COVID Boosters Offered To 16, 17-Year-Olds In Fairfax Health District

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — After federal and state recommendation, the Fairfax County Health Department is making COVID-19 boosters from Pfizer available to 16 and 17-year-olds.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended boosters for ages 16-17 at least six months after the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. For now, the booster is only a suggestion for these teens. There are no boosters recommended for ages 5 to 15. The Virginia Department of Health allowed boosters to move forward in the state after the CDC recommendation.

"Expanding the ranks of those eligible for a Pfizer-BioNTech booster dose in particular adds another 79,508 people to the eligible population which, in turn, will add to the strength of the line of defense we have against the spread of COVID-19," said Dr. Danny Avula, the state's vaccination coordinator.

Currently, boosters are urged for all adults. Those who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines can get the third booster dose at least six months after the second dose. Those who got the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine can get a booster dose at least two months after the first dose.

Boosters are now available for teens aged 16 to 17 by appointment at the Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax) and South County Government Center, 8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria). The Tysons Community Vaccination Center takes walk-ins but recommends appointments.

Other availability for ages 16 to 17 can be found at www.vaccines.gov by searching for the Pfizer vaccine with your ZIP code.