The Indiana Department of Health announced on Friday that booster vaccines are now available for eligible residents.
The booster is only available for individuals who have received the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, and must have been completed six months prior. Individuals who have received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines are not eligible for boosters at this time. Third doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are available for immunocompromised individuals only.
There is a distinction between the boosters and third dose. Boosters are recommended for individuals that have built immunity, but the protection has decreased over time (called waning immunity) and may not protect against new strains of the virus. Third doses are for individuals who have compromised immune systems, and are unable to build enough protection from the first two doses.
Here is a breakdown of the eligibility for Pfizer boosters:
• Individuals ages 65 and older and residents of long-term care facilities
• Individuals ages 50 to 64 with underlying medical conditions that put them at high risk of severe COVID-19
• Individuals ages 18 to 49 with underlying medical conditions, based on their individual benefits and risks.
• Individuals ages 18 to 64 who are at high risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of an occupational or institutional risk of exposure, based on their individual benefits and risks.
To register for an appointment, visit www.ourshot.in.gov or call 211 for further assistance. Bring your vaccination card and driver’s license to the appointment.
