Navigating the COVID Booster: Insights from OhioHealth's Dr. Joe Gastaldo

Dr. Joe Gastaldo, medical director of infectious diseases for OhioHealth, recommends that anyone eligible for the original COVID vaccines should also get the new booster shot, as the virus is not going away and there are still unknowns. The new booster, updated for variants circulating this year, is expected to be available in Ohio in the coming weeks. Ohioans over the age of 65 and those who are immunocompromised should get the shot right away, while relatively healthy individuals may be able to wait and time it around the holidays. The new booster has been shown to protect against newer variants, and it is safe to get it with other shots, such as the flu shot and the vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).