New York starts booster shot rollout

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — New York State Monday began its COVID-19 booster shot rollout.

New Yorkers who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at least six months ago and who are in the following groups are now eligible for a Pfizer booster shot:

• Those 65 years old or older.
• Those 50-64 years old and who also have underlying medical conditions.
• Those 18-49 years old with underlying medical conditions, based on their individual benefits and risks.
• Those 18-64 years old and who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of their occupational or institutional setting, based on their individual benefits and risks.

Those who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines are not currently eligible for a booster shot. At this time, people must have gotten their last Pfizer dose at least six months ago in order to be eligible for a booster shot.

New Yorkers will be asked to prove their eligibility for a booster shot by providing a written self-attestation confirming eligibility, which providers must collect when they administer the booster shot.

At this time, New Yorkers are still considered fully vaccinated 14 days after completing the initial vaccine series, which is the two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The state has launched a website dedicated to answering questions about the booster shot.

To schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site, visit the Am I Eligible page or call 1-833-NYS-4-VAX.