Pfizer Booster Vaccine Doses Offered In Fairfax Health District

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Pfizer booster doses for certain groups of people, the Fairfax County Health Department will start to offer boosters on Tuesday.

The CDC recommends the booster shot for certain people but not the general adult population. The guidance only applies to people who received their two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The booster should be given at least six months after the first two doses. Data is still being collected for federal review for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Groups eligible for Pfizer boosters are:

• People 65 and older
• Residents of long-term care facilities
• People 50 to 64 with underlying medical conditions (recommended)
• People 18 to 49 with underlying medical conditions (recommended based on individual benefits and risks)
• People aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting (recommended based on individual benefits and risks)

Anyone in these groups who received the Moderna or J&J COVID-19 vaccine should not seek a booster and should await future recommendations from CDC and the Virginia Department of Health.

Per the CDC, moderately to severely immunocompromised people can receive a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Studies show immunocompromised people may not build the same immune response to vaccinations as others and are at higher risk of complications from COVID-19. There is no recommendation yet for immunocompromised people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Pfizer booster doses can be obtained from the Fairfax County Health Department, pharmacies, medical providers, or hospitals. Individuals should bring their vaccine card to confirm the date and type of vaccine for the previous doses.

The following walk-in sites will provide the Pfizer vaccine for booster doses as well as first and second doses:

• Government Center: 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax Monday and Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Mount Vernon District Office, 8350 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria Monday and Thursday, 11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Upcoming pop-up clinics

Residents may also make an appointment at a provider by searching for the Pfizer vaccine with their ZIP code at www.vaccines.gov.

The Fairfax County Health Department covers the Fairfax Health District: Fairfax County, towns of Vienna, Herndon and Clifton, and cities of Falls Church and Fairfax.