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How, Where, And When To Get Your COVID-19 Booster Shot

The CDC recommended that all vaccinated adults get a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The FDA has recommended that people 65 years and older and others at high risk of severe COVID-19 get booster shots at least 6 months after their second dose.

Here's a rundown of how, where, and when to get a booster based on your eligibility.

Booster shots are here — for some Americans, at least.

US regulators have updated their recommendations as to who should get a third dose of Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) first authorized and recommended Pfizer boosters for people with a high risk of severe COVID-19 in September.

The FDA extended its authorization to include both Pfizer and Moderna boosters for all adults in November.

The CDC has also shifted its recommendation to urge that all vaccinated adults boost their protection against the Omicron variant. Anyone 18 or older who completed their Pfizer or Moderna series six months ago, or got their J&J shot at least two months ago, is not only eligible but encouraged to get an additional shot.

Here's a rundown of how, where, and when to get a third shot based on your eligibility.

Who should get a booster shot, and when?

The FDA first authorized a third dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine for people with severely weakened immune systems — including people receiving cancer treatment, those with advanced HIV infections, or organ transplant patients. Third doses are necessary for this group, experts say, since immunocompromised people don't develop the same protection from two shots as others do.

Scientists also agree that elderly people — those 65 years and older — require boosters, since their immunity from vaccines tends to wane more quickly than average.

But there's less consensus when it comes to the rest of the population.

An independent group of advisors to the CDC recommended Pfizer boosters for nursing home residents, people 65 and older, and all adults with underlying medical conditions early on. The committee has not yet weighed in on boosters for the rest of the population.

Scientists do agree, however, that nobody needs a booster until at least six months after their second dose, or two months after a J&J shot. 

How do you book a booster appointment?

Roughly 80,000 vaccination locations will offer boosters across the country, Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, said in September. For the most part, the shots are available at the same locations where people got their first and second doses — including pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens. Many states have closed their large clinics and drive-through sites, though. 

Just like the first vaccines, booster shots are free.

"It will be easy. Just show your vaccination card, and you'll get a booster," President Joe Biden said last month. "No other ID, no insurance, no state residency requirement."

Both Walgreens and CVS are asking people to confirm that they meet either the FDA or CDC's eligibility requirements, though the pharmacies don't require specific documentation. 

CVS said boosters will be available at 6,000 of its pharmacies and clinics starting in September.

Walgreens said people can book appointments over the phone or online. Eligible people can either bring their COVID-19 vaccine card to the appointment or provide evidence of their last two vaccine doses and receive a new card. (People who lost their cards can typically retrieve their record by contacting their state health department or the site where they got vaccinated.)

What about those who got J&J?

People who got the Johnson & Johnson shot also need boosters, and they're welcome to mix and match them.

The FDA said J&J vaccine recipients can get a second dose of any of the authorized vaccines. Studies have shown that following a J&J vaccination with an mRNA booster from Pfizer or Moderna may lead to an even better immune response compared to a second dose of J&J.

Even before the agency came out with the authorization, some health experts who got the J&J shot "topped off" with a shot from Moderna or Pfizer.

But do we really need boosters?

For most people, there's no need to run to the pharmacy for a booster right away. Vaccines are still highly effective in preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death.

"The real problem in this country is not that we need to boost the vaccinated — it's that we need to vaccinate the un-vaccinated," Dr. Paul Offit, who sits on the FDA's vaccine advisory committee, told Insider. "That's the problem. Until we do that, we're going to suffer in this country."

The World Health Organization also opposes any move to offer boosters to the general public while so many people in the world remain unvaccinated.

"It's too soon, really. There isn't enough evidence from enough countries around the world to suggest that the vaccines are indeed failing," Soumya Swaminathan, the WHO's chief scientist, said at a Physicians for Human Rights panel on Monday.

"The main goal of the vaccines is to prevent severe disease and death," she added. "The main goal is not to prevent infection."

COVID-19 Vaccine

COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID.

Currently, there are two types of COVID-19 vaccines for use in the United States: mRNA vaccines and protein subunit vaccines. All COVID-19 vaccines provide protection from the virus that causes COVID-19. None of these vaccines can give a person COVID-19.

FDA approved and authorized the 2024-2025 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines on August 22, 2024. FDA authorized Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (2024 – 2025 Formula) under Emergency Use Authorization on August 30, 2024. The updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines target the Omicron JN.1 lineage (KP.2 strain) that is the most common circulating variant right now.

Who should get a COVID-19 Vaccine?

Vaccine protection decreases over time, so it is important to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccine. Everyone ages 6 months and older should get a 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine. It is especially important to get your 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine if you are ages 65 and older, are at high risk for severe COVID-19, or have never received a COVID-19 vaccine.

More detailed information about who should receive a 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine is available from the CDC here.

Where can I get a COVID-19 Vaccine?

We have partnered with CVS to offer a limited number of events where campus community members can receive updated COVID-19 vaccines.

NOTE: You will need your PRESCRIPTION Insurance information to register and receive your COVID vaccine. Please ensure you have this information before registering. If you are CWRU Faculty/Staff on the Medical Mutual Health Plan, you will need your MedImpact insurance card. For instructions on how to print your MedImpact card, see this handout. UHCS and/or CVS cannot answer any questions regarding MedImpact. Please direct those questions to Human Resources. 

Date Time Location Registration October 10 9am-2pm Samson Pavilion/ Health Education Campus 3rd floor Register for Oct. 10 October 11 8:30am-1:30pm Samson Pavilion/ Health Education Campus 3rd floor Register for Oct. 11 Oct. 28 9am-2pm Tinkham Veale University Center Student Organization room Register for Oct. 28

With the exception of the opportunities listed above, UHCS is not able to provide COVID-19 vaccines. Please do not schedule appointments through myhealthconnect for COVID-19 vaccines.

As with previous COVID vaccines, the 2024-2025 updated COVID vaccines are available at participating pharmacies and provider offices. To find a location near you that carries the vaccine and to schedule an appointment, go to Vaccines.Gov. You can also call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).

For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, please visit the CDC's COVID-19 Vaccines.

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