Updated COVID-19 Booster Recommendations and Public Health Implications
Date: June 10, 2022
Public Health Message Type: ☐ Alert ☐ Advisory ☒ Update ☐ Information
Intended Audience: ☒ All public health partners ☒ Healthcare providers ☒ Infection preventionists
☒ Local health departments ☒ Schools/Childcare centers ☐ ACOs
☐ Animal health professionals ☒ Other: Pharmacies

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone ages 5 years and older
stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters. An individual is considered up to date with
COVID-19 vaccinations when they have received all doses in the primary series and all recommended
boosters, when eligible. Vaccine recommendations differ depending on an individual’s age, the vaccine
type received for the primary series, and time since the last dose was administered. Additionally,
individuals who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have specific recommendations.
COVID-19 vaccine recommendations have changed over time and will likely continue to evolve. It is
important to frequently refer to the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Schedules to understand the current
recommendations, which may change someone’s status from having been “up to date” to not being “up
to date.” Whether someone is up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations determines the need for
quarantine after having close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

Recent updates to COVID-19 booster recommendations include:
• All individuals ages 50 years and older should receive a 2nd booster at least 4 months after
receiving their 1st booster.
• Individuals ages 12 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised
should receive a 2nd booster at least 4 months after receiving their 1st booster.

Individuals in these two groups who haven’t received their 2nd booster are not up to date with their
vaccines and would need to quarantine after a COVID-19 exposure. The CDC COVID-19 Vaccination
Schedules provides information on the number of recommended vaccine doses based on primary series
product, age, and immune status.

References and Resources
• CDC Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Approved or Authorized in
the United States
• CDC Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccines
• NJDOH COVID-19 Vaccine Information