COVID-19 Boosters Now Available for People Ages 12 and Older

Published on January 11, 2022

The Unified Government Public Health Department is now offering COVID-19 booster shots for people ages 12 and older in Wyandotte County! This is following new authorization from the FDA and recommendations from the CDC and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) that came late last week, which authorized boosters for those ages 12 – 15 years of age.

People ages 12 – 17 can ONLY get a Pfizer vaccine or booster at this time. People ages 12 and older who have previously gotten the Pfizer vaccine are now eligible to receive a booster shot five (5) months after their second dose.

Other Changes to Booster and Vaccine Guidance

• The waiting period for boosters was shortened to 5 months for people who received the Pfizer vaccine. Anyone age 12 or older who was fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine is eligible for a booster 5 months after their second dose (shortened from the previous 6-month guidance). 
• Moderately or severely immunocompromised children ages 5-11 can now receive an additional primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine 28 days after their second shot. This change follows a January 4 announcement by the CDC. 

Current COVID-19 Booster Eligibility 

*Although mRNA vaccines are preferred, J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine may be considered in some situations. 

Table adapted from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html