Choosing Your COVID-19 Booster Shot
You may choose which COVID-19 vaccine you receive as a booster shot. Some people may prefer the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.
Scheduling Your Booster Shot
Visit www.ochd.org for a schedule of upcoming clinic dates in Ocean County. The OCHD provides COVID and flu clinics at 3 fixed sites:
RWJ Barnabas Healthcare Arena/Toms River High School North, 1245 Old Freehold Rd, Toms River, NJ 08753 Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday – 10AM-3PM
Southern Regional Middle Schoo, l75 Cedar Bridge Rd, Manahawkin, NJ 08050Tuesday – 3PM-7PM & Saturday – 9AM-1PM
Ocean County Transportation Services Complex – Visiting Nurses Association2820 Ridgeway Blvd, Manchester Monday & Friday – 9AM-3PM
Pediatric Clinic – OCHD WIC Facility 175 Sunset Ave Toms River
Monday – 4PM-7PM
Southern Regional Middle Scool – Saturday 10AM-1PM
Approved or Authorized Vaccines
Below are the vaccines that are approved or authorized in the United States to prevent COVID-19:
Pfizer-BioNTech Moderna Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen
COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available for people ages 5 years and older.
All currently approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and reduce your risk of severe illness. CDC does not recommend one vaccine over another.
Pfizer-BioNTech [ 1 ]
Moderna [ 1 ]
Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen [ 1 ]
Ages Recommended5+ years old
Ages Recommended18+ years old
Ages Recommended18+ years old
Primary Series2 doses Given 3 weeks (21 days) apart [ 2 ]
Primary Series2 doses Given 4 weeks (28 days) apart [ 2 ]
J&J Primary Series1 dose
Booster DoseEveryone ages 18 years and older is eligible at least 6 months after the last dose in their primary series. Any of the three COVID-19 vaccines can be used for the booster dose.
Booster DoseEveryone ages 18 years and older is eligible at least 6 months after the last dose in their primary series. Any of the three COVID-19 vaccines can be used for the booster dose.
Booster Dose At least 2 months after the first dose for all people ages 18 years and older. Any of the three COVID-19 vaccines can be used for the booster dose.
When Fully Vaccinated2 weeks after 2nd dose
When Fully Vaccinated2 weeks after 2nd dose
When Fully Vaccinated2 weeks after 1st dose
- If you had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose or if you have a known (diagnosed) allergy to a COVID-19 vaccine ingredient, you should not get that vaccine. If you have been instructed not to get one type of COVID-19 vaccine, you may still be able to get another type. Learn more information for people with allergies.
- You should get your second shot as close to the recommended 3-week or 4-week interval as possible.
Additional Recommendations for Immunocompromised People
Additional primary dose: Moderately to severely immunocompromised people who are 12 years and older and received a Pfizer-BioNTech primary series or 18 years and older and received a Moderna primary series should receive an additional primary dose of the same vaccine at least 28 days after their second dose.
Booster dose: Moderately to severely immunocompromised people who are 18 years of age and older and received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna primary series are also eligible for a booster dose at least 6 months after their additional primary dose, using any of the three COVID-19 vaccines.
Immunocompromised people who received a J&J/Janssen vaccine are not recommended to receive an additional primary dose, but should receive a booster dose at least 2 months after their initial dose, using any of the three COVID-19 vaccines.
What to Expect during and after Your Booster Shot Appointment
Bring your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record card to your booster shot appointment so your provider can fill in the information about your booster dose. If you did not receive a card at your first appointment, contact the vaccination site where you got your first shot or your state health department to find out how you can get a card.
You may experience side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. These are normal signs that your body is building protection against COVID-19.
Use v-safe to tell CDC about any side effects. If you enter your booster shot in your v-safe account, the system will send you daily health check-ins.