A second booster of the COVID-19 vaccine is approved for people over the age of 50, as well as those who are immunocompromised.
On March 29, the Food and Drug Administration authorized and the Centers for Disease Control updated its recommendations for a second booster dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for older adults and immunocompromised individuals.
A second booster dose of an mRNA vaccine may be given to:
- Individuals 50 years of age and older at least four months after receipt of a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine.
- Individuals 12 years of age and older with certain kinds of immunocompromise at least four months after receipt of a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. These are people who have undergone solid organ transplantation or who are living with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise.
"Vaccination against COVID-19 remains our most effective prevention against severe disease, hospitalizations and deaths," said Rick Starlin, MD, an infectious diseases physician and medical director of Nebraska Medicine Employee Health. "This second booster is especially important for those 65 and older and those 50 and older with underlying medical conditions. If they have questions about the booster, they should consult with their primary care physician as well as seek out reliable information from reputable sources like the CDC, local public health and academic institutions."
Booster doses are not required but are strongly encouraged for faculty, staff and students at UNMC.
CDC data shows that during the omicron surge, people who were boosted were 21 times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to those who were unvaccinated, and they were seven times less likely to be hospitalized.
Booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine, whether it’s the first or second booster, are available at Nebraska Medicine retail pharmacy locations on a walk-in basis. If someone has had the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine series (two doses), they can still have the Pfizer vaccine as their booster dose.
Colleagues who receive a booster dose(s) should add details to the medical center’s Health Tracking System (faculty/staff) or My Records (students).
Is a second Moderna booster available from the pharmacy?
Nebraska Medicine's Q&A advises this: "Nebraska Medicine is only offering Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccines at this time. If you previously received the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, you can safely get a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for your third or fourth dose."