Today a Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) advisory committee voted in favor of authorizing booster doses to be administered at least six months after completion of the primary series in individuals:
- 65 years of age and older
- Living in long-term care facilities
- 50 through 64 years of age with underlying medical conditions (cancer, stroke, chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, pregnancy)
The committee also agreed to allow (but did not recommend) boosters for those 18 – 49 years of age with underlying medical conditions that put them at risk of severe illness (as noted above). Boosters extend immunity after the initial shots’ potency starts to decrease over time.
This guidance is specific to Pfizer vaccine recipients; there are no booster recommendations yet for the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines.
Boosters are not currently required by WashU Med. Boosters for those who meet the indications above can be scheduled through WashU Occupational Health by emailing occupationalhealth@wustl.edu or by calling 314-362-3528, although short-term scheduling availability may be scarce due to current staffing challenges and our current focus on providing flu shots. You can also obtain a booster at most public clinics or retail pharmacies.