A panel of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted to approve booster injections of the COVID-19 vaccine for even more people.
A month ago, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended additional doses of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine for some people who had previously received this mRNA vaccine. And this week, following an update to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorizations for vaccines, the panel voted to recommend recalls for certain groups of people who also had originally received Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines. Additionally, the panel’s new recommendations allow those eligible for boosters to mix and match the vaccine they are receiving.
For those who may be wondering if they are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine booster, here’s what you need to know about the New CDC recommendations.
If you initially received the Pfizer / BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty):
You are eligible for a booster injection if you are 65 years of age or older. You are also eligible if you are at least 18 years old and have an underlying health condition (which puts you at a higher risk of serious complications from COVID-19), if you live in a facility. long-term care or if you live or work in other high-risk situations (such as first responders, grocery store workers and other essential workers).
You should wait at least six months after your first doses of the vaccine before receiving a booster.
If you initially received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine:
In this week’s recommendations, ACIP recommended booster shots for the same groups of people who originally received Moderna doses as those who received Pfizer. So, if your first two doses of the vaccine were Moderna, you may receive a booster if you are at least 65 years old. Or, if you are at least 18 years old, you may receive an additional dose provided you also have an underlying health condition, live in a long-term care situation, or live or work in other high-pressure environments. risk.
Again, you should wait to receive your booster injection until at least six months have passed since you received your first doses.
If you initially received the COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson and Johnson (Janssen):
For those who are at least 18 years old and have received the Johnson and Johnson single dose COVID-19 vaccine, you may receive a booster just two months after your initial dose.
The CDC has also echoed the FDA’s clearance for a mixed vaccination strategy, meaning those who are eligible for boosters based on the above criteria can get one of three licensed or approved vaccines. as a booster vaccine, regardless of the one they received originally. . Some people may want to stick with the same type of vaccine they had before, while others may want to get a different one this time around, according to the CDC. Or, depending on the supply in their area, they may simply not be able to match the vaccine they previously received.
However, the CDC also pointed out that the three COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are still safe and very effective in preventing serious illness and death from the coronavirus, even against the delta variant. For those who want or need extra protection, however, booster shots may make sense. If you are unsure whether you should be given an extra dose, talk to your health care provider. And don’t forget that you can get your flu shot when you get your booster shot.
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