The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have authorized third shots of COVID-19 vaccines for people who are immunocompromised, including children age 5 years and older, and booster shots of COVID-19 vaccines for people 18 years and older, as well as 5-17-year-olds who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine series.
This page was last updated on 11/4/2022 at 1:00 PM.
Booster shots
COVID-19 booster shots are available for adults and children age 5 and up under emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Adults 18 years and older: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna bivalent COVID-19 boosters can be given two months after the initial two-dose series is completed or after a prior booster. Individuals who received a J&J COVID-19 vaccine should receive a booster (either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) two months after the initial one-shot J&J vaccination.
Those previously infected with COVID-19 may choose to wait up to three months before getting a bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine, but at a minimum should be symptom-free and 10 days out from a positive COVID-19 test.
Children and teens 5-17 years: Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent COVID-19 booster shots are available for children 5-17 years of age. Children 5-17 years old can receive a booster two months after the initial two-dose series is completed or two months after a prior booster.
Children previously infected with COVID-19 may wait up to three months before getting a bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine, but at a minimum should be symptom-free and 10 days out from a positive COVID-19 test.
FAQs for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots
VIDEO: Why should I get a COVID-19 booster shot?
Q: Who is eligible for COVID-19 booster shots?
A:
- Adults 18 years and older: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shots are available. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna bivalent COVID-19 boosters can be given two months after the initial two-dose series is completed or after a prior booster. Individuals who received a J&J COVID-19 vaccine should receive a booster (either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) two months after the initial one-shot J&J vaccination.
- Children and teens 5-17 years: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shots are available for children 5-17 years of age. Children 5-17 years old can receive a booster two months after the initial two-dose series is completed or two months after a prior booster.
Children or adults who were previously infected with COVID-19 may choose to wait up to three months before getting a bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine, but at a minimum should be symptom-free and 10 days out from a positive COVID-19 test.
Q: Which booster shot should I get?
A: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the bivalent COVID-19 mRNA vaccine boosters made by Pfizer and Moderna. If you received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series initially, you can choose to receive either Pfizer or Moderna for your subsequent booster(s) – the booster does not have to be the same brand as your initial vaccine series. If you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine initially, you should receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as your booster.
Q: How do I schedule a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot?
A: Scheduling can be done through MyLVHN or by telephone:
- MyLVHN, our patient portal – MyLVHN app and MyLVHN.org
- Log in to your MyLVHN account.
- Select the "Menu" button.
- Choose “Schedule COVID-19 Vaccine – Booster Shot.”
Follow the prompts and choose the location and time that work best for you.
- COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline – 833-584-6283 (833-LVHN-CVD). The hotline is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Q: Where will COVID-19 booster shots be given?
A: COVID-19 vaccinations will continue to be offered at all LVHN COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics. Please note: Your first two shots may have occurred in an LVHN location that no longer offers COVID-19 vaccinations. Learn more about the locations that do offer COVID-19 vaccines.
Q: Can Novavax be used as a booster?
A: Novavax is not indicated to be used as a booster shot at this time.
Q: What are the underlying medical conditions may put a person more at-risk for COVID-19 infection or severe illness?
A: Medical conditions include:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD
- Down syndrome
- Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant or from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
- Obesity (body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher but less than 40 kg/m2)
- Severe obesity (BMI equal to or greater than 40 kg/m2)
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease
- Smoking
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Q: What side effects might I have if I receive a booster dose?
A: You may experience mild or moderate reaction symptoms very similar to the side effects experienced after your initial COVID-19 vaccination(s). Side effects may include:
- Pain, redness and swelling at the injection site
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Muscle or joint pain
- Chills
- Swollen lymph nodes in the underarm
Q: Is there a cost for a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot?
A: A COVID-19 vaccine booster shot is free.
FAQs for Third Shot of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna
Q: How do I schedule a third dose COVID-19 vaccination?
A: Registration can be done through MyLVHN or by telephone:
- MyLVHN, our patient portal – MyLVHN app and MyLVHN.org
- Click the “Menu” button.
- Select “Schedule COVID-19 Vaccine - 3rd Shot (for immunocompromised).”
- Follow the prompts and choose the location and time that work best for you.
- COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline – 833-584-6283 (833-LVHN-CVD). The hotline is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Q: Why might I need to receive a third primary shot of the COVID-19 vaccine?
A: According to the CDC, emerging data suggest some people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems do not always build the same level of immunity after vaccination against COVID-19, compared to people who are not immunocompromised.
Q: Are 12-17-year-olds who are immunocompromised eligible for the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine?
A: Individuals age 12-17 who are immunocompromised can receive a third primary shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 28 days after their second shot. That is the only COVID-19 vaccine that has FDA Emergency Use Authorization for that age group.
Q. When can children age 5-11 who are immunocompromised get their third shot?
A. Children age 5-11 who are immunocompromised can receive a third shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 28 days after their second shot. That is the only COVID-19 vaccine that has FDA Emergency Use Authorization for that age group.
Q: What conditions may mean I am immunocompromised?
A: The CDC recommends a third vaccine shot for those with a range of conditions, such as recipients of organ or stem cell transplants, people with advanced or untreated HIV infection, active recipients of treatment for cancer, people who are taking some medications that weaken the immune system, and others.
Third dose shots can be given to individuals with any of the following conditions, or those directed to receive a third dose by their physician:
- Patients receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Organ transplant recipients who are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Those who received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Patients with moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Those with advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Patients undergoing active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress immune response
A full list of conditions is available on the CDC website, cdc.gov.
Q: Where will COVID-19 third shots be given?
A: COVID-19 vaccinations (first dose, second dose and third dose) will be offered at all LVHN COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics. Please note: Your first two shots may have occurred in an LVHN location that no longer offers COVID-19 vaccinations. Learn more about the locations that do offer COVID-19 vaccines here.
Q: Do I need to provide proof that I qualify for a third shot of COVID-19 vaccine?
A: While LVHN will not require proof of an immunocompromising condition or COVID antibody levels, patients will be asked if they have one of the immunocompromising conditions defined by the CDC. If the patient doesn’t have one of the listed immunocompromising conditions, they can attest that their medical provider agrees they are immunocompromised for other reasons and would benefit from an additional dose.
Q: How long do I have to wait until after my last Pfizer or Moderna shot to get a third dose of the vaccine?
A: The FDA recommends immunocompromised patients wait at least 28 days from the second shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine before receiving a third primary dose of either vaccine. It is recommended the third dose be from the same manufacturer as the previous doses, when feasible.
Q: What side effects might I have if I receive a third dose?
A: Studies on a third COVID-19 shot show it is safe and that mild or moderate reaction symptoms were consistent with earlier doses. No patients developed critical side effects that required hospitalization.
Q: If I get the third shot (as an immunocompromised individual), will I be protected from COVID-19?
A: Immunocompromised patients who get a third shot are encouraged to continue taking physical precautions to help prevent COVID-19 infection.
Q: Is there a cost for the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine?
A: As with previous COVID-19 vaccinations, a third vaccine shot is free.
Q: If I am moderately or severely compromised, can I get a booster shot after receiving a third primary dose?
A: Pfizer vaccine recipients 12 and older and Moderna vaccine recipients 18 and older can get a booster shot as early as two months after completing the two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series and receiving the third dose (additional primary dose).
