Chicago Department of Public Health Statement on Pfizer COVID-19 Boosters for 12-to-15-year-olds

January 6, 2022

After receiving approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), yesterday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended to expand eligibility of a third “booster” dose to 12- to 15-year-olds who received a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (the only vaccine available to those under age 18). Pfizer boosters should be received at least five months after completing an initial COVID-19 vaccine series.

This comes following news earlier this week that recommended that Pfizer boosters should be received at least five months after completing an initial Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine series – for all eligible ages. Additionally, consistent with their prior recommendation for adults, CDC now recommends that moderately or severely immunocompromised 5-to-11-year-olds receive an additional primary dose of the vaccine 28 days after their second shot.

The Chicago Department of Public Health supports these decisions and encourages all eligible Chicagoans, age 12 and up, to get their booster dose now – no matter the type of COVID-19 vaccine they originally received. Anyone who received the Pfizer vaccine should get a booster dose five months after the second dose of their original vaccine series. The booster interval recommendation for people who received the J&J vaccine (2 months) or the Moderna vaccine (6 months), has not changed.

COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses are readily available across the city – in hospitals, physicians’ offices, local pharmacies, pop-up clinics hosted by the City, and more. For more information on boosters and to find your vaccine, visit Chicago.gov/COVIDvax.

All COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses are free to everyone. No insurance or government ID required.