Washington State Depart of Health Recommends Second Covid Booster Shot

People aged 50 and older and specific immunocompromised individuals can now get a second booster dose of an mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) COVID-19 vaccine at least four months after receiving their initial booster dose.

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) updated its booster dose recommendations following guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup.

DOH’s updated booster dose recommendations are as follows:

• Everyone 12 and older should receive a booster dose five months after completing their two-dose vaccine series of Pfizer or Moderna or two months after receiving the single-shot Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine.
• Everyone 50 and older can receive a second booster dose four months after receiving their first booster dose.
• Individuals 12 and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised can receive a second booster dose four months after receiving their first booster dose.
• Those 18 and older who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of the J&J vaccine four months ago can receive a second booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

As of March 26, more than 2.7 million Washingtonians age 12 and older have received a booster dose, 58% of the eligible population. Of those age 50 and older, roughly 70% of the eligible population has received their first booster dose.

Our local vaccination numbers are (including booster shots) as of March 29.

• 79% of residents 12+ in zip code 98045 (North Bend) are fully vaccinated
• 71% of residents 12+ in zip code 98024 (Fall City) are fully vaccinated
• 88.5% of residents 12+ in zip code 98065 (Snoqualmie) are fully vaccinated
• 75.2% of residents 12+ in zip code 98014 (Carnation) are fully vaccinated
• 86.5% of residents 12+ in zip code 98019 (Duvall) are fully vaccinated

To make a vaccine or booster appointment, visit Vaccine Locator, Vaccines.gov, or call the COVID-19 Information Hotline at 833-VAX-HELP. Language assistance is available.