The CDC is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose, and for certain populations that are Non-Immunocompromised.
Immunocompromised includes people who have:
- Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
- People should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.
Non Moderately or Severly Immunocompromised Individuals:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends booster shots for Non-Immunocompromised persons based on the below criteria for all three U.S. COVID-19 Vaccines (CLICK Here for CDC Press Release).
MODERNA & PFIZER Recipients
At this time those who received either MODERNA or PFIZER have been recommended for boosters 6 months after their initial series. Please see the following link to the full NC DHHS press release (English and Espanol).
Moderna/Pfizer Groups Considered for Boosters:
- 65 years or older;
- 18 years or older who:
- live or work in a nursing home or long-term care facility;
- have underlying medical conditions;
- work in high-risk settings like healthcare workers, teachers and childcare providers or food workers; or,
- live or work in a place where many people live together (for example, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, migrant farm housing, dormitories or other group living settings in colleges or universities).
Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) Recipients
- The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 booster shot is recommended for individuals ages 18 and older who were vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.
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From NC DHHS, "Additionally, individuals are now able to receive any brand of the COVID-19 vaccine for their booster shot. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type they originally received and others may prefer to get a different booster. Limited preliminary evidence suggests that booster doses of one of the two mRNA vaccines — Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech — more effectively raise antibody levels than a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
NCDHHS encourages individuals to speak with a doctor, nurse or pharmacist if they have questions about what booster is right for them."