Millions of people are newly eligible to receive a booster shot
Millions of people are newly eligible to receive a booster shot and will benefit from additional protection. However, booster shot approval should not distract from the critical work of ensuring that unvaccinated people take the first step and get an initial COVID-19 vaccine. More than 65 million Americans remain unvaccinated, leaving themselves – and their children, families, loved ones, and communities– vulnerable.
Available data right now show that all three of the COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized in the United States continue to be highly effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, even against the widely circulating Delta variant. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and reduce the spread of the virus and help prevent new variants from emerging.
Who is eligible for booster shots?
People 18+ who received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine are eligible for a booster dose two months after their initial vaccination.
For people who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, the CDC recommends that the following people get a booster shot:
65 years and older
18+ and live in a long-term care facility
50–64 with certain underlying medical conditions
18+ who live or work in high-risk settings
18–49 with certain underlying medical conditions
These recommendations are in addition to CDC’s recommendation that immunocompromised people get an additional dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as part of their first set of shots.
When can I get my booster shot?
If you are in a group that is eligible for the booster shot, you can receive your booster shot:
Six months after your second vaccine dose if you received a Moderna or Pfizer vaccine
Two months after your initial vaccine if you received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine
Which vaccine do I get for a booster dose?
Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received and others, may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.
Women under 50 should be aware that there is a low risk of a blood clotting disorder from the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine. If you have any questions or concerns about the getting a booster of J&J, please talk to your doctor or call the COVID-19 Call Center at 206-4773977 (say the name of your language to get an interpreter).
