Booster Doses Approved for Moderna, Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccines
Eligible Ohioans who received the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are now able to receive booster doses, and may choose any approved COVID-19 vaccine for their booster dose. Booster doses are now available for certain populations who have received all three COVID-19 vaccines authorized or approved in the United States.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reviewed authorizations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier this week and recommended the following:
Moderna Booster Dose
People who received the Moderna vaccine for their primary vaccine series can now receive a booster dose.
For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at least six months after their initial series:
- 65 years and older.
- Age 18 and older who live in long-term care settings.
- Age 18 and older who have underlying medical conditions.
- Age 18 and older who work or live in high-risk settings.
The Moderna booster dose is NOT the same dosage given for the primary series (0.5 mL). The booster dose is a half-dose (0.25 mL), and providers will need to draw the appropriate dosage for boosters. Additional ancillary supplies will be provided.
Johnson & Johnson Booster Dose
Booster doses are authorized for all recipients of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. Anyone age 18 or older who received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine can get a booster dose at least two months following the initial dose.
The Johnson & Johnson booster dose is the same dosage as the first dose.
Mix-and-Match Doses
Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received and others, may prefer to get a different booster.
This mix-and-match approach applies only to booster doses. The primary series of the two-dose mRNA vaccines must be from the same product.
Next Steps
The CDC is expected to issue more detailed clinical considerations around booster doses, including guidance on weighing individual risks and benefits and mix-and-match booster doses. The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) will review these final recommendations and share important updates as soon as they become available.
Ohio COVID-19 vaccine providers can begin offering booster doses as soon as practical. Eligible booster recipients will be asked to attest they have one of the qualifying conditions, but specific proof will not be required. ODH is advising that it may take eligible Ohioans 2-3 weeks to get their booster dose, and is emphasizing that there will be many opportunities to receive these boosters in their local community, whether they walk in to get their third dose or make an appointment with a nearby provider. Ohioans will be able to schedule an appointment online at gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov or by phone at 1-833-427-5634.
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