Second Doses
The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines require two doses that must be taken 3 to 4 weeks apart.
At your appointment for the first dose, you should schedule a second-dose appointment. If you left without scheduling the second appointment, you should contact the site where you got your first shot for additional information.
If you got your first dose from an NYC Health + Hospitals or NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) site, you can confirm your scheduled appointment or make a second appointment with the Vaccine Reservation Call Center.
If you got your first dose from DOHMH, you can also schedule a second-dose appointment online.
- Agency: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Division: Vaccine Reservation Call Center
- Phone Number: (877) 829-4692
- Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Third Dose of Moderna or Pfizer for People with a Weakened Immune System
Separate from booster shots, people who have a weakened immune system are eligible for a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, as part of their initial vaccination series. They can get a third dose 28 days after their second shot.
This shot is intended to help people who may not have developed enough immunity from the first two shots. People who receive this shot may also be eligible to receive a booster shot later.
Third dose candidates include people who:
- Are receiving treatment for cancer
- Received an organ transplant and are taking immunosuppressive therapy
- Received a stem cell transplant within the past two years
- Have a moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency
- Have advanced or untreated HIV
- Are receiving treatment with a high dose of corticosteroids or other drugs that moderately or severely weaken your immune system
You should discuss getting a third dose with your doctor. Your doctor will consider your medical conditions, treatment being received, risk of infection, and other factors.
Your third dose should be of the same type as your first two doses. For example, if you got two doses of Moderna, your third dose should also be the Moderna vaccine. Note that there is no second or third dose for Johnson and Johnson vaccines at this time.
Third doses can be received at any Vax4NYC site. Only walk-ins are accepted. You must attest to your eligibility at the site.
Learn more about third doses.
To confirm your eligibility for the third dose you must contact your physician.
You can talk with a nurse if you need more information and answers to questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Agency: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Division: Vaccine Reservation Call Center
- Phone Number: (877) 829-4692
- Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Pfizer Booster Shots
Booster shots are intended to help many people boost their immunity from the initial Pfizer vaccination (two-dose) series, which may have decreased over time.
The FDA has authorized a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for people who received the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago and are:
- 65 or older, or
- 18 to 64 and either have an underlying medical condition or a higher risk of COVID-19 exposure due to their job, or
- Living in a nursing home or other long-term care facility
Underlying medical conditions include:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic lung diseases, including COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma (moderate-to-severe), interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension
- Dementia or other neurological conditions
- Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
- Down Syndrome
- Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies and hypertension (high blood pressure)
- HIV infection
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system)
- Liver disease
- Overweight or obesity (body mass index of 25 or higher)
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
- Smoking, current or former
- Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
- Stroke or cerebrovascular disease, which affects blood flow to the brain
- Substance use disorders (such as alcohol or drugs)
Jobs that may increase the risk of exposure to COVID-19 include:
- Day care staff
- Grocery store workers
- Health care workers
- Restaurant workers
- Teachers
Other settings where there may be increased risk of exposure include homeless shelters and prisons.
The Pfizer booster shot is the same vaccine as each of the first two doses.
Booster shots can be received at Vax4NYC sites. When scheduling your appointment online, select “Third Dose.” You must attest to your eligibility at the site.
There are no booster shots for Moderna or Johnson and Johnson vaccines at this time.
Learn more about the Pfizer booster shot.
You can talk with a nurse if you need more information and answers to questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Agency: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Division: Vaccine Reservation Call Center
- Phone Number: (877) 829-4692
- Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week