COVID-19 Booster Update

COVID-19 Booster Update- March 30, 2022

On Tuesday, March 29, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) updated authorization for a second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines for individuals who are at the highest risk for severe illness or death from COVID-19.

The following individuals are eligible to receive a second COVID-19 booster dose:

• People 50 years of age and older who received an initial mRNA booster dose (Pfizer or Moderna) at least four months ago may receive a second booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine
• Individuals 12 years of age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised and received an initial mRNA booster dose (Pfizer or Moderna) at least four months ago may receive a second booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer, ages 12+; Moderna, ages 18+).
  • This means individuals 12 years and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised may receive as many as five doses – the recommended three-dose primary series for people who are immunocompromised, plus two booster doses.
• Adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months ago may receive a second booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna).

Booster doses are not authorized for children younger than 12 years. Children ages 5-11 who are moderately to severely immunocompromised are eligible to receive a third dose in their Pfizer primary vaccine series at least 28 days after the second dose to strengthen the original immune response.

Eligible individuals interested in receiving a second COVID-19 booster dose are encouraged to call the Mercer County Health District (MCHD) at (419) 586-3251, Option 2 to schedule an appointment or ask questions.