Booster Shots

Booster Dose

As you may have heard, in addition to a booster dose for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recently endorsed booster shots for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccines for certain populations and for those in high-risk occupational and institutional settings. 

Clinch Valley Health strongly encourages individuals who have already completed a two-dose vaccination series (Pfizer or Moderna) or the single-dose regimen (J&J/Janssen) to get their booster shot if/when they meet the specific clinical and timeframe criteria. 

For a list of convenient vaccine sites in our community, please visit  www.vaccines.gov.   

A few important details:  

The following groups are eligible to receive the Pfizer or Moderna booster dose: 

As with Pfizer, Moderna booster doses should be given at least six months past completion of the initial 2-dose series. Moderna booster doses are half of the initial series dose amount (0.25 ml).  

The following group is eligible to receive the Janssen booster dose:  

  • Individuals 18 years of age and older who have completed a primary vaccination with Janssen COVID-19 vaccine 
  • Individuals who have completed primary vaccination with a different authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine 

The Janssen booster dose should be given at least two months past completion of the initial dose.  

COVID-19 booster doses can be safely mixed-and-matched. Following the timing outlined above, individuals may choose which vaccine manufacturer they would prefer as a booster dose.  

  • IMPORTANT: Although it is acceptable for booster doses to be from a different manufacturer than an individual’s initial dose/series, both doses of the initial Pfizer and Moderna series must come from the same manufacturer. 
  • For example, an individual must continue with Pfizer for their first and second dose to complete the initial series, then may receive either the Pfizer, Moderna (half dose), or Janssen vaccine as a booster dose. 

Also, you can rest assured that it is safe to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including a flu vaccine, at the same time. Experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection, known as an immune response, and possible side effects after getting vaccinated are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines.  

For additional information, here is a link to the full  CDC statement on updated booster recommendations.   

Thank you for being diligent about protecting your health and the health of our community by getting vaccinated!