Wisconsin plans to offer COVID-19 vaccine boosters
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation that certain populations who have increased risk of exposure to, or transmission of, COVID-19, receive a booster shot of Moderna vaccine, at least six months after having received their second dose. The DHS also recommends individuals age 18 and older who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, receive a booster dose at least two months after their primary vaccine dose.
“With three COVID-19 booster dose options now available, our national medical experts have given us additional tools to help stop the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant and slow the spread of COVID-19 in communities throughout Wisconsin,” said DHS secretary-designee Karen Timberlake. “We ask that eligible Wisconsinites be patient, as it may take time for everyone who needs a booster dose to get one.”
The DHS continues to await publication of the CDC clinical guidance for Moderna, Johnson & Johnson booster doses. Once those are published, vaccinators in Wisconsin, will be able to begin providing booster doses and ensure they are following the safest protocols.
The CDC also recommended that healthcare professionals be allowed to provide a different COVID-19 vaccine as a booster than the one initially received, providing flexibility to healthcare providers and additional options for individuals. This recommendation applies to all three COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States.
A booster dose serves a different purpose than the additional dose recommended for certain immunocompromised people in early August. The additional doses are for people with certain medical conditions or who are receiving certain treatments, leaving them moderately or severely immunocompromised, and who may not have built a strong enough immune response after their initial vaccine.
In contrast, a “booster dose” refers to another dose of a vaccine that is given to someone who built enough protection after their initial vaccination, but then that protection decreased over time – also referred to as waning immunity.
Evidence suggests that immunity is waning over time for some people who were initially well-protected by the vaccine. For those people, a booster dose will strengthen and extend their protection against infection and serious illness.
“Booster doses are intended to help people who are vaccinated maintain the highest possible level of immune system protection for as long as possible,” said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, chief medical officer for the Bureau of Communicable Diseases. “It’s important to remember that all the authorized COVID-19 vaccines offer strong protection after the primary series. Getting every eligible person vaccinated continues to be our most important strategy for preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death.”
For additional information about booster doses, additional doses and help accessing a COVID-19 vaccine record to determine when to be recommended for a booster, visit dhs. wisconsin.gov.
