DC Health and Mayor Muriel Bowser asked eligible residents to receive their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, which would serve as a booster shot against the infectious disease.
Bowser’s call followed the recent recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for people who have a weakened immune system to get vaccinated with three doses of an mRNA COVID-19 shot, either Pfizer or Moderna, instead of two doses.
“This third dose was recommended because sometimes people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised do not build enough (or any) protection when they first get a vaccination,” DC Health said in a release.
The CDC’s latest recommendations include the following:
- People 65 years and older should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series.
- People who are residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series.
- People aged 50 to 64 with certain underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series.
- People 18 to 49 who are at high risk for severe COVID-19 due to certain underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.
- People aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.
In order to receive a booster shot, you should find your vaccine card or access your vaccine record at myir.dc.gov, call your healthcare provider, or visit vaccines.gov to find the nearest location. If you need special support, you may call 855-363-0333.
There are a total of 153 centers in DC that provide booster shots to eligible individuals.
Follow coronavirus.dc.gov for new updates on the CDC’s recommendations related to COVID-19.