COVID-19 vaccine booster shots are now available to those ages 16 and older who received their second Pfizer dose six or more months ago.

Story by: Norton Healthcare on December 23, 2021

COVID-19 vaccine booster shots are now available to those ages 16 and older who received their second Pfizer dose six or more months ago.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that the emergence of the omicron variant emphasizes the importance of vaccines and boosters, especially ahead of in-person and indoor holiday gatherings.

Current vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths from omicron infections. Breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated people are still likely, and vaccines have remained effective at preventing severe illness with infections from previous COVID-19 virus variants.

Those 18 and older who received their second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine six or more months ago are eligible for a Moderna booster. Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine recipients 18 and older are eligible for a booster two or more months after vaccination.

The CDC expects that the omicron variant spreads more easily than the original COVID-19 virus, but it isn’t known yet whether it spreads easier than the delta variant. The CDC expects that anyone with an omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms.