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booster shot
noun
: a supplementary dose of an immunizing agent administered as an injection
called also booster, booster dose
Examples of booster shot in a Sentence
He had to get two booster shots at his latest checkup.
Recent Examples on the Web
The booster shot is meant to top-up immunity for people most vulnerable to infection before a new round of COVID vaccines roll out this fall.
—Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2024
Now, those over 65 should also receive a second booster shot under the new recommendation.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024
Research shows that people who got the latest booster shot were 54% less likely to be infected with Covid this winter.
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 15 Feb. 2024
About 17 percent of the U.S. population has received the new, bivalent booster shot, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Danny Nguyen, Washington Post, 29 Dec. 2023
In the discussion, hosted by DeSantis, Florida’s surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, told viewers not to worry about getting infected with COVID and advised Florida residents 65 and under to forgo the booster shot.
—Alexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 21 Sep. 2023
Fewer than a quarter of Chicagoans received the bivalent booster shot offered last fall, CDPH data shows.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2023
The study analyzed data from 303 people who received the mRNA vaccine as well as a booster shot.
—Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 22 Aug. 2023
Unlike the last booster shot, which was approved around this time last year and protected people against two strains of the virus, the new mRNA vaccine only targets one strain — the omicron variant, XBB.1.5.
—Angela Roberts, Baltimore Sun, 15 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'booster shot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1944, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near booster shot
Cite this Entry
“Booster shot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/booster%20shot. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Kids Definition
booster shot
noun
: an extra dose of an immunizing agent given to maintain or restore the effects of previously established immunity
Medical Definition
booster shot
noun
: a supplementary dose of an immunizing agent administered as an injection
… the state is requiring older children to have additional booster shots for measles, mumps and rubella.—Ann Schrader, The Denver Post
see booster, booster dose
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