Approval of mix-and-match COVID-19 vaccine boosters offers convenience

Approval of mix-and-match COVID-19 vaccine boosters offer convenience

Booster shots are going into the arms of Americans this coming week after being approved by the FDA – it comes as COVID-19 cases remain high across Arizona and the protection from the first vaccine shots may be starting to fade.

PHOENIX - Booster shots are going into the arms of Americans this coming week after being approved by the FDA – it comes as COVID-19 cases remain high across Arizona and the protection from the first vaccine shots may be starting to fade.

The FDA has approved mix and match booster shots for the COVID-19 vaccine. For example, if you had the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you could get the Moderna booster or vice versa.

"It's great to be able to do that because it now gives more vaccines available to more people," said Matt Roberts, district leader of CVS Health.

Throughout the entire country, Roberts explains that CVS carries only one type of vaccine at each of their locations.

With patients being able to mix and match with these shots, they'll be able to get a booster shot at any location without having to hunt down a pharmacy that stocks a certain brand of vaccine.

"It's a matter of making it easy for the patient. That's why we always encourage patients to go to CVS.com or use our app, fill out all required information about which dose they received previously. They'll put in their zip code and it will provide them with the nearest CVS location," Roberts explained.

He added, "With either the Pfizer and Moderna, as a health care professional, I can't say one is better than the other. It's simply a matter of which location is easier, which is more convenient for the patient."

The booster dose is recommended for those over the age of 65, those with pre-existing health conditions, and those whose jobs require them to be around a lot of people, Roberts said.

"So first responders, people that work in retail, people that work in restaurants, hospitals – we recommend that they get a booster dose as well," Roberts said.

The boosters must be given at least six months after the last dose of the vaccine.