":"The what, when, why, where and how of additional COVID-19 vaccine doses","url":"https://time.com/6080567/covid-19-booster-shot/","keywords":["COVID-19"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt85a8a26878c2ce6b/698a1b16d07533f1fee6bc5b/GettyImages-1233977343.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Alice Park","jobTitle":"Senior Correspondent","url":"https://time.com/author/alice-park/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt85a8a26878c2ce6b/698a1b16d07533f1fee6bc5b/GettyImages-1233977343.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Israel Offers Third Pfizer Dose To At-Risk Adults","caption":"Israel Offers Third Pfizer Dose To At-Risk Adults","creditText":"Amir Levy—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/tag/covid-19/","name":"COVID-19"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/6080567/covid-19-booster-shot/","name":"What You Need to Know About COVID-19 Booster Shots"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Olivia Rodrigo Visits the White House to Promote COVID-19 Youth Vaccinations","description":"Pop star and singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo is at the White House today, in an effort to help promote youth COVID vaccinations.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/v5WND7PH/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2021-07-14T20:04:50.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/v5WND7PH.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/6080567/covid-19-booster-shot/","duration":"PT42S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/6080567/covid-19-booster-shot/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```