Want a booster shot for your COVID-19 vaccine?
Thanks to all the work done setting up the infrastructure to provide initial vaccines to residents, it's pretty easy to get a booster shot in both Alexandria and Fairfax County, as long as you qualify.
If you received a Johnson & Johnson shot more than two moths ago, you can get a booster shot — and it can be a Johnson & Johnson, Moderna Biontech or Pfizer booster shot. There are no restrictions on this regarding age (only those ages 18+ could get an original Johnson & Johnson vaccine) or medical conditions.
If you originally received a Moderna or Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19, you must wait six months from the day you received your most recent vaccine dose, and additional conditions may apply (see below).
You can mix and match vaccines and choose to get a different brand of vaccine than you got the first time around, according to CDC guidance released last week.
If you received a Pfizer-Biontech or Moderna vaccine, you can get a booster shot six months from your last dose if you meet the following requirements:
- If you are 65 or older.
- If you are an adult ages 18 to 64 who have cancer, dementia, diabetes, heart disease, HIV and other medical conditions that increase their likelihood of Covid complications.
- If you are 18 or older who live or work in a long-term care facility, homeless shelter and prison or other congregate setting.
- If you are a front-line personnel 18 or older who are at a higher risk of Covid exposure due to their job, including first responders, teachers, supermarket staff and mass transit employees.
Boosters are not yet available for those under age 18.
Not sure when your last dose was?
The date of your last vaccination should be on the paper vaccine card that you received when you got your first (or only) shot of COVID-19 vaccine. If you lost that piece of paper, you may be able to locate the information through the Virginia Department of Health here.
If you received a shot from a major pharmacy system or your doctor's office, they may have a record, as well.
Never got vaccinated?
Fortunately, it's really easy now to get a vaccine. They are available every day in dozens of locations throughout the city, including most grocery stores, pharmacies and in locations listed through alexandriava.gov/vaccines or through vaccines.gov.
What about the kids?
Children ages 12 and up are eligible for a Pfizer-Biontech vaccine already. Please bring their birth certificate or other proof of age with you to the appointment. A parent, guardian or designated adult must be present.
Children ages 5 to 11 years old are not yet eligible for any COVID-19 vaccine, but approval is coming very soon, possibly as soon as early November. When children ages 5 to 11 are eligible, both the City of Alexandria and Fairfax County are planning for a campaign to vaccinate as many children as possible quickly. More info will be available in the coming weeks.
