On March 29th, 2022, the FDA authorized a second COVID vaccine booster dose to add an extra level of protection for people at a higher risk of severe COVID outcomes. This includes immunocompromised individuals and older adults over 50 years who received their first booster dose (Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson) at least four months ago.

Booster shots are recommended because our immune responses (or vaccine protection) decrease over time, making us need an extra layer of protection. According to the CDC, during the recent Omicron surge, those boosted were 21-times less likely to die from COVID-19 and 7-times less likely to be hospitalized than those who were unvaccinated.

Specifically, for older people and individuals with weakened immune systems (immunocompromised), their immune response decreases faster than others, putting them at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 related illness and death.

Following the recent FDA authorization, the CDC now recommends another Pfizer or Moderna booster for 1) individuals who are immunocompromised, 2) people over 65 years, and 3) those 50 years and older with underlying medical conditions who have received their first booster shot at least four months ago.

A person can self-attest to their moderate to severe immunocompromised status and request for the additional COVID shot at the pharmacy without a doctor's referral.

Relatedly, based on newly published data, the CDC recommends that adults who have received an initial vaccine and booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least four months ago are eligible to receive a second booster shot using an mRNA COVID vaccine.

Ongoing research suggests that people who are immunocompromised or over 50 years who have had the two-dose mRNA vaccine series plus one booster may not need a second booster if they were recently infected with the omicron variant of the coronavirus. It is strongly recommended that you discuss this with your healthcare provider before deciding about your booster shots.