Vaccine booster shots are now available for all fully vaccinated people 12 years of age and older. These shots are a critically important tool used to boost your immunity after an initial vaccination series.
Along with testing, getting vaccinated and getting your booster shot are some of the best ways to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19. As of January 2022, over 2 million additional doses including booster shots have now been administered in NYC.
Getting boosted now means protecting against new variants. Boosters are effective against the omicron variant, especially at preventing serious illness and hospitalization. They are intended to help people increase their immunity from the initial vaccination series, and will help with the vaccine’s longevity in the long term.
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) recommends a booster shot for any adult who received the second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine if at least 5 months have passed since their second shot. Additionally, those who received the one dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine are recommended for a booster if they received the vaccine at least 2 months ago.
For New Yorkers ages 18 and up, booster shots can be any of the three authorized or approved vaccines in the United States, no matter which one you originally received. In other words, the vaccines can be “mixed and matched.” If you are not sure whether to get a booster shot or which type of vaccine you should get for your booster, you should talk to your health care provider.
Please note that for New Yorkers ages 12 through 17, Pfizer is the only vaccine approved for both the primary vaccine series and booster. For this age group, boosters are also recommended if at least 5 months have passed since receipt of the primary series.
Vaccinations and boosters are the best weapons we have in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19. If we’re not infected we can’t infect others. Adult New Yorkers are urged to get boosted as soon as possible.
Visit the NYC COVID-19 and Flu Finder to find a vaccination location near you and get your booster shot today.
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NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention
COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots