TYLER, Texas — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has now endorsed boosters of all three COVID-19 vaccines, with some restrictions, and has signed off allowing people to mix and match.
Millions more Americans can get a COVID-19 booster and choose a different company’s vaccine for that next shot, federal health officials said Thursday.
According to the CDC, for individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:
- 65 years and older
- Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
- Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
- Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings
For the nearly 15 million people who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.
There are now booster recommendations for all three available COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received and others, may prefer to get a different booster. The CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix-and-match dosing for booster shots.
Millions of people are newly eligible to receive a booster shot and will benefit from additional protection. However, today’s action should not distract from the critical work of ensuring that unvaccinated people take the first step and get an initial COVID-19 vaccine. More than 65 million Americans remain unvaccinated, leaving themselves – and their children, families, loved ones, and communities– vulnerable.
Available data right now show that all three of the COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized in the United States continue to be highly effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, even against the widely circulating Delta variant. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and reduce the spread of the virus and help prevent new variants from emerging.
“These recommendations are another example of our fundamental commitment to protect as many people as possible from COVID-19," said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky. "The evidence shows that all three COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States are safe – as demonstrated by the over 400 million vaccine doses already given. And, they are all highly effective in reducing the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, even in the midst of the widely circulating Delta variant.”
Location and Hours of the NET Health COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic
COVID-19 vaccines are being provided by NET Health at the Majesty Event Center, located at 900 West Bow St.. The clinic is open 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. Parking is accessible from North Palace Ave.
For anyone who has yet to receive their first COVID-19 vaccine, anyone over the age of 18 can receive the two-dose Pfizer vaccine, the two-dose Moderna vaccine, or the one-dose J&J vaccine.
Anyone between the ages of 12-17 can only receive the two-dose Pfizer vaccine.
Third doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine still available for immune-compromised persons
The CDC recommends certain groups who have received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine can receive a booster dose that the CDC still recommends that moderately-to-severely immunocompromised people should receive a third dose of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine at least 28 days after receiving the second dose in order to strengthen their protection against severe disease in populations whose immunity may have started to wane and who are at high-risk of exposure to COVID-19.
Bring your health insurance card when you receive your COVID vaccine
There is no fee and no associated costs to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Anyone who has health insurance such as Medicaid or employee-covered health insurance is asked to bring your insurance card with you when you receive your vaccine.