Where to get booster pass

We'll walk you through who's eligible to receive the Moderna booster shot, when, and what the deal is with mixing and matching vaccine brands. With cases, hospitalizations and deaths beginning to plateau, epidemiologists worry about another wave of COVID infections as cold weather drives people indoors in closer quarters, and as the annual flu season begins to kick in, eroding immune systems. The FDA-approved COVID vaccines have proven to be highly effective in preventing hospitalization, and those who are unvaccinated are 10 times more likely to be hospitalized.

With the new federal vaccine mandates , the Biden administration aims to counter the surge and put pressure on anyone who hasn't been vaccinated. For more on COVID, here's the latest on COVID vaccines for kids , what to do if you lost your vaccination card , the difference between a booster and a third dose and breakthrough infections.

The FDA authorized a Moderna vaccine booster for Moderna recipients age 65 years of age and older, and adults who are at high risk because of severe illness or exposure in their work setting. Those who are eligible can get their shots now. The CDC recommends the following people get their booster shot six months after they've been fully vaccinated with either Pfizer or Moderna:.

Anyone eligible for a booster can get any of the available brands of coronavirus vaccines. Recent studies of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines show that their effectiveness can begin to wane after six months. Actions Facebook Tweet Email.

You asked, we answered: booster shots, excelsior pass and vaccine eligibility for children More booster shot guidance is expected next week. By: Natalie Fahmy. Copyright Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sign up for the Headlines Newsletter and receive up to date information.

And adding to the challenge is that this time around, people can choose a different brand of vaccine for that extra dose. A number of factors, including the vaccine you started with and when your last dose was, help determine when you qualify. Just like the initial shots, boosters are free and will be available at pharmacies, doctors' offices and clinics.

People who are fully vaccinated are still strongly protected against hospitalization and death from COVID But immunity against infection can wane over time, and the extra-contagious delta variant is spreading widely. More than million Americans will become eligible for a booster in the coming months, or about 2 out of every 3 vaccinated adults, officials say.

For recipients of Moderna or Pfizer vaccinations, there's no clear data that everybody needs another dose, but immunity against infection in at least some people appeared to wane around six months.

Experts agree that getting a booster too soon can reduce the benefit. Timing matters because the immune system gradually builds layers of defenses over months, and letting that response mature improves the chances another, later dose will provide even stronger protection.