CVS Health, in a continuing effort to provide vaccination services, is giving booster shots of the Moderna vaccines to eligible people at many of its 324 pharmacy locations in New Jersey.
CVS has been administering Pfizer boosters for a few weeks. The guidelines, however, have changed since then. People no longer need to get the booster of the vaccine they originally received.
Based on new guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eligible patients may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. The CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix-and-match dosing for booster shots.
The CDC also recommends a booster shot for patients who received the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine, are 18 and older, and were vaccinated two or more months ago.
Anyone interested in receiving a COVID-19 booster or their initial vaccine series is strongly encouraged to make an appointment at CVS.com or through the CVS app to secure a convenient time and location, CVS Health officials said.
The following are the guidelines set by the CDC and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot:
- People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their mRNA primary series;
- People ages 50-64 with certain underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their mRNA primary series;
- People ages 18-49 who are at high risk for severe COVID-19 due to certain underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their mRNA primary series, based on their individual benefits and risk;
- People ages 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their mRNa primary series.
