Update: Second mRNA booster doses (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) are now available for eligible New Yorkers who may choose to increase their protection further.
A booster or additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will help all eligible New Yorkers maximize their protection, prolong the vaccine’s durability, and continue to safeguard our communities against the virus. Booster and additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are free and widely available statewide.
The New York State Department of Health and the CDC recommend all eligible adults, adolescents, and children five years and older get fully vaccinated and receive an initial COVID-19 booster or additional dose when eligible.
For eligible New Yorkers, a first booster dose is safe and continues to provide strong protection against severe outcomes. According to CDC data from the recent Omicron surge, those who were boosted were 21-times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to those who were unvaccinated, and 7-times less likely to be hospitalized.
If you have questions, talk to your health care provider, your child’s healthcare provider, or vaccine administrator.
BOOSTER SHOTS
Eligibility
The following New Yorkers are eligible for initial booster doses, second booster doses, and additional doses:
Initial Booster Dose
- 12 years and older who received their Pfizer-BioNTech initial vaccine series at least five months ago are eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech booster.
- 18 years and older who received the Moderna initial vaccine series at least five months ago or the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at least two months ago are eligible for a booster dose.
- The mRNA vaccines are preferentially recommended in most situations over the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. You may get Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in some situations.
Additional Dose (Third Dose) for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised New Yorkers
- New Yorkers with moderately to severely compromised immune systems can receive an additional dose (5 and older for Pfizer-BioNTech recipients; 18 and older for Moderna recipients) at least 28 days after the final dose of their vaccine series.
Initial Booster Dose (Fourth Dose) for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised New Yorkers
- Moderately to severely immunocompromised 12 years and older who received their Pfizer-BioNTech additional dose (third dose) at least three months ago are eligible for a booster dose (fourth dose) of an FDA-approved or FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine.
- Moderately to severely immunocompromised 18 years and older who received their Moderna additional dose (third dose) at least three months ago are eligible for a booster dose (fourth dose) of an FDA-approved or FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine.
- Moderately to severely immunocompromised 18 years and older who received an additional dose following a Janssen series (second dose) at least two months ago are eligible for a booster dose (third dose) of an FDA-approve or FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine.
Second Booster Dose for Eligible New Yorkers
- Adults ages 50 years and older may choose to receive a second booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) at least four months after their first booster dose.
- New Yorkers ages 18–49 years who received the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as both their primary series dose and initial booster dose may receive a second booster dose of an mRNA vaccine at least 4 months after their first booster dose.
- New Yorkers ages 12 and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may choose to receive a second booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) at least four months after their first booster dose.
