April 1, 2022

To find an appointment near you, use the Vaccine Finder.

Text your zip code to GETVAX (438829) for English, or VACUNA (822862) for Spanish and receive three possible vaccination sites in your area, with phone numbers to call for an appointment.

If you need help, call the PA Department of Health Hotline at 1-877-724-3258.

FDA and CDC Authorize Additional Boosters for Certain Individuals

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have authorized and recommend a second booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines for those over 50. It also applies for younger people who are immunocompromised. 

The latest booster recommendations are found on the CDC’s website.
   

Get Testing if You Have COVID-19 Symptoms

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please get tested for the virus – especially if you have been in contact with someone who has been infected. For those who are fully vaccinated, the CDC guidance only recommends you get tested if you’ve had a known exposure to someone with COVID-19. 
   
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell. 
   
For more about COVID-19 symptoms and to find testing sites near you, visit PA.GOV/COVID.
   
Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19. Everyone 5 and older can get a COVID-19 vaccine in Pennsylvania. 

What to Bring to Your Booster Appointment

At your first vaccination appointment, you should have received a CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record card that tells you what COVID-19 vaccine you received, the date you received it, and where you received it. Bring this vaccination card to your booster shot vaccination appointment.
   
If you lost or did not receive a CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record card at your first appointment, contact the vaccination site where you got your first shot to find out how you can get a card. You can also contact the PA Department of Health to request your immunization records.

Question of the Week

If we need a booster shot, are the vaccines working?

Yes. COVID-19 vaccines are working well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. However, public health experts are starting to see reduced protection over time against mild and moderate disease, especially among certain populations.     
       

Have more questions? Check out our Vaccine FAQs.
             

You are subscribed to COVID-19 Weekly Updates. To unsubscribe, click here.
If this message was forwarded to you, you can subscribe to COVID-19 Weekly Updates here.