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The Maui News
The state Department of Health announced Wednesday that it is expanding eligibility for COVID-19 booster shots after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the shots for youth ages 12 and up.
Effective immediately, DOH is recommending that:
• Everyone ages 12 to 17 who completed their primary vaccine series at least five months ago get a single Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine booster shot.
• People ages 18 and older who completed their primary series of Pfizer vaccine at least five months ago get a mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) booster.
• Moderately to severely immunocompromised children ages 5 to 11 get an additional dose of the Pfizer vaccine 28 days after their second shot.
"It is important all people covered by these new recommendations take advantage of the extra layer of protection that booster shots provide," Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char said in a news release. "They ramp up the level of your neutralizing antibodies tremendously."
The booster interval recommendation of two months for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and six months for the Moderna vaccine has not changed.
Only the Pfizer vaccine is authorized and recommended for children ages 5 to 11.
For more information on vaccination and testing options, visit hawaiicovid19.com.