What Boosters are Available? Am I Eligible? Read below.

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IDPH Adopts CDC Recommendations for Booster Doses
On Thursday, October 21, 2021, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation for a booster shot of both Moderna and Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) COVID-19 vaccines in individuals 18 years and older. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorization and CDC’s guidance for use are important steps forward as we work to stay ahead of the virus and keep Americans safe. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) fully supports CDC’s recommendation. The CDC press release can be found here (https://www.cdc.gov/…/rel…/2021/p1021-covid-booster.html).
This updated interim guidance from CDC allows for millions of Americans who are at highest risk for COVID-19 to receive a booster shot to help increase their protection.
For Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, a single COVID-19 vaccine booster dose is recommended greater than or equal to 6 months after completion of an mRNA primary series, in the same risk groups for whom CDC recommended a booster of Pfizer-BioNTech, under FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization. The Moderna booster dose is a smaller 50 microgram dose.
• CDC recommends the following groups should receive boosters:

• people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a 50-mcg booster shot of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Moderna primary series,
• people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a 50-mcg booster shot of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Moderna primary series.
  • Additionally, CDC recommends the following groups may be considered for boosters.
• people aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a 50-mcg booster shot of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Moderna primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks, and
• people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a 50-mcg booster shot of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Moderna primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.
  For Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine, , a single COVID-19 vaccine booster dose is recommended for persons aged 18 years and older, greater than or equal to 2 months after receipt of the initial Janssen dose, under the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization.
  As a reminder, the ACIP recommended a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine September 24, 2021. Those recommendations are as follows:
  • CDC recommends the following groups should receive boosters:
• people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
• people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series.
  • Additionally, CDC recommends the following groups may be considered for boosters.
• people aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks, and
• people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.
  In addition to the guidance above regarding booster doses, the CDC stated that the use of each of the available COVID-19 vaccines as a heterologous (or “mix and match”) booster dose in eligible individuals, following completion of primary vaccination with a different available COVID-19 vaccine, is allowable. Allowing mixing and matching could alleviate supply issues, make the task of getting a booster simpler for Americans and allow people who may have had adverse reactions to the initial dose to try a different shot.
  The clinical considerations for heterologous mixing are as follows:
  • The same product that was used for the primary regimen should be used for the booster. If that is not available or another product is preferred, heterologous boosting with a single dose of any of the authorized COVID-19 vaccine boosters is acceptable
  • Heterologous dosing may be considered for the booster dose only.
  • Individual benefit-risk assessment may inform which booster product to use.
  Many of the people who are now eligible to receive a booster shot received their initial vaccine early in the vaccination program and will benefit from additional protection. A booster shot will help strengthen protection against severe disease in those populations who are at high-risk for exposure to COVID-19 or the complications from severe disease.
  Individuals may contact their healthcare provider or visit www.vaccines.gov to find a nearby location to receive a booster dose.