Published March 31, 2022

Eligibility for Second COVID Booster Shot Expanded for Older and Immunocompromised Individuals

Following FDA approval, people 50 and older, as well as those 12 and older, with moderate or severe immunosuppression, will be able to receive a second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines on March 30, 2022. The second booster dose should be administered at least 4 months after the first booster dose.

Individuals between the ages of 12 and 17 who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may receive a second booster of the Pfizer vaccine, while those 18 and older may receive either Pfizer or Moderna. Immunocompromised people can now receive a fifth total dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to emphasize the importance of getting vaccinated and boosted, if eligible, to protect against severe COVID-19 outcomes such as hospitalization and death. During the recent Omicron surge, boosted people were 7 times less likely to be hospitalized and 21 times less likely to die from COVID-19 than unvaccinated people.

“We welcome the news that many more Louisianans who may be at high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 now have more options to protect themselves,” said Louisiana State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter. “We do not know what the future holds and continue to monitor circulating variants, but thankfully, our COVID-19 trends are better and we have more tools at our disposal than ever before, and that includes vaccines and boosters.”
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 of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna).

LDH has reviewed the most recent FDA guidance and notified all vaccine providers in the state that it is now in effect.

Call the COVID-19 Support Hotline at 1-855-453-0774 if you have any questions about COVID-19 testing, therapeutics, vaccines, or other related issues. Visit ldh.la.gov/covidvaccine for a list of locations near you, or text your ZIP code to GETVAX (438829) in English or VACUNA (822862) in Spanish.

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