On October 21, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that certain people are eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster shot, including those who received Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines.

The Director, Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation for a booster shot of COVID-19 vaccines in certain populations.

Here are the updates:

For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:

• 65 years and older
• Age 18+ who live in long term care settings
• Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions:
  • Cancer
  • Chronic Kidney Disease
  • Chronic Liver Disease
  • Chronic Lung Diseases such as Asthma, COPD, etc.
  • Dementia or other neurological diseases
  • Diabetes (Type I and II)
  • Down Syndrome
  • Heart Conditions
  • HIV infection
  • Immunocompromised individuals
  • Mental Health Condition
  • Overweight and Obesity
  • Pregnancy
  • Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
  • Smoking, current or former
  • Solid organ or blood stem transplant
  • Stroke or cerebrovascular disease
  • Substance use disorder
  • Tuberculosis
• Age 18+ who work or live in high risk settings:
  • First responders (e.g., healthcare workers, firefighters, police, congregate care staff)
  • Education staff (e.g., teachers, support staff, daycare workers)
  • Food and agriculture workers
  • Manufacturing workers
  • Corrections workers
  • U.S. Postal Service workers
  • Public transit workers
  • Grocery store workers

For Individuals who received J&J/Janssen vaccines, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.

Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. The CDC is now permitting mix and match dosing of boosters.

Here is the FDA’s recommendation on how to “mix and match” on booster doses:

A single booster dose of any of the available COVID-19 vaccines may be administered as a heterologous booster dose following completion of primary vaccination with a different available COVID-19 vaccine. The eligible population(s) and dosing interval for a heterologous booster dose are the same as those authorized for a booster dose of the vaccine used for primary vaccination.

We are still awaiting official recommendations/guidelines from the ACIP.