Third doses + boosters
What is the difference between a third dose and a booster dose?
Third dose
An additional, or third dose, of vaccine is administered when the immune response following a primary vaccine series is likely to be insufficient. This is currently recommended by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for immunocompromised patients – for example, patients who have been treated for cancer. The goal of a third dose is to help people with weakened immune systems catch up to the same level of protection that most vaccinated people got with two doses.
Booster
A booster dose is a dose of vaccine that is given when immunity has decreased.
Who is authorized to get a third dose?
Currently, CDC is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. This includes people who have
- Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
People should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.
Learn more: COVID-19 Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People
Who is currently eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot?
For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot after their initial series:
- Anyone 18 and older may get a booter. Depending on which vaccine you got originally, there are different waiting periods for boosters. See the CDC chart: COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots.
- Adolescents age 12-17 who are 5 months past their second dose of Pfizer may only get a Pfizer booster.
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.
Read more about the CDC Expands Eligibility of COVID-19 Booster Shots.
Do I need to get the same brand of vaccine for my third dose or booster?
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. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix-and-match dosing for booster shots.
Learn more: CDC Expands Eligibility for COVID-19 Booster Shots
If I got the J&J vaccine, can I get a booster?
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.
Read more: the CDC Expands Eligibility for COVID-19 Booster Shots
Where can I get a COVID-19 booster shot?
Lowell General Hospital and Circle Health will not be offering Booster shots at this time.
Please visit Vaccines.gov to search for a COVID-19 booster shot appointment near you. Or you may call the Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line (2-1-1) and follow the prompts. The Resource Line is available in English and Spanish and has translators available in approximately 100 additional languages.
Is COVID-19 here to stay?
Evidence is increasing that the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines we received may be lower with the now predominant Delta variant, and may wane over time. The models show that COVID-19 is unlikely to be 100% eradicated, but we expect it will get down to a much more manageable level that may return seasonally like influenza (flu). If we get sufficient immunity in the population, the overall spread will be much more manageable. Having as many people as possible immunized is critical to getting to that place.
