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Some adults who have been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for at least 6 months are now able to receive a COVID-19 booster shot. Although the CDC has indicated individuals falling into high-risk categories who received either the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine will need a booster shot eventually, it is unclear when this will become available for them. Current eligible groups for the Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot include those who are 65 years and older, as well as people 18 years and older who either have underlying medical conditions or who live or work in settings with a high risk of exposure and transmission.
Medical conditions that provide eligibility include cancer, chronic disease or conditions, dementia and other neurological conditions, diabetes, Down syndrome, HIV, weakened immune system, obesity, pregnancy, hemoglobin blood disorders, chronic smoking, organ or blood stem cell transplant, stroke or cerebrovascular disease, and substance use disorders. The CDC recommends people between the ages of 50 and 64 with any of these underlying conditions “should” get the booster shot, while people between the ages of 18 and 49 “may” get the booster shot.
Individuals whose occupation puts them at a greater risk of exposure to COVID-19 include first responders, corrections workers, and U.S. Postal Service employees, as well as those working in health care, education, food and agriculture, manufacturing, grocery stores, and public transit. The CDC recommends they “may” get the booster vaccine, while individuals who are 18 or older living in long-term care settings “should” get the booster shot.
The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) original recommendation on booster shots did not include eligibility for people with occupational risks, including health care workers. Prior to the panel’s recommendation, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had already authorized the use of booster shots for frontline workers, a decision CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walsensky ultimately agreed with and recommended.
The CDC and FDA recommendations for the Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots come after studies showed vaccine effectiveness in preventing infection and hospitalization may decrease over time, especially for people aged 65 or older. A small clinical trial found that participants’ immune response to COVID-19 increased after receiving a booster shot.
Rosalynn Lenoir, a workforce solutions specialist for a local nursing school, falls under high-risk occupational eligibility due to her close proximity to nursing students and required travel to the school’s various educational partners and hospitals. Having been able to get her first two doses of the vaccine in February, Lenoir knew by “looking at the data, the effectiveness [of the vaccine was] going to decrease over time.” Her decision to receive a booster shot revolved around wanting to protect herself, her kids, and others. She says, “It was a matter of making sure that I have as much efficacy and coverage as I can.” The ease with which she scheduled her appointment once eligible struck her as a significant change from initial vaccination scheduling.
On Monday, September 27, the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services had updated its order to administer the boosters following federal guidelines. Those seeking a booster shot can visit MOStopsCOVID.com; make an appointment at participating St. Louis County Department of Public Health locations; make an appointment via revivestl.com and vaccines.gov; or make an appointment through BJC or Mercy. The St. Louis Department of Health stated that it would also adjust its protocol when the federal guidelines were updated.
