The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now approve booster shots of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson for select individuals, adding to the group of people who are already eligible and receiving Pfizer boosters. The FDA and CDC now approve eligible individuals to “mix and match” and get a different vaccine type for their booster than the vaccine they originally received.
San Juan Basin Public Health (SJBPH) is announcing booster shots of all three vaccine types are now available locally for individuals who are eligible. All three vaccine types remain widely available for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals 12 years of age or older.
People who originally received the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are eligible for a booster of any vaccine type if they are 65 years of age or older, a high risk worker, living or working in an institutional setting, or are 18 years of age or older with an underlying health condition. These individuals must be at least six months from the completion of their two-dose Moderna or Pfizer vaccine series.
People who originally received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine are eligible for a booster of any vaccine type if they are 18 years of age or older. These individuals must be at least two months from the completion of their one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
SJBPH has scheduled additional clinics with added capacity to meet the community’s needs. This Saturday the 23rd, more than 60 Southwest Colorado Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers are answering the call to provide first, second, third, and booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Vaccine clinics are also planned this coming weekend at the Pagosa Springs Middle School. All SJBPH and Jogan Health clinics, including the clinics this weekend, can provide boosters, additional doses, 1st doses, and 2nd doses to eligible community members:
Pagosa Springs Middle School, 309 Lewis Street, Pagosa Springs
Saturday and Sunday, October 23 and 24,10:00am to 4:00pm
All three authorized vaccine types will be available
Make an appointment for Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine
The following lists several of the ‘underlying health conditions’ that give booster eligibility to people who originally received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Chronic lung disease
- Significant heart disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Cancer
- Other underlying health conditions
The following lists institutional settings and high risk occupations that give booster eligibility to people who originally received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines:
- Health care workers
- Teachers and daycare staff
- Grocery workers
- People in long term care facilities, homeless shelters, prisons or other congregate settings
- First responders
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster doses yesterday. The CDC and FDA authorized boosters of Pfizer vaccine in late September. The federal agencies cited scientific research showing that vaccine immunity fades gradually over time, and the positive impact of boosters on preventing severe illness caused by the Delta variant of COVID-19.
“The booster eligibility continues to expand, and we hope the community will take advantage of this opportunity to build more immunity and protection from COVID-19. The CDC and FDA have studied the vaccine and booster doses thoroughly—they are safe, and highly effective especially at preventing hospitalization and death,” said Liane Jollon, SJBPH Executive Director. “Our community has robust access to COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, and our work reaching out to unvaccinated residents to help get them protected from the worst COVID-19 outcomes continues. SJBPH looks forward to helping vaccinate 5 to 11 year-olds as soon as we have CDC and FDA approval, which could come as soon as early November,” Jollon added.
Moderately to severely immunocompromised people ages 12 and older continue to be eligible for a third dose of vaccine. For the immunocompromised, additional doses should be administered at least four weeks after the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Immunocompromised individuals are advised to seek the same mRNA vaccine that they originally received. If the matching vaccine type is not available, immunocompromised individuals may receive the alternative mRNA vaccine.
Chandler Griffin is Communications Director for San Juan Basin Public Health District. SJBPH is a local public health agency, governed by a seven-member local Board of Health, serving all residents of La Plata and Archuleta counties.