Ages 50 and up can get a second COVID-19 booster

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends certain immunocompromised individuals and people over the age of 50 who received an initial booster dose at least 4 months ago to get another mRNA booster – Pfizer or Moderna – to increase their protection against severe disease from COVID-19. The Juneau Public Health Center offers free Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines every Friday through April. Make an appointment at juneau.org/vaccine or call 907-586-6000, or walk in and register on site from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday.

“This is especially important for those 65 and older and those 50 and older with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for severe disease from COVID-19 as they are the most likely to benefit from receiving an additional booster dose at this time. CDC, in collaboration with FDA and our public health partners, will continue to evaluate the need for additional booster doses for all Americans,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a March 29 media statement.

In addition, based on newly published data, adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months ago may now receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Data continue to show the importance of vaccination and booster doses to protect individuals both from infection and severe outcomes of COVID-19. During the recent Omicron surge, those who were boosted were 21-times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to those who were unvaccinated, and 7-times less likely to be hospitalized, according to CDC. CDC continues to recommend that all eligible adults, adolescents, and children 5 and older be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, which includes getting an initial booster when eligible.

Other COVID-19 vaccine providers in Juneau are Capstone Clinic at the Juneau airport, Costco Pharmacy, Genoa Healthcare, Juneau Urgent & Family Care, Safeway, and SEARHC.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 907-586-6000.