After weeks of discussions, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) added booster vaccinations to the emergency use authorization (EUA) for both Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. The CDC endorsed recommendations for booster injections.

On Oct. 27, the CDC published updated information about COVID-19 vaccine recipients and who can receive booster shots. On-going discussions regarding the ability to mix and match vaccine types resulted in a statement on the CDC website indicating recommendations now allow for mix and match dosing for booster shots.

Moderna Eligibility

Individuals who received Moderna for the original two-dose vaccination series are eligible for a booster at least six months after the second shot if they are:

• 65 years of age or older
• Age 18+ living in long-term care settings
• Age 18+ with underlying medical conditions
• Age 18+ working in high-risk settings

Johnson & Johnson Eligibility

Individuals 18 years of age or older and received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine are eligible for a booster shot at least two months after the original vaccination.

Organizing booster clinics is well underway in long-term care settings.  If you haven't been able to secure vaccine clinics with your original vaccine partner, other options are available. In the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Long-term Care COVID-19 Booster Vaccination Plan, there is an attachment with pharmacies that can provide booster doses to long-term care organizations along with the region they serve and contact information.  Other actions to prepare include:

• Confirm resident vaccine rosters and determine when boosters are due. MDH has a COVID-19 Vaccine Dose Tracker for Long-term Care Facilities that has sheets for both residents and staff.
• Confirm staff vaccine rosters and determine when boosters are due.
• Sign up for MIIC, if you haven't already done so, to verify the vaccination status of residents and, with permission, staff.
• Obtain booster consent forms from residents and staff.  As a reminder, vaccine information sheets should accompany consent forms: Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson.

COVID-19 Vaccination & Influenza Vaccination

COVID-19 vaccinations may be given at the same time or close to other vaccinations. With flu season here, organizations can schedule COVID-19 vaccinations and influenza vaccinations simultaneously to decrease the amount of work it takes to schedule two different vaccination clinics.

If you have difficulty scheduling vaccination clinics or obtaining a vaccination partner, contact MDH by filling out the Booster Assistance Needed REDCap survey.

For more questions regarding booster vaccines, please contact Kari Everson.