Duke offering second COVID-19 booster shot to eligible students, faculty, staff

Duke is offering a second COVID-19 booster shot to eligible members of the Duke community who received their first booster at least four months ago, according to a Tuesday email. 

Students, faculty and staff who are over the age of 50 or considered “severely immunocompromised” are eligible for the booster, in accordance with new guidance from the Food and Drug Administration. These groups are not required to get another booster but still have the option to do so.

This announcement comes in the wake of the FDA approving a second dose of the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Duke, however, will only offer the Pfizer or J&J vaccines. On their vaccine website, Duke recommends that individuals who initially received the J&J vaccine get either a Moderna or Pfizer booster, although they do not prohibit the option of a J&J booster.

Eligible individuals wishing to receive another dose can do so by appointment or walk-in at Duke Medical Pavilion in Conference Room 2w91, Duke Clinic 1J, Duke Regional Hospital or Duke Raleigh Hospital. Several local healthcare providers and pharmacies are also offering a second booster shot.

The email was sent to members of the Duke community by the co-leaders of the COVID-19 Vaccination Planning Work Group: Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president of administration; Russell Thompson, interim vice president of operations; Carol Epling, assistant professor in family medicine and community health; Gail Shulby, Duke Health chief of staff; and Cameron Wolfe, associate professor of medicine and infectious diseases.