Millions of Americans who received the COVID-19 vaccine are now recommended to get a booster dose.
Who's eligible for a booster?
Updated April 5, 2022
Everyone ages 12 and older can now get a booster shot.
Pfizer-BioNTech
IF YOU RECEIVED
Who should get a booster:
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Anyone 5 years and older
Who should get a second booster?
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Anyone 12 years and older
When to get a booster:
At least 5 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series
If eligible for a second booster, at least 2 months after your first booster.
Which booster can you get:
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Teens 12–17 years old can get a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster
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Adults 18 years and older can get any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States.
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The second booster must be an mRNA vaccine.
Moderna
IF YOU RECEIVED
Who should get a booster:
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Anyone 6 months old or older
Who should get a second booster:
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Adults 18 years old and older
When to get a booster:
At least 5 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series
If eligible for a second booster, at least 2 months after your first booster.
Which booster can you get:
Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States
The second booster must be an mRNA vaccine.
Who should get a second booster:
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Adults 50 years old and older
Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen
IF YOU RECEIVED
Who should get a booster:
Adults 18 years and older
Who should get a second booster:
-
Adults 50 years old and older
When to get a booster:
At least 2 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination
If eligible for a second booster, at least 4 months after your first booster.
Which booster can you get: For the first booster, an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) is preferred in most* situations
The second booster must be an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
For more information, visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots page on the CDV website.
Third Dose mRNA Vaccine Guidance
The third dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is interchangeable between Pfizer and Moderna and administered eight weeks after completing a primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series. Immunocompromised children age 5 and older can get a third dose as well.
Who is considered immunocompromised & recommended to get an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine?
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Receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
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Received an organ transplant & are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
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Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
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Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
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Advanced or untreated HIV infection
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Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
What is the difference between a booster and an additional dose?
A COVID-19 booster is given when a person has completed their vaccine series, and protection against the virus has decreased over time. Depending on the original series you had, some details will vary.
An additional dose is administered to people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems. This additional dose is intended to improve immunocompromised people’s response to their initial vaccine series. Depending on the original series given, some details will vary.
Source: Hopkinsmedicine.org
OCCHD is offering third doses at all clinic locations & a doctor's letter is not required. To make an appointment, click here.