Dear Colleagues,
We want to provide staff with an update on the latest development from the FDA and CDC regarding the availability of booster shots to prevent COVID-19 infection.
For people who received the COVID-19 vaccine, in order to maintain high levels of protection against breakthrough COVID-19 infections, CDC recommends booster shots (a third dose) for the following populations. At this time this applies only to people who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine. This does NOT currently apply to people who received the Moderna mRNA COVID vaccine or the Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID vaccine.
CDC recommends:
- people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
- people aged 50-64 years with underlying medical conditions (1) should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
- people aged 18-49 years with underlying medical conditions (1) may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual risks, and
- people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting2 may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.
- Underlying medical conditions include, but may not be limited to, the following: cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung diseases, including COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma (moderate-to-severe), interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension, dementia and other neurological conditions, diabetes (type 1 or type 2), down syndrome, heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies or hypertension), HIV infection, immunocompromised state, liver disease, overweight and obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell disease or thalassemia, smoking, current or former, solid organ or blood stem cell transplant, stroke or cerebrovascular disease, substance use disorders.
- The FDA stated that the individuals working as health care workers (which would include any staff at IDHS's State-Operated Developmental Centers and State-Operated Psychiatric Hospitals who received the Pfizer-BioNTech primary series at least six months ago), teachers and day care staff, grocery workers and those in homeless shelters or prisons, among others are also eligible for a booster shot because of increased risk of exposure.
This list does not include all the potential medical conditions that could make you more likely to get severe COVID disease. If you are not certain about your medical risk factors consult your physician about the need for a booster shot.
Booster shots should be available immediately at pharmacies and other settings that have been offering the COVID vaccine. For more information about where you can access a COVID vaccine, please visit:
https://www.vaccines.gov/search/.
You can access more information about this latest development at the links below.
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/p0924-booster-recommendations-.html
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-booster-dose-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-certain-populations
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact dhs.reinvent-restore@illinois.gov.
Thank you and be well.
Sincerely,
Grace B. Hou
Secretary
