Moderna Booster Shot Interval Shortened to Five Months

On Friday, Jan. 7, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, shortening the interval for a booster shot from six months to five months. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also supports this recommendation.

People who have previously been vaccinated with Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine (a two-dose series) can now receive a booster dose five months after their second vaccination. Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) began accepting appointment requests for Moderna booster shots at this new shorter interval as of Monday, Jan. 10.

Vaccination remains the most important way to reduce spread of COVID-19, and booster shots help boost waning immunity, according to the FDA.

There are two easy ways to schedule an appointment for your booster:

1. Go to MyLVHN, the health network’s patient portal:
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2. Call our COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 833-584-6283 (833-LVHN-CVD). We’re open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

The most common side effects of the booster vaccine are mild and resolve within a few days. They include:

• Pain, redness and swelling at the injection site
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle or joint pain
• Chills
• Swollen lymph nodes in the underarm