The Panhandle Health District supports authorization by the Food and Drug Administration and the recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to administer booster doses of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. Booster doses of those vaccines are available now for specific individuals, in addition to booster doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine the agencies approved last month.

A single booster dose of the Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is approved for use in those who completed their primary Moderna series at least 6 months earlier and who fall into one of these categories:

• 65 years or 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

A booster dose also is recommended for those who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, are 18 or older, and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.

Information on where and how to schedule an appointment with PHD is available on their website: www.panhandlehealthdistrict.org/covid-19/vaccine/. The CDC’s final recommendations are available at

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/p1021-covid-booster.html