Surmising a Booster Shot [PHIL-OSOPHY]

I have a hunch the Centers for Disease Control will be announcing that a booster injection is recommended to prolong the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine. Getting through this contagion is still a case of earn-while-you-learn, so my other intuition is, I'm not going to be surprised if we see some additional twists and turns in the near future.

I have one more glimmer to share: I don't think people are going to be as receptive to getting another shot so soon. File it under "pandemic fatigue."

Like an a cappella choir, I can hear in the voices of my callers the beginning of demotivation about following recommended behaviors to protect themselves and others from the virus. Pandemic fatigue happens unhurriedly, a little at a time, and my sixth sense is telling me that now is that time. We all know most people will have mild symptoms and get better on their own. About one in six will have severe problems, such as trouble breathing. The odds of ending up in the hospital increase the older you get or upsurge with additional health conditions like diabetes or heart disease.

The next booster should be given to the government strategists to find effective ways to deal with this pandemic fatigue and reinvigorate public attentiveness. I sense that without bolstering public support for COVID-19 prevention measures, some of the people who are presently cooperating will begin backsliding.

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.