Tehosterokote

Tehosterokote, in English commonly referred to as a booster dose, is a vaccination dose given after the initial immunization series to restore or enhance protection against a specific infectious disease. The purpose of a tehosterokote is to raise antibody levels and strengthen long-term immune memory, which may wane over time after the primary vaccination.

The timing and need for a tehosterokote depend on the pathogen, the vaccine used, and individual risk factors. Some vaccines require scheduled boosters at fixed intervals, such as tetanus boosters every 10 years. Others are recommended after a certain period following the primary series, or when circulating strains change or waning immunity is observed. Booster recommendations may vary by country, age group, health status, and exposure risk.

Commonly boosted diseases include tetanus and diphtheria, pertussis, influenza, and, in recent years, COVID-19. Booster strategies aim to maintain protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and death, particularly for older adults, healthcare workers, pregnant individuals, and those with underlying health conditions.

Safety and efficacy data indicate that tehosterokote doses generally have similar safety profiles to initial doses, with most adverse effects being mild, such as soreness at the injection site, fatigue, or low-grade fever. Serious adverse events are rare. The effectiveness of a booster can depend on the time since the previous dose, the vaccine formulation, and circulating variants.

See also: booster dose, vaccination schedule, waning immunity, immune memory.