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Bandage on arm of a female after taking vaccine. Close-up of a female patient with bandage on hand after taking injection.

COVID-19 Booster Information

Carle, in partnership with state and local public health officials offers booster shots to patients and the public. Per current CDC recommendations everyone ages 5 years old and older should get a COVID-19 booster shot. To schedule your booster appointment in a community near you, please visit the pages below for county specific information.

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine and continuing to wear a mask remain the best way to protect ourselves and loved ones from COVID-19.  For the latest COVID-19 booster information check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

If you received Pfizer-BioNTech as your primary vaccine-

You should receive a COVID-19 booster shot if you are ages 5 years and older. Individuals are eligible for a booster shot five months after completing their primary COVID-19 vaccination series.

You should receive a second booster shot if you are ages 50 years and older OR 12 years and older and immunocompromised. Individuals are eligible for a second booster dose at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose.

If you received Moderna as your primary vaccine-

You should receive a COVID-19 booster shot if you are ages 18 years and older. Individuals are eligible for a booster shot five months after completing their primary COVID-19 vaccination series.

You should receive a second booster shot if you are ages 50 years and older OR 18 years and older and immunocompromised. Individuals are eligible for a second booster dose 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose.
 
If you received Johnson & Johnson's Janssen as your primary vaccine-

You should receive an mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) COVID-19 booster shot if you are ages 18 years and older. Individuals are eligible for a booster shot two months after receiving their J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccination.

You should receive a second booster shot if you are ages 50 years and older OR immunocompromised. Individuals are eligible for a second booster dose 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose.

If you are immunocompromised-

You should receive a first mRNA COVID-19 booster shot and may receive a second booster shot if you are:

Pfizer-BioNTech– 12 years and older at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose
Moderna – 18 years and older at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose
Johnson & Johnson Janssen – 18 years and older at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose

Carle is currently offering booster appointments throughout the region. We encourage everyone to visit Vaccines.gov for more information about public health and retail vaccination location opportunities.

Champaign County
Patients in Champaign County are encouraged to schedule a booster appointment by calling the COVID-19 hotline at (217) 902-6100.

Vermilion County
Patients in Vermilion County are encouraged to schedule a booster appointment by calling the COVID-19 hotline at (217) 902-6100.

McLean and Woodford Counties
Patients in McLean and Woodford counties are encouraged to schedule a booster appointment by calling (309) 268-5200.

Richland County
Patients in Richland County are encouraged to schedule a booster appointment by calling the COVID-19 hotline at (217) 902-6100.

Coles County
Patients in Coles County are encouraged to schedule a booster appointment by calling (217) 258-5900. 

For Vaccine Information
in Your County:

Information on this site is updated weekly

Booster FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

  • What is the difference between an additional dose and a booster shot?
    An additional dose is administered to people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems. This additional dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is intended to improve immunocompromised people’s response to their initial vaccine series. A booster shot is administered when a person has completed their vaccine series, and protection against the virus has decreased over time.
  • Who meets the COVID-19 booster dose requirements?
    Per current CDC recommendations everyone ages 5 and older should get a COVID-19 booster shot and some populations may be eligible for two booster doses.

    If you received Pfizer-BioNTech as your primary vaccine, you should receive a COVID-19 booster shot if you are ages 5 years and older. Children may only get a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster. Individuals are eligible for a booster shot five months after completing their primary COVID-19 vaccination series. A second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered to individuals 50 years of age and older at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose. Those who are immunocompromised, if 12 years of age and older, may be administered a second booster dose at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose.

    If you received Moderna as your primary vaccine, you should receive a COVID-19 booster shot if you are ages 18 years and older. Individuals are eligible for a booster shot five months after completing their primary COVID-19 vaccination series. A second booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered to individuals 50 years of age and older at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose. Those who are immunocompromised, if 18 year of age and older, may be administered a second booster dose at least 4 months after the first booster dose.

    If you received Johnson & Johnson's Janssen as your primary vaccine, you should receive a COVID-19 booster shot if you are ages 18 years and older. Individuals are eligible for a booster shot two months after receiving their J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccination.
  • What are the risks to getting a booster shot?
    So far, reactions reported after getting a booster shot were similar to that of the 2-shot or single-dose initial series. Fever, headache, fatigue and pain at the injection site were the most commonly reported side effects, and overall, most side effects were mild to moderate. However, as with the 2-shot or single-dose initial series, serious side effects are rare, but may occur.
  • Am I still considered "fully vaccinated" if I don't get a booster shot?
    Yes. Everyone is still considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-shot series, such as the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as the J&J/Janssen vaccine.

    Data from small clinical trials show that a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster shot increased the immune response in trial participants who finished their initial series 6 months earlier. A similar clinical trial showed that a J&J/Janssen booster shot also increased the immune response in participants who completed their single-dose vaccine at least 2 months earlier. With an increased immune response, people should have improved protection against COVID-19, including the Delta variant.

  • Can I mix and match COVID-19 vaccines?
    Per the CDC, eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.

    Available data right now show that all three of the COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized in the United States continue to be highly effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, even against the widely circulating Delta variant.