Collin County Health Care Services (CCHCS) wants to stress that COVID-19 booster shot information is evolving daily, and we will continue to update information here as it becomes available from State and Federal health authorities.
What we do know right now is:
- Booster shots for the general public are expected to start rolling out this fall, possibly as early as Sept. 20;
- The FDA and the Advisory Committee on Immunizations with the CDC will determine when the booster shots will become available, and the designated time frame it should be administered following an individual's second dose of Pfizer or Moderna;
- Like the initial, two-dose vaccines, booster shots will be free;
- When you become eligible to schedule a booster shot, you should get the same vaccine as your initial vaccination;
- You will be able to get your dose from any provider offering it (here's a search tool for finding one); and,
- No recommendations have been made on the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine – which debuted in March 2020 -- at this time.
On Aug. 18, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a statement on plans for the booster shot rollout. Read the statement in its entirety here.
Who is Eligible right now?
- Individuals 12 and older who have undergone solid organ transplantation or who are diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromised.
COVID-19 Vaccine Additional Dose: For Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after a second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. This recommendation does not apply to people who have received the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine.
Who Needs an Additional COVID-19 Vaccine?
Currently, CDC is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. This includes people who have:
- Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
Appointments for the additional dose will only be made for individuals that fit these requirements. People should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.
For additional information from the CDC regarding COVID-19 boosters, please see the following article: COVID-19 Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People
Important links
COVID-19 Reporting for Collin County and Texas
