The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention on Thursday endorsed booster shots of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.
The decision follows recommendations by CDC and U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committees earlier this week, as well as approval of Pfizer boosters last month.
For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot six months after their initial series:
- 65 years and older
- Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
- Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
- Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings
Booster shots also are recommended for all of the nearly 15 million people who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
The agency’s decision allows those who are eligible for a booster to choose any of the three that have been approved in the United States.
In a statement issued Thursday, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky said the decision should not distract from ensuring that unvaccinated people get an initial COVID-19 vaccine.
“The evidence shows that all three COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States are safe — as demonstrated by the over 400 million vaccine doses already given,” Walensky said in the statement. “And, they are all highly effective in reducing the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, even in the midst of the widely circulating Delta variant.”
Julia Hunter is the engagement editor for Hoptown Chronicle. Reach her at julia@hoptownchronicle.org.
