Moderna, J&J COVID-19 boosters available at DHD #10.

Moderna, J&J COVID-19 boosters available at DHD #10.

HART – District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) has received authorization to give booster doses of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. Eligible individuals should plan to get booster doses six months after primary mRNA series or two months after a single dose of Johnson & Johnson according to a press release from DHD #10 issued earlier this week.  

“We anticipated that this decision would be made and are prepared to provide booster doses to all eligible individuals,” stated Kevin Hughes, Health Officer for DHD#10. “Individuals can also receive COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses from their healthcare providers and local pharmacies as well.” 

Following FDA approval, recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the endorsement of the CDC director, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging certain Michiganders to get a booster vaccine if they received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson (J&J) primary COVID-19 vaccines. This includes people ages 65 and older; individuals 18 through 64 years of age at high risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying health conditions; and those at high risk of COVID-19 due to occupational or institutional exposure. 

There are now booster recommendations for all three available COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type they originally received and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots. 

For individuals who received an mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) COVID-19 primary vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at six months or more after their initial series: 

• 65 years and older. 
• Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings. 
• Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions. 
• Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings. 

People over age 18 who received a single dose of the J&J (Janssen) vaccine should receive a single J&J COVID-19 booster dose at least two months after completing their primary series. 

• The use of a single booster dose of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine may be administered at least two months after completion of the single-dose primary regimen to individuals 18 years of age and older. 

Per CDC, occupations at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission include frontline essential workers and health care workers including: 

• First responders (EMS, health care workers, firefighters, police, congregate care staff). 
• Education staff (teachers, support staff, daycare workers). 
• Food and agriculture workers. 
• Manufacturing workers. 
• Corrections workers. 
• U.S. Postal Service workers 
• Public transit workers. 
• Grocery store workers. 

This list could be updated in the future. 

To schedule your COVID-19 vaccine or booster dose, go to www.dhd10.org/schedule or call 888-217-3904 for assistance.