When the Covid vaccines became available, people were considered to be “fully vaccinated” once they had gotten both doses of a two-dose vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna) or one of a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson), and enough time had passed for it to take full effect.
So far, I haven’t heard anyone use the term “fully vaccinated” specifically to refer to someone who has gotten a booster shot, but now that the boosters are widely available and recommended, I figure it’s only a matter of time. Does anyone know whether, or when, it will be required for someone to have gotten a booster shot in order to be officially considered “fully vaccinated”?
Can’t answer the question directly, but I know around here, people used to inform others of their “complete” status by saying “I’m fully vaccinated.” Now, people say “I’m vaxxed and boosted.”
In other words, if someone were to say “I’m fully vaccinated,” the assumption would be that they were not boosted.
Vaccination is not necessarily a once and done – or even an N and done proposition. Your body’s antibodies to a particular antigen slowly deteriorate and become less effective over time and the booster shots correct that. Some antibodies’ deterioration is slow enough the boosters are not necessary.
For example, tetanus vaccinations* are administered in five doses in childhood with the final at age fourteen, then a booster should be administered every ten years thereafter/
HPV vaccinations, OTOH, are a two-shot series if started at 9 to 14 years of age and three for fifteen-year olds or older and require no booster shots thereafter.
*Against a bacterial infection (Clostridium tetani) not a virus.