The recently recognized “omicron” variant is still too new to know a lot about how it may act, but it does appear to be more easily spread than preceding variants and, at least initially, appears to cause less severe infection. Nonetheless, there are many people hospitalized with omicron, and so it cannot be taken lightly. It does appear that there is a significant increase in immunity to all strains of COVID-19 (including omicron) with a booster dose of one of the COVID vaccines. Whichever vaccine is received as the primary vaccine, it is a good idea to receive a booster. It is advisable to get either the Moderna or Pfizer six months after receiving the second dose of those – and it does not matter which of these you received in past. You can get either one as a booster. If you had the Janssen (J&J) vaccine as the initial vaccine, then it is advisable to get either the Moderna or Pfizer as a booster two months or more after having received the Janssen vaccine. You can get a booster dose, or the primary dose(s), at Everett’s Pharmacy or go online to <vaccines.gov> to find other sites.