COVID-19 UPDATES

MPOX UPDATES

Updated 1/19/23

Latest updates

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has approved and is recommending Covid vaccine for all of the following categories: 

  • Ages 12 years and older 
  • Ages 5-11 years 
  • Ages 6 months to 4 years

Northwest Community Hospital is offering the Pfizer Covid vaccine. Please contact the NCH Covid Vaccine Hotline to learn more about current Covid vaccine services by contacting the following number: 847-618-0242. 

Covid vaccine services are by appointment only.  

About COVID-19 vaccines & boosters

CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination, including all primary series doses and boosters for their age group:

  • People ages 5 years and older can only receive the updated Omicron (bivalent) booster; the original (monovalent) mRNA booster is no longer available for these individuals.
  • Children ages 6 months to 4 years are strongly recommended to receive all 3 doses of the COVID-19 primary series.
    • Dose 1: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
    • Dose 2: at least 3 weeks after 1st dose Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
    • Dose 3 Bivalent: at least 8 weeks after 2nd dose Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent

Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection and prevention against COVID-19 illness.

People who are moderately or severely immuno-compromised have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters.

COVID-19 vaccine and booster recommendations continues to evolve and recommendations are updated as the CDC continues to monitor the latest data. Please visit this webpage and the CDC website for additional updates.

COVID-19 Booster Guidance

Eligible ForIf you Received
Pfizer-BioNTech
If you Received
Moderna
If you Received
J&J
Additional Primary Shot
(for those moderate to severely immunocompromised)
People age 5+ who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get an additional primary shot of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

Given 28 days after 2nd shot
People age 18+ who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get an additional primary shot of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

Given 28 days after 2nd shot
No additional primary shot is recommended at this time
1st Booster ShotTeens ages 12–17 should only get a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster shot

People age 18+ should get a booster shot of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) in most situations

Given at least 5 months after completing the primary series
People age 18+ should get a booster shot of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) in most situations

Given at least 5 months after an additional primary shot
People age 18+ should get a booster shot of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) in most situations

Given at least 2 months after the initial J&J vaccine.
2nd Booster ShotPeople age 50+ should get a 2nd booster shot of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) in most situations.

People age 12+ who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get a 2nd booster shot of only Pfizer-BioNTech in most situations.

Given at least 4 months after 1st booster shot
People age 18-49 who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get a 2nd booster shot of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) in most situations

Given at least 4 months after 1st booster shot
People age 50+ should get a 2nd booster shot of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) in most situations, given at least 4 months after 1st booster shot

People age 18-49 who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get a 2nd booster shot of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) in most situations

Given at least 4 months after 1st booster shot

** People ages 18 through 49 years who got a J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for BOTH their primary dose and 1st booster can choose to get a 2nd booster of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after their 1st booster. This booster is not required to be considered up to date

A parent or legal guardian must accompany anyone under 18 years of age.

Updated CDC guidance recommends an additional primary dose (3rd dose) to immunocompromised children aged 5-11 years-old 28 days after their primary vaccination series. It has approved a booster (4th dose) for all patients 12 and up 5 months after their 3rd dose.

Patients who are immunocompromised should call the NCH Vaccine Hotline at 847-618-0242 to schedule an appointment.

Immunocompromised patients include those who are:

  • In active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies
  • In receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
  • In receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy)
  • Have moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
  • Advanced or untreated HIV infection
  • In active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., ≥20mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor-necrosis (TNF) blockers and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory.
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