CLEVELAND, Ohio - Some older adults have yet to get their second booster shot against COVID-19, which is causing some concern for health officials and the CDC. 

Dr. Ardeshir Hashimi, section chief of geriatric medicine for Cleveland Clinic says there are two primary reasons for this: awareness and access.

"I think we have done a great job with the initial vaccine in terms of awareness with seniors and also access. That has changed with the booster," Dr. Hashimi said.

Some older adults may wonder why exactly they need another booster shot if they already got one along with the initial vaccine. Hashimi says he believes more needs to be done to explain the efficacy of the vaccine can wane over time making another booster necessary.

Hashimi adds that older adults don't have as strong of an immune system and new variants of the virus continue to surface.

In terms of side effects, Hashimi says the side effects of the second booster are very similar to those of the first.

In addition, Hashimi recommends those who may be vulnerable to wear a mask and practice social distancing whenever possible while in public, not just to prevent COVID-19, but other viruses too.

"We have seen that with the rates of the common flu, influenza have dramatically went down, and a lot of it was because of these great public health safety practices that everyone was on board and doing, and I think that doesn’t stop here," Hashimi said.

As for accessibility, Hashimi says older adults may have trouble accessing their second booster shot due to needing to schedule it online with unfamiliar technology.

Hashimi encourages younger and more technologically adept family members help those with accessibility issues in order for them to schedule their second booster.