November 20, 2021

Moderna and Pfizer vaccine boosters available for ages 18+ (Post updated)

This message was sent to UW Medicine patients on Nov. 20, 2021. Please note that on Dec. 9, 2021, eligibility for Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots was expanded to age 16 and up.

To Our Valued Patients,

Based on updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), UW Medicine is now providing boosters of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines — as well as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine — to all patients ages 18 or older.

You are eligible for a booster if it has been at least six months since your second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or at least two months since your dose of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. As authorized by the FDA and CDC, your booster is not required to be the same COVID-19 vaccine as the one you received in your initial dose(s).

Boosters can extend vaccine effectiveness and maximize your protection against COVID-19.

Patient booster scheduling

To schedule your booster, please call 844.520.8700 to join a call-back list. Appointments are available at UW Medical Center – Montlake, UW Medical Center – Northwest, Harborview Medical Center, Valley Medical Center, the North King County Vaccination Clinic in Shoreline and UW Medicine primary care clinics. We also continue to provide first and second vaccine doses, as well as third doses for eligible immunocompromised individuals, at these locations.

Please note that children ages 12 to 17 are not currently eligible to receive a booster. [Note: See above regarding eligibility being expanded to age 16 and up as of Dec. 9, 2021.]

For more information about boosters, visit UW Medicine COVID-19 Updates & Information. If you have questions about whether a booster is appropriate for you, please contact your provider.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we navigate this next phase of vaccine eligibility and for trusting UW Medicine with your healthcare needs.

Sincerely,

Lisa Brandenburg
President, UW Medicine Hospitals & Clinics
Vice President for Medical Affairs
University of Washington

Timothy H. Dellit, MD
Chief Medical Officer, UW Medicine
Vice President for Medical Affairs,
University of Washington and
President, UW Physicians