TriCounty Health Department is now offering the COVID-19 booster vaccine. Among the common questions of those interested is what does it mean that the vaccines can be mixed and matched? It is exactly what it sounds like. The CDC recommendation allows mixing-and-matching of COVID-19 vaccines so individuals can receive a different type of booster vaccine than the type of vaccine they originally received. The CDC recommendation allows a booster of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine six months after receiving the second original vaccine dose. Those who qualify for this booster include people who are 65 or older, people who live in a long-term care facility, people 18 and older who are at risk with underlying medical conditions, and people who live or work in a setting that puts them at a higher risk of exposure to COVID-19, such as healthcare workers and teachers. The CDC also recommends anyone ages 18 and older who received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine get a booster dose at least 2 months after they had their initial dose.
