Due to the actions by the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, last week, individuals who received either the Moderna or the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are now eligible for a booster shot. 

You’re currently eligible to receive a Pfizer or Moderna booster if it has been at least six months since you received your second dose of either vaccine and you are:

• An individual 18 or older and work or live in a high-risk setting. 
• An individual 18 - 64 with certain health conditions. 
• An individual 65 or older. 
• Long-term care resident.

For those who received the J&J COVID-19 vaccine, the window for receiving your booster is two months after your initial shot. Everyone ages 18 or older who received the J&J COVID-19 vaccine is eligible.

The FDA and CDC also approved a mix and match approach so that individuals may receive a booster dose of a different vaccine than they initially received. If you have questions, please refer to the CDC and FDA websites and contact your healthcare provider. 

On Tuesday, an advisory panel to the FDA reviewed Pfizer data and voted to support the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. Next week, the CDC’s advisory committee on immunization practices will examine that same data and make their recommendations. The state of New Jersey has pre-ordered 205,000 doses of the pediatric Pfizer vaccine in anticipation of its approval.

Adolescents 12 - 17 are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine right now. In NJ, 62.3% of children between the ages of 12 - 17 have received at least one dose, 70.8% of 16 and 17 year olds have received at least one dose, and 57% of 12 - 15 year olds have received at least one dose.

There are 1,739 COVID-19 Vaccine distribution locations across NJ. A complete list of NJ’s vaccination centers is available online at covid19.nj.gov/pages/finder. 

Have a great week, and take care! ​

Sarah Neibart

Mayor, Mendham Township