Before, those who met certain criteria were strongly encouraged to get the booster (“should” receive it): people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine; those 65 years and older or residents in long-term care settings; and New Yorkers 50–64 years old with underlying medical conditions. Other groups who were eligible (“may” receive it) were New Yorkers aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions, along with New Yorkers aged 18-64 years who are at an increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional settings.
These stipulations are still in place for NYS, so just NYC is expanding eligibility.
Today I want to emphasize the protection of booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Over 630,000 New Yorkers have already received an additional dose. But even more can benefit from a booster ahead of winter and the holidays.
— Commissioner Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD (@NYCHealthCommr) November 15, 2021
As of today (11/15), Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dave Chokshi issued a Commissioner’s Advisory to health care providers, saying that “clinicians should allow adult patients to determine their own risk of exposure based on their individual circumstances.” As he explained:
In practice, this means that providers should not turn a patient away if they request a booster, so as long as they’re 18 and older, and it has been at least six months since the Moderna or Pfizer dose, or at least two months since a Johnson & Johnson dose.
So basically, if any New Yorker feels they meet the criteria and ask for the booster will receive it, no questions asked. As the NYC Gov. website now reads: “Vaccine booster shots are now available for New Yorkers ages 18 and older….No one will be denied a booster shot in New York.”
To schedule a booster shot near you, head to Vax4NYC.nyc.gov.