COVID-19 booster vaccination for adults

Updated Jan. 10, 2022

The Food and Drug Administration has updated the emergency use authorizations for Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to allow for booster vaccinations for those age 16 and older following completion of an initial vaccination series.

"A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine shows that people who received a Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccination were 11 times more protected from infection, compared to those who have completed their initial two-dose vaccination series," says Abinash Virk, M.D., a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases physician. "Getting a booster vaccination increases your protection against a breakthrough case of COVID-19, and increases your safety, as well as the safety of family members, friends, colleagues, patients, visitors and community members during the holiday season."

The Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization in September for Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccinations. This was followed by the FDA's emergency use authorization in October for COVID-19 booster vaccinations for Johnson & Johnson and Moderna.

Scheduling appointments

Mayo Clinic strongly recommends that all adults receive a COVID-19 booster vaccination as soon as possible if they are at least five months past their initial Moderna or Pfizer vaccination series, or at least two months past their initial Johnson & Johnson vaccination.

Make an appointment using your Patient Online Services account or the Mayo Clinic App. You also can find information about booster vaccination appointments at your nearest location.