SJC Booster Program Update: Moderna and Johnson & Johnson Boosters Approved

COVID-19 Booster Shot Update

On October 21, 2021, the CDC announced the revised eligibility of people to receive a COVID-19 booster shot, including those who received Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines. The booster shot for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was announced by the CDC in September.

The CDC now recommends boosters for all three available COVID-19 vaccines offered in the US. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of “mix and match” dosing for booster shots and leaves the choice to you.

Moderna and Pfizer boosters

For individuals who received a Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 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 (including institutional setting)

Johnson & Johnson boosters

If you received the 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.

Expansion of SJC Booster Shot Program

At today’s Pandemic Response meeting, it was decided that the College will proceed forward in expanding the SJC Booster Shot Program effective October 26, 2021 to include the booster shot for the Moderna and the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines.

The booster requirement is for all non-exempted faculty, staff and students. Saint Joseph’s College is requiring boosters to sustain full immunity of individual students, faculty and staff, as well as community immunity to protect everyone’s health and safety within our College community.

Faculty and staff may elect which dose they prefer for the booster shot. The SJC Health & Wellness Center will offer both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine boosters. The Johnson & Johnson/Janssen booster may be obtained anywhere that provides COVID-19 vaccines approved for boosters. Find a booster shot.

Reminder of The Process

The SJC Health & Wellness Center will reach out to eligible faculty and staff via email notifying those who need to obtain the booster within the next 30-day period. In this case eligibility means that: 1) the appropriate booster shots are available; and, 2) the vaccine recipients have completed their initial series.

Once faculty and staff are officially notified by the SJC Health & Wellness Center, appointments are required and can be made by going to https://sjc-health.titaniumhwc.com/

The employee needs to bring the vaccination card to the appointment so that it may be properly updated to reflect the booster shot.

• Note: it is crucial that the employee attend his/her scheduled appointment or reschedule it in advance if necessary. If the vaccines are not used within a few hours after preparation, they cannot be used at all, and this valuable medication will be wasted.

If an employee elects to have a licensed healthcare provider or facility administer the booster shot, the employee will be required to upload the documentation through the Health and Wellness Center’s encrypted Google Form.

• Note: this option is provided for all employees who live at a distance from campus, are unable to come to campus, or who choose to use another provider.

Thank you for your continued cooperation, your commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy community at Saint Joseph’s College, and doing your part to boost community immunity!