I have not had a Covid booster because of repeat Covid (minimally symptomatic) infection or household exposure locking me out of the booster time window.
Many healthcare workers are chronically exposed to Covid and forego boosters for that reason - this should under no circumstances be interpreted as vaccine hesitancy but as a strategy to maximise immunity. Boosters are very important and highly effective in preventing poor outcomes of Covid infection.
Here is a study that looks into booster timing, taking into account infection history, local Covid infection rates and season.
The optimal approach to boosters is definitely an individualized one as well timed boosters are likely several times more effective than ill timed boosters.
One size doesn’t fit all: Best time for COVID-19 booster depends on where you live, infection history
November 26, 2024
Key Findings
The optimal timing for COVID-19 booster administration is highly location-specific but generally falls in early autumn for the Northern Hemisphere.
Administering boosters in September or October can provide up to three to four times more protection against infection compared to booster shots given later in the year.
For instance, in New York, receiving a booster on Sept. 15th offers the best protection, while delaying the booster to January reduces its efficacy by 3.6-fold.
Breakthrough infections affect the optimal timing of subsequent booster shots. If an infection occurs close to a scheduled booster, delaying the next dose by several months can optimize immunity.
On average, the study found that optimal booster dates precede peak COVID-19 transmission by about 2.7 months, allowing individuals to maximize their protection during periods of higher viral circulation.
The findings highlight the importance of tailoring vaccination campaigns to local COVID-19 trends and personal infection histories for the best outcomes.
Why It Matters
The study's findings have significant implications for public health policy and individual decision-making. Optimizing the timing of COVID-19 booster shots can greatly enhance protection against infection, reducing both transmission rates and the burden on health care systems. For high-risk populations, such as the elderly and immunocompromised, receiving a booster at the right time can be crucial in preventing severe illness. Furthermore, this research offers a personalized approach to vaccination, recommending booster delays following breakthrough infections to maximize immune response. As the pandemic continues to evolve, these insights provide a roadmap for improving booster uptake and efficacy, ultimately reducing the societal impact of COVID-19.https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/one-size-doesnt-fit-all-best-time-for-covid-19-booster-depends-on-where-you-live-infection-history/Optimal Annual COVID-19 Vaccine Boosting Dates Following Previous Booster Vaccination or Breakthrough Infection
Jeffrey P. Townsend, Hayley B. Hassler, and Alex Dornburg
Abstract
Background
COVID-19 booster vaccinations mitigate transmission and reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with infection. However, the optimal date for booster administration remains uncertain. Geographic variation in infection rates throughout the year makes it challenging to intuit the best yearly booster administration date to effectively prevent infection, and also challenging to provide best guidance on how to alter booster administration in response to a breakthrough infection.
Methods
We leveraged longitudinal antibody and reinfection probabilities with spatiotemporal projections of COVID-19 incidence to develop a geographically informed approach to optimizing the timing of booster vaccination. We assessed the delay in booster vaccination that is warranted following breakthrough infections whenever they occur during the year, enabling a personalized assessment of optimal timing that acknowledges and respects diversity of COVID-19 immune status, addressing a substantial barrier to uptake.
Results
Yearly booster vaccination on any date is beneficial to prevention of infection. However, each location exhibits as much as a 3–4-fold range in degree of protection by date of uptake. Optimal COVID-19 booster vaccination dates are location-specific, typically in early autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. Infection late in the interval between boosts substantially alters the optimal boosting date.
Conclusions
Considerable benefit accrues from aptly timing COVID-19 booster vaccination campaigns, which can be tailored to specific locations. Individuals can acquire the greatest benefit from booster vaccination by timing it optimally, including delaying in cases of infection late in the interval between boosts. These results provide location-specific guidance for public health policy, healthcare provider recommendations, and individual decision-making.
https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/80/2/316/7908586
