Dear Colleagues,

Beginning today, March 31, UCSF will begin administering second COVID-19 booster shots for people 50 years and older and those who are immunocompromised to protect them against waning immunity following authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday.

UCSF continues to offer the primary COVID-19 vaccination series and first booster shots. Vaccines remain the most effective way to prevent severe disease and death due to coronavirus.  The recent Omicron variant further underscores the importance of vaccinations, boosters and prevention efforts needed to protect against COVID-19.

UCSF and Benioff Children’s Hospital employees, learners and patients may drop-in at their convenience to a UCSF COVID-19 vaccine clinic location or schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine (primary series, first and second booster shots) by calling (415) 476-3307. Scheduling is also available through the online patient portal MyChart.

Locations and extended hours of operation at UCSF’s COVID-19 clinics are posted on the vaccination page on the coronavirus website. More information about this new round of booster shots will be provided during the UCSF COVID-19 Response Town Hall this Friday, April 1.

Specifically, here’s what you should know:

• Individuals 50 years and older can get a second booster (mRNA only – Pfizer or Moderna) four months after the last booster 
• Individuals who are immunocompromised can get a second booster four months after their last booster:
  • Those 12 years and older who are immunocompromised may get a Pfizer vaccine booster
  • Those 18 years and older who are immunocompromised may get a Moderna vaccine booster
  • As with previous UCSF COVID-19 vaccination criteria, individuals may self-attest to being immunocompromised
• Individuals who previously received a Johnson & Johnson (J&J) or Janssen booster may get a mRNA booster four months from their last J&J dose. 
• Individuals may select which mRNA vaccine they want to receive as their booster.
• Recommendations for the first booster is five months from the primary series and two months from the initial J&J dose.

Second booster shots are not mandatory currently. They are recommended by the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for those 50 years and older to increase their protection and to those 12 and older who are immunocompromised to reduce their risk for severe disease or death from COVID-19.

As always, we appreciate your ongoing actions to protect our UCSF community and the patients we are privileged to serve during this pandemic.

Sincerely,

Josh Adler, MD
Chief Clinical Officer
UCSF Health