April 5, 2022

Second COVID-19 vaccine booster eligibility (Message to UW Medicine patients)

This message was sent to UW Medicine patients.

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 second booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to all individuals 50 years and older who received their first booster shot at least four months prior.

Under the new guidance, certain immunocompromised individuals ages 12 and older also are eligible for a second Pfizer or Moderna booster shot at least four months after their first booster dose, as are individuals ages 18 and older who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for both their primary series and first booster.

Boosters have been shown to be a safe and effective way of reducing the risk of serious COVID-19 illness. According to the CDC, individuals who were boosted were 21 times less likely to die from COVID-19, and seven times less likely to be hospitalized compared to those who were unvaccinated during the recent Omicron surge.

Patient booster scheduling

To schedule your second booster, please call 844.520.8700.

Appointments are available at UW Medical Center – Montlake, UW Medical Center – Northwest, Harborview Medical Center, Valley Medical Center, and UW Medicine primary care clinics. We also continue to provide first and second vaccine doses as well as initial boosters for all eligible individuals at these locations.

Please note that for adolescents ages 12 to 17 only the Pfizer vaccine can be used. Children ages 5 to 11 are not currently eligible to receive a booster.

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.

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