The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services is now providing booster shots to an expanded group of eligible residents. The County is offering the boosters based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated authorization of booster doses on Oct. 21. The new eligibility guideline includes certain people who have previously received the Moderna vaccine, and most people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine,
Residents who are eligible for booster doses can get vaccinated at pharmacies, through private providers, or at County and other health care-sponsored clinics. Eligible individuals who would like a specific vaccine as their booster dose should check with the vaccination site before making an appointment to ensure availability.
“We know that the information can be confusing to residents, because there are multiple steps to the approval process for the vaccines, as well as differing eligibility criteria depending on which vaccine is recommended,” said acting health officer Dr. James Bridgers, “and that is why we ask everyone to review the information carefully and ask their doctor or health provider if they have questions about their specific medical situation.”
The CDC announcement provided the following information on eligibility for a booster dose of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine, recommending that additional groups get COVID-19 booster doses to provide additional protection.
Eligibility for those who received two doses of the Moderna vaccine:
Anyone 65 years and older, or
Adults 18 and older who are at high risk of severe illness because of an underlying condition, or
Adults 18 and older who are at risk of illness because of their job, or
Adults 18 and older who live in an institutional setting, and
Received their second dose of the vaccine at least six months ago.
Eligibility for those who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine:
Anyone 18 years and older, and
Received their Johnson & Johnson dose at least two months ago.
Individuals eligible for a booster shot are authorized to receive any of the available COVID-19 vaccines as their booster.
Residents will be required to self-certify that they fall into one of the eligible groups when making an appointment. Appointments for County-operated and many private providers are made on the Maryland Department of Health’s PrepMod scheduling platform. Visit Maryland’s vaccine locator to find pharmacies, County-operated sites and other providers offering booster doses.
If you need help to make an appointment at a County-operated vaccination site, please call the COVID-19 call center at 240-777-2982 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Find additional information at www.GoVaxMoCo.com. If you feel sick or think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, get tested. Find free testing clinics at www.MoCoCOVIDtesting.org. For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 website and follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCoMD.
