COVID-19 Information

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Changes to Simplify Use of Bivalent mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines

Updated April 18, 2023

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 bivalent mRNA vaccines to simplify the vaccination schedule for most individuals. This action includes authorizing the current bivalent vaccines (original and omicron BA.4/BA.5 strains) to be used for all doses administered to individuals 6 months of age and older, including for an additional dose or doses for certain populations. The monovalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States.

Click for more FDA News Release

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Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters

Updated December 22, 2022

What You Need to Know

  • Updated (bivalent) boosters became available on:
    • September 2, 2022, for people aged 12 years and older
    • October 12, 2022, for people aged 5–11 years
    • December 9, 2022, for children aged 6 months–4 years who completed the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine primary series
  • Updated (bivalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine also became available on December 9, 2022 for children aged 6 months–4 years to complete the primary series.
  • CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines for their age group:
  • Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recovering from COVID-19 infection provides added protection against COVID-19.
  • People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines.
  • COVID-19 vaccine and booster recommendations may be updated as CDC continues to monitor the latest COVID-19 data.

Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters

Updated: 10/24/2022

What You Need to Know

Updated (Bivalent) Boosters

The updated (bivalent) boosters are called “bivalent” because they protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the Omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5.

Previous boosters are called “monovalent” because they were designed to protect against the original virus that causes COVID-19. They also provide some protection against Omicron, but not as much as the updated (bivalent) boosters.

The virus that causes COVID-19 has changed over time. The different versions of the virus that have developed over time are called variants. Learn more aboutvariants of the COVID-19 virus. Click/Tap

Two COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer and Moderna, have developed updated (bivalent) COVID-19 boosters.

Eligibility Last Updated: 7/19/2022

COVID-19 Vaccine Schedule Chart [English] [Spanish] UPDATED!

  • CDC recommends COVID-19 primary series vaccines for everyone ages 6 months and older, and COVID-19 boosters for everyone ages 5 years and older, if eligible.
  • People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have specific recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters.
  • People ages 6 months through 64 years, and especially males ages 12 through 39 years, may consider getting the 2nd primary dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) 8 weeks after the 1st dose. A longer time between the 1st and 2nd primary doses may increase how much protection the vaccines offer, and further minimize the rare risk of heart problems, including myocarditis and pericarditis.
  • People ages 65 years and older, people more likely to get very sick from COVID-19, or anyone wanting protection due to high levels of community transmission should get:
    • the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine 3 weeks (or 21 days) after the first dose, or
    • the second dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine 4 weeks (or 28 days) after the first dose. 
    • People ages 18 years and older should get their second dose of Novavax 3-8 weeks after the first dose.
    • People ages 18 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get the second dose of Novavax 3 weeks after the first dose.

OHI provides walk-in Covid testing to everyone in New Jersey. This test will be the PCR, with results in 2-5 days from your LabCorp patient portal. To visit the patient portal click LabCorp

It's especially important to get tested if:

  • You have COVID-19 symptoms after being exposed, even if you are fully vaccinated or recently recovered from COVID-19 in the last 3 months.
  • You have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
  • You were recently in a large gathering where social distancing was hard to maintain or a crowded indoor setting and are not fully vaccinated or recently recovered.

Eligibility Last Updated: 3/29/2022

Statement From N.J. Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli on CDC Approval of Additional Booster Dose for People Ages 50+, Certain Immunocompromised Individuals

The recommendation of an additional booster dose for those over age 50 and certain immunocompromised individuals will enhance protection against severe disease due to COVID-19 and its variants.

Today’s updated recommendations from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allow these groups who received an initial mRNA booster dose at least four months ago to be eligible for another mRNA booster. In addition, the CDC also recommended that adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine at least four months ago receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is ready to proceed with this next phase of booster doses and will work with vaccination partners to continue to ensure ease of access such as walk-in availability. To find a vaccination location, visit covid19.nj.gov/finder.

According to the CDC, for adults and adolescents eligible for a first booster dose, these shots are safe and provide substantial benefit. During the recent Omicron surge, those who were boosted were 21 times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to those who were unvaccinated, and 7 times less likely to be hospitalized. The CDC and NJDOH continue to recommend that all eligible adults, adolescents, and children 5 and older be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, which includes getting a booster when eligible.

In a statement, the CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky said that, in collaboration with FDA and public health partners, the CDC will continue to evaluate the need for additional booster doses for all Americans.

Who can get a booster shot or third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine?

Last Updated: 01/06/2022

Everyone ages 12 and older should get a booster shot. Those ages 12 to 17 years old are only eligible for a Pfizer booster.

Individuals are eligible to receive a booster if it has been at least two months since their one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot, at least five months after completing their two-dose Pfizer vaccine series, or at least six months after completing their two-dose Moderna vaccine series.

Eligible adults may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. The CDC recommends that mRNA vaccines (e.g. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) are preferred over the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine for prevention of COVID-19 in adults.

 

Eligibility Last Updated: 12/13/2021

Everyone 5 years or older is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in New Jersey and is encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and highly effective at preventing you from getting sick. They are one of the most important tools to ending the COVID-19 pandemic and getting back to what you love.

All Pfizer and Moderna vaccine recipients 18 years of age and older are now eligible for a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

16-and-17-year-olds are now eligible for Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots.

Schedule your COVID-19 vaccine or Booster shot:

Booster Shot Eligibility Last Updated: 10/28/2021

Who is eligible for a COVID-19 Booster at this time?

The following groups are currently eligible for booster shots:

  • Ages 18+ Who Received Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine: People who are 18 and older who received a single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, at least two months after their Johnson & Johnson shot
  • Ages 65+ and Long-Term Care Residents: People who are 65 years and older or who live in long-term care settings who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, at least six months after their second shot
  • Ages 50+ With High-Risk Health Conditions: People who are ages 50-64 with underlying medical conditions (listed below) who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, at least six months after their second shot
  • Ages 18+ With High-Risk Health Conditions: People who are ages 18-49 years with underlying medical conditions (listed below) who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, at least six months after their second shot
  • Ages 18+ in Jobs or Settings With Increased COVID-19 Risk: People who are ages 18-64 years who are at increased risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of where they work or reside (examples below) who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, at least six months after their second shot.

Individuals self-identify as belonging to an eligible category and are not required to provide proof of a medical condition or a note from a medical provider.

Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that 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.

Third Dose Eligibility

People with moderate or severe immune system deficiencies should get an additional Pfizer or Moderna shot, at least four weeks after their second Pfizer or Moderna shot, including 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 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
  • Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
  • Advanced or untreated HIV infection
  • Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

People who want a third dose should identify themselves as immunocompromised, and proof of immunocompromised status is not required.

To schedule your COVID-19 Booster call 732.363.6655, Email CECTeam@OHINJ.org or click this link BOOSTER

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and highly effective at preventing you from getting sick. They are one of the most important tools to ending the COVID-19 pandemic and getting back to what you love.

Schedule your COVID-19 vaccine or Booster shot:

CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Considerations for People Who Are Pregnant

https://www.cdc.gov

 

ASOG Vaccinating Pregnant and Lactating Patients Against COVID-19

https://www.acog.org

Access your records with Ocean Health Initiatives, Inc. (OHI’s) Patient Portal. We're using Athenahealth to help you access your health information.

If you have received your first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine with us, you can obtain proof of vaccination by logging in to our patient portal.

Please access the patient portal here: http://my-ohi.org/portal