Last night, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky endorsed ACIP's recommendation, officially authorizing booster shots for Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for certain populations. Many of you have been calling our pharmacy with questions, and we want to clarify these new guidelines and what they mean.

Please note that THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "Booster" and "Additional Dose". The terms booster shot and additional dose have become synonymous to the general public, but they imply different meanings. What you need to know is that this specific terminology only applies to the Moderna vaccine. The 3rd dose of Moderna is the EXACT SAME 0.3mL full dosage amount as the 1st and 2nd vaccine -- it's just an additional 3rd shot given to people with severely weakened immune systems. The booster shot of Moderna is half the normal dosage of the 1st and 2nd shot, meaning a booster of Moderna is only 0.15mL. Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson boosters are the same full dosage amount as the primary series.

The new guidelines include the approval of heterologous booster shots -- the "mixing & matching" of any of the 3 available vaccines. The decision to get a booster of a different vaccine manufacturer is up to the discretion of the recipient based on their personal preference.

Anyone who got Johnson & Johnson as their initial COVID-19 vaccine is recommended to get a booster shot of either J & J, Pfizer, or Moderna (half dose) at least 2 months after their first J & J vaccine. For individuals who received the primary series of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, the following groups are now eligible for a booster shot after a minimum of 6 months since their primary series (first 2 doses):