West Des Moines, Iowa — Hy-Vee, Inc. says free Moderna and Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine booster doses are now available at Hy-Vee Pharmacy locations across its eight-state region.
They tell us the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend a Moderna booster dose for long-term care facility residents, individuals over the age of 65, individuals ages over 18 with underlying medical conditions,(as outlined by the CDC), and individuals ages 18-64 who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of an occupational or institutional setting. They recommend this booster be given at least 6 months after the person’s second vaccine dose.
They also recommend a booster dose for all Janssen (or Johnson & Johnson) vaccine recipients ages 18 and older at least 2 months after their first vaccine dose.
Hy-Vee officials say it is strongly recommended that individuals schedule their COVID-19 vaccination in advance by visiting www.hy-vee.com/covidvaccine.
The booster vaccines are free to all eligible patients, regardless of their insurance coverage.
More information from Hy-Vee:
There are now booster recommendations for all three available COVID-19 vaccines. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose providing they follow the booster timeline of their primary vaccine manufacturer (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna: at least 6 months after the second dose; Janssen: at least 2 months after the second dose). Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. The CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.
Currently, the Moderna vaccine primary series (doses 1 and 2) is authorized for individuals 18 years of age and older. The second dose of the Moderna vaccine should be administered at least 28 days after the first dose. A booster dose of the Moderna vaccine should be administered at least 6 months after the second dose.
Currently, the Janssen (J&J) primary dose is authorized for individuals 18 years of age and older. A booster dose of the J&J vaccine should be administered at least 2 months after the primary dose.
Individuals receiving a COVID-19 first, second, booster, or third dose can receive their flu shot during the same appointment by requesting it with the pharmacy team.
It is recommended (but not required) that vaccine recipients bring the following to their appointment: insurance card (if they have insurance) and Medicare Part B red, white and blue card (if Medicare recipient); photo ID; and their COVID-19 vaccination record card. Masks are required. If individuals do not have insurance, they can still be vaccinated. Individuals receiving a COVID-19 booster or third dose will need to self-attest to their eligibility. Individuals will NOT be required to show documentation to prove eligibility.
Hy-Vee is currently offering $10 Hy-Vee gift cards to patients who complete their COVID-19 vaccination, including eligible vaccine recipients who receive their COVID-19 booster, with Hy-Vee between June 1-Nov. 1, 2021.
For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, visit www.hy-vee.com/covidvaccine.
