COVID-19 boosters are now available for everyone 12 and older!

How boosters can protect you as COVID-19 cases increase

[Updated Jan. 7, 2022]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized COVID-19 vaccine boosters for everyone ages 12 and over. That extra boost of protection is crucial to keeping yourself and others safe, especially as the omicron variant spreads.

Here are the booster basics you need to know, so you can schedule your booster as soon as possible.

Who is now eligible for a booster?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends COVID-19 booster doses for everyone 12 and older. But the exact timing for your appointment is going to vary, depending on the vaccine brand you initially received.

• If you got the Pfizer vaccine for your primary series, get a booster at least five months after getting your second dose. The booster can be any brand if you’re 18 or older, though Pfizer and Moderna are more strongly recommended than Johnson & Johnson. If you’re 12–17 years old, you can only get the Pfizer booster (the only brand currently authorized for this age group).
• If you got the Moderna vaccine, get a booster at least six months after completing your first two doses. The booster can be any brand, though Pfizer and Moderna are more strongly recommended than Johnson & Johnson.
• If you got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, get a booster at least two months after your first shot. The CDC recommends that you get an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) for your booster, but Johnson & Johnson is still available if you can’t or do not want to get one of the others.

Can’t remember what vaccine you got, or when you got your initial vaccine dose(s)? They’re listed right on your vaccine card or in your digital Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination. You can also call your health care provider for your vaccine records.

Why should I get a booster?

The COVID-19 vaccines are very effective at reducing the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Yet that protection decreases over time, especially among high-risk populations.

A booster increases immunity back up to, or even higher than, what you had after your initial vaccination. For instance, in a clinical trial of 10,000 people, Pfizer’s booster dose was 95% effective at preventing symptomatic infection in people who had no evidence of prior infection.

All that to say: boosters are a quick and easy way to strengthen your protection against COVID-19 and its variants. Everyone 12 and older should get a booster as soon as they’re eligible.

Is the booster effective against omicron?

Boosters work well to prevent infection from COVID-19 variants. While we’re still learning about the omicron variant specifically, what we’re seeing is encouraging. Early data demonstrate that three doses of the Pfizer vaccine protect against the omicron variant. And, early data from Moderna suggest their booster also provides protection from the omicron variant.

Is a booster the same dosage as my initial vaccine?

COVID-19 boosters are the same formulation as the current COVID-19 vaccines. For Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, the booster dose is the same size as the primary series dose. The Moderna booster is given at half the dose size of the primary Moderna series.

How soon do boosters start to work?

It takes a few days for antibody levels to rise, with peak protection returning in about two weeks. That’s why it’s good to schedule your booster as soon as you can, especially if you’re planning to travel or attend gatherings this winter.

Can I mix and match vaccine brands for my booster?

Yes. The FDA has authorized mixing and matching for boosters — which means you can get a different vaccine for your booster dose than you got for your primary series.

This can make it easier for you to get an available booster if your original vaccine is not available at your provider. There are no safety concerns with mixing and matching. However, public health recommends getting either Moderna or Pfizer instead of Johnson & Johnson if you can because of the rare risk of a serious side effect from Johnson & Johnson.

That said, just because you can mix and match, doesn’t mean you need to. You will get a boost of protection whether you stick with the same vaccine brand or choose another.

People ages 12 to 17 can only get the Pfizer vaccine as a booster.

It’s best to chat with your health care provider if you have any questions or concerns about which vaccine is best for your booster.

How can I schedule an appointment?

To find a vaccine location near you, visit Vaccine Locator. Or, call the COVID-19 Information Hotline at 1–800–525–0127, then press #. Language assistance is available. You can go to any site for your booster; it doesn’t need to be the same place where you got your initial vaccine series.

Don’t get discouraged if you can’t get an appointment right away. With so many more people now eligible, it may take some time get to scheduled. If you can’t find an appointment, try calling your provider to see if they have extra booster doses or are accepting walk ins.

Once you’re scheduled, remember to take your vaccination card with you so you can show that you already had your initial vaccine(s). If you don’t have your card, the provider can look up your record — or you can access your records using MyIR. You can even get your flu vaccine at the same time to stay protected from the flu. The flu is another serious respiratory illness that can spread from person to person, and cases of flu are increasing in Washington right now.

What side effects can I expect?

No new side effects have been reported from boosters. Most people report mild side effects that are similar to their initial dose, like a sore arm, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, chills, or a low fever. These symptoms typically go away within a day or two. There is a risk of a rare but serious side effect with Johnson & Johnson, so the CDC recommends taking Moderna or Pfizer instead if you can. Talk to your provider if you have any specific questions about side effects.

I haven’t been able to schedule my booster appointment yet. Am I still considered fully vaccinated?

Yes! Everyone is still considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-shot series (Pfizer or Moderna vaccines) or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine (the Johnson & Johnson vaccine).

More information

This blog is accurate as of the date of posting. Information changes rapidly, so check the state’s COVID-19 website for the most up-to-date info at coronavirus.wa.gov. You can also sign up to be notified whenever we post new articles.

The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to everyone 5 and older. For more information about the vaccine, visit CovidVaccineWA.org and use the vaccine locator tool to find an appointment. The COVID-19 vaccine is provided at no cost to you.

WA Notify can alert you if you’ve been near another user who tested positive for COVID-19. Add WA Notify to your phone today: WANotify.org

Answers to your questions or concerns about COVID-19 in Washington State may be found at our website. You can also contact the Department of Health call center at 1–800–525–0127 and press # from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday — Sunday and observed state holidays. Language assistance is available.