Who can get an additional dose of a COVID-19 vaccine?

The CDC and the FDA recommend an additional dose when eligible for those who are immunocompromised and ages 5 and older. This includes those who:
• Have been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last two years, or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Are diagnosed with moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome or Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Are diagnosed with HIV and have a high viral load or low CD4 count, or are not currently taking medication to treat HIV
• Are taking drugs like high-dose steroids or other medications that may cause severe suppression of the immune system

The CDC also recommends a booster shot five months after the additional primary shot for those who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, and two months after the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

If you are not sure whether you fit into any of these categories, please contact your medical provider. For more details, please review the CDC’s information for moderately to severely immunocompromised people.