• People with lung cancer may be eligible for additional doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, either 28 days after their second dose if they are immunocompromised or six months after their second dose as a booster.
• All adults who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are eligible for a booster shot regardless of health status.
• Health agencies have also approved “mix and match” boosters, meaning a person may receive initial doses of one type of COVID-19 vaccine and a booster of another.

The Centers for Disease for Control and Prevention (CDC) released recommendations for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccination boosters on Oct. 21. Based on the new recommendations, adults with lung cancer who received the Moderna vaccine are likely eligible for a booster, even if not considered immunocompromised. All adults who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are eligible for a booster shot regardless of health status or other factors. Additionally, the CDC and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved mix and match boosters, which allow people to receive initial doses of one type of COVID-19 vaccine and a booster of another.

Additional Vaccine Doses for People With Lung Cancer

An additional dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine 28 days following the second dose may be recommended for those who did not develop an adequate immune response after the two-dose vaccination series.

The FDA amended the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines’ emergency use authorizations on Aug. 12 to allow a third vaccine dose 28 days after the second dose for certain immunocompromised individuals. Individuals defined as immunocompromised include people in cancer treatment, people who received a stem cell transplant in the last two years, people who are organ donor recipients and taking immunosuppressive drugs, people taking high-dose steroids or other immunosuppressive drugs, as well as those with certain other health conditions.

Booster Shot Eligibility

A COVID-19 vaccine booster is administered when someone developed adequate immunity after the initial vaccine dose or doses, but that immunity has decreased over time. If you have lung cancer or a history of lung cancer but are not considered immunocompromised, you are most likely eligible for a booster shot.

Moderna and Pfizer Eligibility

The following groups are now eligible for a booster shot at least six months after their second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine:

• People over 65
• People over 18 who have underlying medical conditions
• People over 18 who live in long-term care facilities
• People over 18 who live or work in high-risk settings (such as front-line workers or people who are incarcerated)

The FDA and CDC approved booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine for the same groups in September.

Cancer is included in the CDC’s list of underlying medical conditions that would make someone eligible for a Moderna or Pfizer booster six months after their second dose. The CDC website states, “Having cancer can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. Treatments for many types of cancer can weaken your body’s ability to fight off disease. At this time, based on available studies, having a history of cancer may increase your risk.”

The list of underlying medical conditions also includes conditions that can co-occur or precede lung cancer, including chronic lung disease, diabetes, heart conditions, and smoking or a smoking history.

Johnson & Johnson Eligibility

All adults over 18 who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine are eligible for a booster shot at least two months after receiving their shot. The CDC recommendations were released after the FDA amended the emergency use authorizations for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines to allow for booster doses.

Mix and Match Boosters

The FDA and CDC have authorized mix and match booster doses for the three COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States. This means that you can receive a booster dose of a different vaccine from your original vaccine. For example, any adult over 18 who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can receive a booster dose of the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccines at least two months after receiving their shot. Those who have received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines and are eligible for a booster may receive it from any of the three companies six months after their second dose.

Talk to your doctor if you have questions about your eligibility for an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose.