A woman receives a COVID-19 vaccine at the Hmong American Friendship Association in March 2021. (File photo by Sue Vliet) Leer en español: una versión traducida de este artículo está disponible debajo de la versión en inglés. By now, you’ve likely heard about the new second COVID-19 booster shot. It’s for people over the age of 50 and those who are immunocompromised, or have significant limits to their immune system. Here are some things you should know. Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing! Who can get it? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, and Food and Drug Administration announced March 29 that certain populations are eligible to receive a second booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. People who have already received two doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can also get an mRNA booster shot. Those who received the Johnson & Johnson shot, which is an adenovirus shot that does not contain mRNA, can now receive an additional dose of Pfizer or Moderna that do contain mRNA to reduce their risk of serious illness. Dr. Heather Paradis, chief medical officer for the Milwaukee Health Department, said adding a dose of mRNA vaccines to the Johnson & Johnson vaccines will provide more overall protection to people. The CDC has a table on its website that shows eligibility for each of the three vaccines. Pfizer booster doses are only available to those aged 12 or older. Moderna booster doses are available to those 18 or older. When can I get the new booster? The second booster shot can be administered four months after the first booster. The timeline for the total vaccine series for those eligible is now about nine months from the time of their second dose. For individuals who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, the timeline is shortened. The CDC’s recommendation for these individuals is as follows: The guidance applies for a booster after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, except immunocompromised individuals can get a booster two months after receiving their second dose. A full breakdown of the CDC’s guidance for immunocompromised individuals is available on its website. This includes a list of conditions that could qualify someone for immunocompromised status. Why are these new doses available? The decision was made after the CDC and FDA reviewed international data from the United Kingdom and Israel regarding the long-term effectiveness of the vaccine. Dr. Joyce Sanchez, an infectious disease specialist at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, said the data suggested some loss of protection against severe illness and death after four months, particularly in the population above age 60. According to the CDC, people with booster shots were 21 times less likely to die of COVID-19 during the Omicron variant surge that began in early winter than people who were unvaccinated. They were also seven times less likely to be hospitalized. Should I get the new booster? It’s up to you. Sanchez recommended that individuals speak with their doctor about receiving the second booster. Anyone over the age of 50 with a comorbidity should consider getting the shot, she said. Comorbidities include chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and other conditions that can worsen COVID-19. “If you have a medical comorbidity, I see little downside,” Sanchez said. Where can I get it? To locate vaccine options around the city, visit the HealthyMKE website. You can search through an interactive map, events and pop-up clinics and locations like federally qualified health centers to find the best option for you. The Milwaukee Health Department is offering shots at its dedicated locations: On Monday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vaccines can also be located on the federal government’s website, Vaccines.gov. You can also text your ZIP code to 438829 or call 800-232-0233 for assistance. A estas alturas, es probable que haya oído hablar de la segunda vacuna de refuerzo contra el COVID-19. Es para personas mayores de 50 años y aquellas inmunocomprometidas o que tienen limitaciones significativas en su sistema inmunológico. Aquí hay algunas cosas que debería saber. Los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades, o CDC, y la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos anunciaron el 29 de marzo que ciertas poblaciones son elegibles para recibir una segunda inyección de refuerzo de la vacuna COVID-19. Las personas que ya han recibido dos dosis de la vacuna Johnson & Johnson también pueden recibir una inyección de refuerzo de ARNm.