COVID-19 Booster Shots for All Americans, Starting Sept. 20

After concluding that a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is needed to fight off waning immunity in the fully vaccinated, the Biden administration said Wednesday it will begin offering booster shots to all Americans starting Sept. 20.

The plan, which only involves the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines at this point, calls for Americans to get a booster shot eight months after their second dose. The officials said they expect a booster shot will be needed for people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but they are still reviewing data on it and will announce plans at a later date.

The first booster shots will be given to nursing home residents, health care workers, and emergency workers. Next up would be older people who were near the front of the line when vaccinations began late last year, followed by the general population.

"Our top priority remains staying ahead of the virus and protecting the American people from COVID-19 with safe, effective, and long-lasting vaccines, especially in the context of a constantly changing virus and epidemiologic landscape," the joint statement said. "We will continue to follow the science on a daily basis, and we are prepared to modify this plan should new data emerge that requires it."