COVID-19 vaccine boosters

Updated March 30, 2022

You may be hearing about COVID-19 vaccine boosters, but what does that mean for you?

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 12 and older following completion of an initial vaccination series.

You can get a booster if you received:

• Pfizer
  Are age 12 and older and it's been at least five months after completing the primary series. The Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are preferred for most people ages 18 and older. Ages 12–17 may only get a Pfizer vaccine.
  Are age 5–11, it's been at least 28 days after completing the primary series, and you are moderately or severely immunocompromised
• Moderna
  Are age 18 and older and it's been at least five months after completing the primary series
• Johnson & Johnson
  Are age 18 and older and it's been at least two months after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccination

Pregnant women also can get a COVID-19 booster dose.

If you have a weakened immune system, had two doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and an additional primary shot, and it’s been at least three months since the additional shot, get a single booster dose. An mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is preferred.

If you have a weakened immune system, had one dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and an additional primary shot of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, and it’s been at least two months since the additional shot, get a single booster dose. An mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is preferred.

Second booster dose

A second booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for certain people who have a weakened immune system and people age 50 or older. This second booster dose can be given to those eligible four months after a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine.

Eligible patients can use the Mayo Clinic App, Patient Online Services or call to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine booster.

Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date.