By the Autoimmune Hepatitis Association
New recommendations for booster vaccines have been issued in the US for those who received the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
Many AIH patients who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines have already received third shots based on recommendations released in August. If you have already received a third shot, you do not need to receive a booster dose at this time.
Here’s a summary of the new guidance and what it means for AIH patients:
- Moderna Boosters: Patients ages 65 and older who received the two-dose Moderna vaccine should receive a booster. In addition, those 18 and older should receive a booster if they meet other criteria such as having underlying medical conditions. The vast majority of AIH patients meet this criteria and should receive a booster if they haven’t already.
- Johnson & Johnson Vaccine: All those ages 18 and older who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are advised to receive a booster.
- Mixing & Matching Vaccines: Those receiving a booster vaccine can now receive a booster from any of the three manufacturers currently available.
Key takeaways for AIH patients: If you received the two-dose Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, or the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you should receive a COVID-19 booster if you haven’t already. For the booster, you can choose which vaccine to receive. If you haven’t yet been vaccinated, the AIHA strongly recommends that you do so. Most AIH patients can — and should — receive the COVID-19 vaccine. If you have questions about whether you should be vaccinated, please contact your medical provider.