COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots and New City Employee Mandate

Following the FDA's authorization, the CDC has now now expanded eligibility for all three available COVID-19 vaccines in the United States! For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at six months or more after their initial series:

• 65 years and older
• Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
• Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
• Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings

For those who received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago. It’s our understanding that you will have to complete an attestation to verify your eligibility for a booster vaccine.

The CDC also allows mixing and matching dosing for booster shots. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose, regardless of what vaccine they intially received. Learn more on COVID-19 vaccine boosters on the CDC website here or the New York COVID-19 Vaccine Booster page here. 

Additionally, Mayor de Blasio has announced a new COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all City workers. All City workers, excluding uniformed correction officers, are required to have at least one vaccine dose by 5:00pm on Friday, October 29. City employees will receive an extra $500 in their paycheck if they receive their first shot before the vaccine deadline. Unvaccinated employees will be placed on unpaid leave until they show proof of vaccination to their supervisor. The new mandate is effective on Monday, November 1 to the entire municipal workforce. Civilian employees of the Department of Correction (DOC) and uniformed members assigned to healthcare settings are also immediately subject to the mandate. Other uniformed members at DOC will be subject to the mandate effective Wednesday, December 1. Click here for more information.

Click here to find a vaccination site near you.  

Photo credit: Verywell Health