Dear Students,
Now that the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has approved all three COVID-19 vaccines for booster shots, we strongly encourage you take advantage of the opportunity to get one soon.
You can schedule an appointment with Student Health by calling an immunization nurse at 919.681.9355 option 1. Appointments are also available through the Employee Vaccination Clinics located at Blue Devil Tower and the three Duke Health hospitals. You can find details on the Duke COVID Vaccine website.
At this time, the eligible criteria for students at Duke include the following:
- Those who have received their last dose of Moderna or Pfizer vaccines over 6 months ago.
- Those who have received their initial dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago and are 18 years of age or older.
The CDC also said that individuals can choose any of the three boosters now authorized regardless of their original shot. Duke medical experts suggest that anyone who received the J&J vaccine preferentially get a booster shot of either Pfizer or Moderna, which have been proven highly effective in preventing infection and severe illness. A booster with the J&J vaccine remains an alternative for these individuals.
While the booster shot is not required for Duke students at this time, we encourage all eligible students to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to protect you and others from potential infection.
Thank you for your efforts to keep the Duke community safe. Please continue wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently and maintaining social distance.
John Vaughn, MD
Director, Student Health