Two more sites are opening in Massachusetts to administer COVID-19 booster shots, the Baker-Polito Administration announced Friday, and residents can now access Moderna or Johnson & Johnson boosters.
The announcement comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended boosters of the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines for certain people. The CDC last month recommended booster shots for the Pfizer vaccine.
With the approval of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters, more than 750,000 Massachusetts residents are newly eligible for booster shots under federal eligibility criteria, Baker’s office said.
Following guidance from the CDC, the Moderna booster is now available to people 65 and older, and individuals 18 to 64 who are at risk for severe COVID-19 because of underlying medical conditions or who are at increased risk for COVID-19 because of occupational or institutional settings, who received their second shot of Moderna vaccine at least six months prior.
The Johnson & Johnson booster is now available to all individuals who received a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 single-dose vaccine at least two months ago.
Starting Tuesday, two additional state-sponsored COVID-19 booster locations are scheduled to open in Brockton and Danvers. The Brockton location is at Shaw’s Center at 1 Feinberg Way and the Danvers location is at 1 Ferncroft Road.
The Brockton site will have the capacity to administer 450 doses daily and can ramp up to capacity for 1,000 doses daily, Baker’s office said in a statement. The clinic will offer Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters and primary series doses. Brewster Ambulance will serve as the provider.
In Danvers, the clinic will have the capacity to administer 300 doses daily and can ramp up to capacity for 1,000 doses daily. This clinic will offer Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson boosters, as well as primary series doses. Transformative Healthcare will serve as the provider.
People looking for an appointment at either site can walk in or book online. There will be language translation services will be available at both locations.
The CDC recommendations now allow individuals to mix and match different COVID-19 booster doses. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some may prefer the type of vaccine they originally received while others may want a different booster.
In total, Massachusetts residents can get the booster shot from more than 460 locations, including more than 450 retail pharmacies and state sponsored COVID-19 booster locations, with appointments available now for booking.
The booster is free and individuals do not need an ID or health insurance to get the shot.
Massachusetts leads the nation in first dose vaccination rates per capita, Baker’s office said, with more than 90% of eligible residents having received at least one dose. Nearly 79% of the eligible population, more than 4.7 million residents, are fully vaccinated.
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