booster dose
noun
plural booster doses
: a supplementary dose of a therapeutic agent designed to increase the effectiveness of one or more previously administered doses
I take 162 mg a day, as well as a booster dose of 325 mg (one regular aspirin) once every two weeks instead of my usual dose.—
Andrew Weil
Andrew Weil
especially
: booster shot
Kansas providers are beginning to make plans for distributing thousands of COVID-19 booster doses, with the federal government indicating residents will begin getting those shots starting next month. —Andrew Bahl
Andrew Bahl Examples of booster dose in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To reduce risk, state guidelines recommend getting the meningococcal vaccine beginning at ages 11 or 12, with a booster dose at 16.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
The state of Illinois recommends meningococcal ACWY vaccination for all patients at ages 11 or 12, with a booster dose at age 16.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
However, cases have sharply risen since 2021, likely due to a combination of mutating bacteria and declining rates of vaccination overall, especially among teens getting a booster dose for bacterial meningitis, doctors suggest.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
Parents should ensure children are up-to-date on pertussis immunizations, and pregnant women and others who will be around newborns should get a booster dose to protect babies from what can be a deadly infection.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for booster dose
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Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
The state of Illinois recommends meningococcal ACWY vaccination for all patients at ages 11 or 12, with a booster dose at age 16.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
However, cases have sharply risen since 2021, likely due to a combination of mutating bacteria and declining rates of vaccination overall, especially among teens getting a booster dose for bacterial meningitis, doctors suggest.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
Parents should ensure children are up-to-date on pertussis immunizations, and pregnant women and others who will be around newborns should get a booster dose to protect babies from what can be a deadly infection.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for booster dose
Cite this Entry
“Booster dose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/booster%20dose. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
booster dose
noun
: a supplementary dose of a therapeutic agent designed to increase the effectiveness of one or more previously administered doses
When possible, the drug [prednisone] was administered every other day, with booster doses during hemolytic crises.—Russell E. Ware et al., The New England Journal of Medicine
Russell E. Ware et al., The New England Journal of Medicine
especially
: booster shot
… vaccines may have to receive a booster dose every five years after the original series. —Marsha F. Goldsmith, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Marsha F. Goldsmith, The Journal of the American Medical Association Love words? Need even more definitions?
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