These are the people eligible for a COVID booster shot, according to the CDC

COVID-19 booster shots are available to certain groups of people who received their full course of the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago. Here is what to know.
By

COVID-19 booster shots are available to certain groups of people who received their full course of the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago.

Studies show that after getting a full course of the COVID-19 vaccine, protection against the virus might decrease over time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This is why certain populations are more at risk for catching COVID-19 even if they had a full course of the vaccine.

Who is eligible for a COVID booster shot right now?

According to the CDC, the following groups of people are eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot:

  • People ages 65 years and older
  • People ages 50-64 with underlying medical conditions
  • People ages 18 and older who live in long-term care settings
  • People ages 18-49 with medical conditions may get the booster if their individual situation allows it
  • People ages 18-64 who work or live in certain settings with a higher transmission risk. This includes: Front line essential workers; healthcare workers; first responders (firefighters, police, congregate care staff); education staff (teachers, support staff, daycare workers); food and agriculture workers; manufacturing workers; corrections workers; U.S. Postal Service workers; public transit workers; and grocery store workers

Some people, like those who have received the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) or Moderna shots, do not fall into the above categories.

Here is what to know if you have received one of those vaccines and/or do not fall under one of the recommended groups.

What if I got the Moderna vaccine or J&J vaccine and fall into the above categories?

You will likely need a booster shot in the future, but as of right now, the CDC is still collecting data from clinical trials on how the Moderna and J&J booster shots are working.

When can I get a COVID booster shot if I don’t fall into one of the above categories?

The CDC advises the public to wait until more data becomes available.

When the data is ready and experts know how vaccines affect different groups of people, there will likely be more groups of people eligible for booster shots.

Related stories about COVID-19:

CDC urges pregnant women to get vaccinated against COVID

How to get a COVID booster shot at CVS or Walgreens

The side effects to look out for if you get a COVID booster shot

What are the most common side effects from the Pfizer COVID booster shot?

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com

Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

X

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

If you opt out, we won’t sell or share your personal information to inform the ads you see. You may still see interest-based ads if your information is sold or shared by other companies or was sold or shared previously.