(Washington, DC) Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and DC Health announced that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is now recommending a second booster dose for individuals 50 and older, as well as certain individuals who are immunocompromised and at higher risk for severe COVID-19. Eligible individuals who received their initial booster dose of either the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines on or before November 30, 2021, can now receive a second booster of either vaccine. Adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine on or before November 30, 2021 may now receive a second booster dose using an mRNA (Pfizer and Moderna) COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccines and boosters greatly reduce the chance of being infected with COVID-19 or suffering from severe symptoms. Recent data has shown:  

• Unvaccinated individuals are 5 time more likely to being infected by COIVD-19 then those that are fully vaccinated.  
• Individuals who are “up to date” by receiving their initial boosters were an additional 2.5 times less likely to be infected over those who were only “fully vaccinated”. 
• According to the CDC, those who were boosted were also 21-times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to those who were unvaccinated, and 7-times less likely to be hospitalized.   

There are four easy ways to get your initial COVID-19 vaccine or booster dose in the District:

• Visit a walk-up vaccine clinic or COVID Center. 
• Make an at-home vaccination appointment by calling 1-855-363-0333.
• Make an appointment with your health care provider.
• Find other opportunities to get vaccinated by visiting vaccines.gov.

For more information on COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and COVID Center hours and locations please visit coronavirus.dc.gov.