On October 21, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced their recommendation that certain populations receive a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine following the completion of their primary series. This decision follows the authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

COVID-19 vaccine booster doses are now authorized for:

• Everyone who got one Johnson & Johnson dose at least 2 months ago

• People who got both doses of Moderna or Pfizer at least 6 months ago AND are at higher risk for getting or spreading COVID-19:

  – People 65 years and older

  – All residents in long-term care

  – People ages 18 and older with certain underlying medical conditions

  – People ages 18 and older who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of their job or institutional settings

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services continues to await publication of the CDC clinical guidance for Moderna and J&J booster doses. Once those are published, vaccinators in Wisconsin will be able to begin providing booster doses and ensure they are following the safest protocols.

When this occurs, Sheboygan County Public Health will be administering booster doses for all of the COVID vaccines at the Walk-in-Wednesday clinics every Wednesday from 9am-4pm at Sheboygan County Health & Human Services located at 1011 North 8th Street in Sheboygan.

The CDC also recommended that healthcare professionals be allowed to provide a different COVID-19 vaccine as a booster than the one initially received.