COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Information Sheet

You are eligible for a booster dose if you:

• Are 18+ and it has been 5 months after second dose of Moderna.
• Are 12+ and it has been 5 months after your second dose of Pfizer.
• Are 18+ and it has been 2 months since your initial dose of Johnson & Johnson.
• Qualified for an “additional/third” dose of Pfizer or Moderna because you have certain immunocompromising conditions (listed below under Additional (Third) Doses section). You can get your booster (fourth) dose 6 months after receiving your additional/third dose.

Other important information:

• You may choose which vaccine you want to receive as a booster dose unless you are under 18.  Pfizer is the only option for those younger than 18.
• If you recently had COVID-19 but want to get your booster, you only need to wait until you are cleared from quarantine or isolation to get it.

Additional (Third) Doses

Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for both the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to allow for the administration of an additional dose in certain immunocompromised individuals. Emerging data suggest some people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems do not always build the same level of immunity compared to people who are not immunocompromised, and as a result may benefit from a third dose of the mRNA vaccines.

Providers may administer a third dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to individuals in the following categories who received either vaccine the first time:

• Recipients of organ or stem cell transplants
• People with advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active recipients of treatment for cancer
• People who are taking some medications that weaken the immune system

Providers may administer an additional dose of only the Pfizer vaccine for immunocompromised youth.

• Immunocompromised children 5 to 11 can receive a third  pediatric dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
• Immunocompromised children 12 to 17 can receive a third dose of Pfizer.

On Sept. 10, the Delaware Division of Public Health issued a Health Update for physicians reminding them that they may use clinical judgment and consider additional factors when determining a person’s level of immunocompetence (being immunocompromised) – and whether they may benefit from a third dose of Pfizer or Moderna.  Providers may consider advanced age, particularly 85 years and older, residency in a long-term care facility, residency in a congregate setting, or debilitating disease and comorbidities as additional factors. *Age or residency in a congregate setting alone should not be considered a determining factor for being immunocompromised.

Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine

Individuals 18 years and older who initially received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine are not eligible for an “Additional” dose under these conditions, but are eligible for a booster dose of any of the three approved vaccines two months after receiving their initial dose.

People who meet any of these categories are encouraged to contact their primary care or specialty care provider with questions or for a vaccine. If your provider is not administering vaccines, you may go to any pharmacy or DPH Vaccination clinic for a third dose.  While you do not need to provide written proof of your condition, you must self-attest that you meet the conditions.  Visit de.gov/getmyvaccine for a list of vaccination sites.

For more information, visit  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html