Additional COVID Vaccine (3rd/Booster) Doses

All persons over 18 are now eligible for COVID booster doses

On Friday, November 19th, the CDC and ACIP announced the following recommendations: 

• All persons aged ≥18 years may receive a single COVID-19 vaccine booster dose (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Janssen) ≥6 months after completion of their primary mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) vaccine series. 
  • We no longer need to assess if an individual is at a high risk for COVID-19 disease due to occupational setting or underlying medical conditions.  
    • Applicable screening questions have been removed from the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 Consent Forms (see attached).   
      • No changes were indicated for the Janssen (J&J) Consent Form as all vaccine recipients 18 years of age and older should receive a booster dose (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Janssen) ≥ 2 months after receiving a first dose of the Janssen (J&J) vaccine. 
• All persons 50 years of age and older, as well as individuals aged ≥18 years in long-term care settings, should receive a single COVID-19 vaccine booster dose (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Janssen) ≥6 months after completion of their primary mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) vaccine series. 

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-expands-eligibility-covid-19-vaccine-boosters

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1119-booster-shots.html

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Third Dose of COVID Vaccine for Immunocompromised Individuals

Northeast Health District clinics and mobile events will begin offering mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) to eligible clients (see below) effective Monday, August 23rd. The additional dose should be the SAME vaccine previously received initially.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that certain patients with weakened immune systems receive an additional dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine. The recommendation does not include J&J vaccine recipients at this time.

This includes people who have:

• • Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• • Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• • Received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• • Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• • Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• • Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

Individuals should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.

Additional doses of COVID vaccine for immunocompromised individuals are being offered now.