The CDC Recommends A Second COVID-19 Vaccine Booster for Certain Individuals

Arizona Department of Health Services sent this bulletin at 04/01/2022 10:26 AM MST
2019 AIPO

The CDC Recommends A Second COVID-19 Vaccine Booster for Certain Individuals

The CDC expanded eligibility for a second booster dose for certain individuals who may be at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. The CDC is updating its recommendations to allow certain immunocompromised individuals and people over the age of 50 who received an initial booster dose at least 4 months ago to be eligible for another mRNA booster to increase their protection against severe disease from COVID-19.

These updated recommendations acknowledge the increased risk of severe disease in certain populations including those who are elderly or over the age of 50 with multiple underlying conditions, along with the currently available data on vaccine and booster effectiveness.

A summary of the amended FDA emergency use authorizations can be found here. 

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*All people ages 12 years and older should receive 1 booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Some adults may receive a second booster dose:

  • Adults ages 18-49 years: Those who received Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine as both their primary series dose and booster dose may receive an mRNA COVID-19 booster dose at least 4 months after the Janssen booster dose.
  • Adults ages 50 years and older: A second mRNA booster dose could benefit people ages 50 years and older, as they are at increased risk for severe COVID-19. People ages 50 years and older may choose to receive a second booster dose, if it has been at least 4 months after the first booster

**An 8-week interval may be optimal for some people ages 12 years and older, especially for males ages 12 to 39 years. A shorter interval (3 weeks for Pfizer-BioNTech; 4 weeks for Moderna) between the first and second doses remains the recommended interval for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised; adults ages 65 years and older; and in situations in which there is increased concern about COVID-19 community levels or an individual’s higher risk of severe disease.

immunocompromised covid-19 vaccine schedule

*People ages 12 years and older may choose to receive a second booster dose using an age-appropriate mRNA COVID-19 vaccine if it has been at least 4 months after the first booster dose.

To access the ADHS resource on COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses, please click here.