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A Vaccine “Cheat Sheet” and More COVID-19 Resources

January 12, 2022

Current Vaccine and Booster Guidance

We've summarized the latest CDC guidance on vaccines and boosters below. Check our vaccination resources page for the latest guidance and resources.

Booster Shots

Who? CDC now recommends booster shots for everyone 12 years old and older.

When? Depends on which vaccine you received initially:

  • Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna: You should get a booster FIVE months after your last primary dose.
  • Johnson & Johnson/Janssen: You should get a booster TWO months after your primary dose. 

Which vaccine should you get?

  • CDC recommends the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children and either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna boosters for adults, regardless of which shot(s) you got initially.
  • Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine is NOT recommended except in limited circumstances.
  • You do NOT need to boost with the same vaccine you received initially.

Additional Primary Doses for People who are Immunocompromised:

Who? Moderately or severely immunocompromised people five and older who received initial doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.

When? 28 days after your second shot.

Which vaccine? Get the same vaccine you received for your first two doses. (CDC does NOT recommend mixing and matching for your additional dose).

Keep in mind: This is NOT the same as a booster shot, if you are 12 or older you should still get a booster shot after you complete your primary doses. In other words, you should get a booster five months after your third Pfizer or Moderna shot or two months after your single Johnson & Johnson shot.

Getting your vaccine or booster

  • Find a vaccination site: Visit vaccines.gov, Text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233.
  • Help for people with disabilities: The Disability Information and Assistance Line (DIAL) can be reached by calling 888-677-1199 or by emailing DIAL@usaginganddisability.org any time. 
  • Help for older adults: Call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 or visit the website to chat live or browse resources. 

Vaccination/Booster Resources for the Aging and Disability Networks:

Throughout the pandemic the aging and disability networks have been at the forefront of efforts to protect the health of older adults and people with disabilities – including by promoting access to vaccines and boosters. We’ve created a page of vaccine resources for the networks that we will be updating regularly:

  • Promising practices from around the network: We're compiling examples of promising models and case studies to help our networks, states, communities, and others to find and share ideas, strategies, and solutions. 
  • Booster information flyer to share with people with disabilities and older adults (updated 1/11 with latest CDC guidance): 
  • Older adults in their own words 30 second video: Last month, ACL Principal Deputy Administrator Barkoff and CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure joined a combined holiday party and booster clinic at the East of the River Friendship Cafe (Kenilworth) in Washington, D.C.  to talk with older adults about COVID-19 vaccine boosters. In this sharable 30 second clip (also available in a square format for social media), several older adults share why they got boosted -- and why everyone should.
  • 30-minute video: On December 14, ACL Principal Deputy Administrator Alison Barkoff interviewed Surgeon General Vivek Murthy about the importance and urgency of getting COVID-19 vaccine boosters, particularly for older adults and people with disabilities.

A Few More COVID-19 Resources:

  • Able South Carolina, Independent Living Resource Utilization (ILRU), and the CDC Foundation are expanding eligibility for grant-based funding to Centers for Independent Living (CILs) to support vaccination access for people with disabilities. Awards of up to $50,000 are anticipated. Interested eligible CILs are encouraged to apply for funding by completing an online application by 12:00 pm (noon) ET on Monday, January 24. Eligible CILs now include:
    • Part B CILs that did not receive CARES Act funding
    • Part B CILs operating under a Part C CIL
    • Part C CILs not previously eligible for CARES Act funding in fiscal year 2020, and
    • Any Part B or Part C CIL working to improve COVID-19 vaccine access in unserved counties.
  • A new brief from ACL's Housing and Services Resource Center, COVID-19 Stimulates New Housing and Services Partnerships for People with Disabilities and Older Adults, provides an overview of housing-related challenges during the pandemic, new opportunities and federal resources, and partnerships that are making a difference. HSRC has also published a recording, transcript, and slides for its November webinar on community partnerships to prevent and address eviction.
  • The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities has produced three brief videos to build COVID-19 vaccine confidence in the disability community. The videos feature an adult with an intellectual disability and a parent and her daughter with autism sharing their personal vaccination experiences, hesitancy, and decision-making.
  • A November issue brief from the National Assistive Technology Act Technical Assistance and Training (AT3) Center describes how AT Act programs funded by ACL are helping individuals experiencing long-term effects from COVID-19 and provides examples of common assistive technology solutions.

Last modified on 02/11/2022


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