FDA, CDC Recommend Boosters for Everyone 18 Years and Older

The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup recently recommended expanding Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna booster dose eligibility to all individuals 18 or older who have completed the primary vaccination series. Individuals who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines should receive a booster dose after at least six months. Individuals who received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine should receive a booster dose two months after their first shots. The workgroup provided its confirmation to the governors of California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

This comes on the heels of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorizing expansion of booster shot eligibility for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, and the CDC affirmed that decision. The workgroup concurred with FDA and CDC recommendations for booster doses.

All individuals ages 50 years and older or residing in a long-term care facility should receive a booster.

All individuals ages 18 to 49 years may receive a booster.

Because unvaccinated individuals remain at much higher risk of COVID-19 than those who have been vaccinated, the workgroup continued to strongly support vaccination for everyone 5 years of age and older.