The decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday to
authorize booster doses of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines — and
allow a mix-and-match approach for all three available vaccines — will greatly
expand the number of Americans eligible for booster shots.
The Johnson & Johnson booster was authorized for anyone 18 and over.
Moderna’s eligibility standards mirror that of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine: people 65 and older, or adults at risk of severe illness or complications because of underlying medical conditions or exposure on the job.
The mix-and-match approach allows an individual to receive a booster dose from a different manufacturer than the vaccine they previously received. The
additional booster shots could start to be given by the end of the week, pending a meeting of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisers and a decision by the agency’s director.
Booster vaccination appointments are readily available at most public clinics or retail pharmacies. Currently, WashU Med Occupational Health is focused on
providing required influenza vaccinations and has very limited capacity for
administering booster doses.
For more information, please visit vaccines.gov.