Indiana to start offering Pfizer booster for eligible Hoosiers

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Health announced Friday that booster doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are available to eligible Hoosiers following the FDA and CDC’s authorization of the additional dose.

The Centers for Disease Control recommended the booster shot on Thursday following the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to expand its Emergency Use Authorization to include the boosters.

The FDA previously authorized a third dose of Pfizer or Moderna for immunocompromised people who did not build protection from the vaccine.

The single booster shot can be administered at least six months after completing the second vaccine dose and applies only to people who previously received the Pfizer vaccine.

The CDC issued guidance for the following groups:

• Individuals ages 65 and older and residents of long-term care facilities should receive a booster dose.
• Individuals ages 50 to 64 with underlying medical conditions that put them at high risk of severe COVID-19 should receive a booster dose.
• Individuals ages 18 to 49 with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster dose, based on their individual benefits and risks.
• Individuals ages 18 to 64 who are at high risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of an occupational or institutional risk of exposure may receive a booster shot based on their individual benefits and risks.

If you would like to get a booster dose, click here and search for a site that has the Pfizer vaccine.

You can also call 211 for assistance.

At the appointment, you will be asked to verify that you meet the eligibility requirements.

Beginning Monday, that verification will be included into the online appointment registration.