FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 30, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT, Logan Anderson, VDH PIO
logan.anderson@vdh.virginia.gov
Statement from Virginia State Vaccination Coordinator Christy Gray on the Recommendation of Second COVID-19 Booster Dose for Persons 50 Years and Older, Immunocompromised Individuals and Johnson & Johnson Recipients
(RICHMOND, Va.) — The Virginia Department of Health is announcing that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance for COVID-19 vaccination. Second booster doses may now be provided to certain populations in the Commonwealth.
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- Adults aged 50 years and older may choose to receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the first booster dose.
- Adults aged 18–49 years who received Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine as both their primary series dose and booster dose may receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the first Johnson & Johnson/Janssen booster dose.
- People aged 12 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may choose to receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the first booster dose.
Approximately 1 million Virginians are now eligible for a second booster, according to VDH, and now have access should they wish to receive one. Virginians are encouraged to consult with their healthcare provider regarding their own risk assessment to decide whether or not to receive a second booster.
The following is a statement from Virginia’s State Vaccination Coordinator and Director of the Virginia Department of Health’s Division of Immunization Christy Gray, M.P.H:
“VDH welcomes CDC’s updated guidance. This is not a blanket recommendation for everyone. Members of the general population who are staying up-to-date on their vaccine remain well protected from severe disease without a second booster. We want to provide the public with information so they can consult with their healthcare provider to make an informed choice to address their own level of personal risk. Throughout the pandemic, we’ve seen that the older you are or if you’re moderately or severely immunocompromised, the more you are at risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death if you contract COVID-19. There is ample supply of vaccine available in the state to ensure everyone eligible for a second booster will be able to get one.”
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Those who are unvaccinated and without a booster remain at the highest risk of severe illness and hospitalization due to COVID-19. This population remains VDH’s top priority. Everyone 5 years or older is eligible to be vaccinated. To find free vaccination opportunities near you, visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 7-1-1). Assistance is available in English, Spanish, and more than 100 other languages.
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