CDC/KDHE Expand Pfizer Booster Availability; Authorize Third Shots for Kids 5-11

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) have endorsed three FDA authorizations expanding COVID-19 vaccine access.

These changes—

• Reduce the waiting period to receive a booster from six months to five months after the second shot of Pfizer vaccine.
• Lower the minimum age to receive a Pfizer booster: now anyone age 12 or older is eligible to receive a Pfizer booster if they completed the two-dose Pfizer primary series five months ago.
• Authorize a third dose in the Pfizer primary series for 5- to 11-year-olds who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.

Sedgwick County Health Department (SCHD) is now following the new recommendations.

SCHD offers Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccines at its Community Vaccine Clinic at 223 S. Main (former downtown Wichita library) and at Mobile Vaccination Clinics around Sedgwick County. No appointments are necessary. Parent/guardian consent is needed to receive COVID-19 vaccine for people less than 18 years old. An attestation form is signed to receive a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine if a person is moderately or severely immunocompromised.

Additional information from CDC here:

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0104-Pfizer-Booster.html

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0105-Booster-Shot.html

Additional information from KDHE here:
https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15901/1621-HAN-CDC-KDHE-Updates-Booster-and-Additional-Dose-Eligibility