COVID-19 booster shots have been authorized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Drug Administration for elderly and other at-risk populations.
Those who are eligible can sign-up through ourshot.in.gov. Most local medical providers and pharmacies offering the vaccine offer booster shots. The Indiana Department of Health supports giving booster shots to those who fit into the eligible categories, according to its website.
According to the CDC, individuals aged 65 and older who have received Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines, age 50-64 with underlying medical conditions and age 18 or older who work or live in high-risk settings should receive a booster shot at least six months after becoming fully vaccinated.
Those over 18 who received the Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine are eligible for a booster shot at least two months after their first shot.
Anyone fully vaccinated for COVID-19 may receive any authorized booster shot. CDC recommendations allow for a “mix and match” of booster shots.
The booster shot is different from a third vaccine dose, which is recommended for those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. According to John Hopkins Medicine, the additional dose is recommended to improve response to the initial vaccine series of those who are immunocompromised, whereas the booster shot is for those whose immune response may have weakened over time.