Second doses of COVID-19 booster recommended for those eligible
Connecticut’s public health commissioner, Dr. Manisha Juthani, has encouraged those eligible for a second booster dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to schedule the shot.
In a statement issued Tuesday evening, Juthani’s department followed up on an announcement earlier in the day that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was recommending certain immunocompromised people and those 50 and older who received an initial booster dose at least four months ago be allowed to get another booster.
In addition, the CDC, citing newly published data, announced adults who received a primary vaccine and a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least four months ago may now receive a second booster dose of an mRNA vaccine — either Pfizer or Moderna.
The J&J vaccine does not use mRNA.
“This now makes a second booster dose of these vaccines available to other populations at higher risk for severe disease, hospitalization and death,” the state Department of Public Health said in its statement. “During 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 seven times less likely to be hospitalized.”
The department encourages those eligible for a second booster to visit ct.gov/covidvaccine to locate a vaccination site near them. It said nearly 800 locations across the state are prepared to administer the shots and have a more than adequate supply of vaccine.
Jennifer Muggeo, Ledge Light Health District’s deputy director, said Wednesday all approved doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be available at the vaccination clinics the district is operating throughout the region with Griffin Health. As of Wednesday afternoon, the district was awaiting authorization to administer second booster doses Thursday at the district’s office, 216 Broad St., New London. Muggeo advised the public to check the district’s website, llhd.org, for the latest information.
“If you have not received a booster yet, this is a good time to get one,” the state Department of Public Health said. “Older age has been the most consistent risk factor for severe disease from COVID throughout this pandemic. With this new recommendation, older adults are now eligible to receive a second booster dose. With an unknown trajectory of the BA.2 Omicron subvariant, getting this booster is one additional way that older adults can protect themselves.”
To date, 2.7 million, or 75.8%, of Connecticut residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the department said.
According to the CDC, a person can be considered “fully vaccinated” two weeks after receiving the second dose of a two-shot series of vaccine, either Pfizer or Moderna, or two weeks after a single dose of the J&J vaccine.
“Fully vaccinated, however, is not the same as optimally protected,” the CDC says on its website. “To be optimally protected, a person needs to get a booster shot when and if eligible.”
People are considered “up to date” until the time they are eligible for a booster — five months after the second dose in a two-shot series or two months after the J&J vaccine. At this point, a person would need to get a booster shot to be considered up to date, according to the CDC.
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