Vaccine Booster

Northwestern currently does not require a booster dose to be compliant with the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. As of June 2022, more than 95% of the Northwestern community had reported receiving at least one booster shot, and we strongly recommend boosters for those who medically are able to obtain them. They are important individual tools for minimizing severe illness.

If conditions dictate a stronger response, Northwestern may reinstate its booster requirement. Students are still encouraged to report additional booster shots as they receive them using Northwestern’s COVID-19 Vaccination Form.

COVID-19 Booster Eligibility

Boosters are available to individuals who received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine or a Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax series of COVID-19 vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend boosters at least two months after a second primary series dose or last booster.

COVID-19 Booster Availability

Available at most pharmacies, including Walgreens, CVS and Jewel-Osco
Walk-in appointments available through Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care Centers.
Students can make an appointment at Student Health by scheduling via MyChart
Patients of Northwestern Medicine can also make an appointment via MyChart

FAQs

Updated Jan. 3, 2023

Does Northwestern require booster shots?

Northwestern does not currently require a booster dose to be compliant with the COVID-19 vaccination requirement.

If conditions dictate a stronger response, Northwestern may reinstate its booster requirement. Students are still encouraged, although not required, to report additional booster shots as they receive them using Northwestern’s COVID-19 Vaccination Form.

Who can receive a booster shot?

Per guidance from the CDC, everyone ages 5+ can get a booster shot. You can receive a booster at least 2 months after completing your second primary series dose or last booster. If you received a non-FDA approved vaccine, see the question below about receiving a booster if you were vaccinated outside of the U.S.

What booster shot am I able to receive?

Two COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer and Moderna, have developed updated (bivalent) COVID-19 boosters. The Pfizer bivalent vaccine is approved for everyone age 5 and older. The Moderna bivalent vaccine is approved for everyone age 6 and older. People ages 6 years and older can get a different product for their updated (bivalent) booster than they received for their primary series or last booster. People ages 6 years and older can no longer get an original (monovalent) Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster.

Does Northwestern offer boosters directly to faculty, staff and students?

Northwestern does not currently offer booster shot clinics. Booster appointments are available through Northwestern Medicine (NM). Please reference the NM COVID-19 Resource Center for locations and availability.

Where can NU community members go to receive a booster?

Booster appointments are available through Northwestern Medicine (NM). Please reference the NM COVID-19 Resource Center for locations and availability.

Community members can also receive their booster at a local pharmacy (CVS/Walgreens/Osco/etc.). They should bring identification and proof of their previous dose(s) and vaccine manufacturer(s) to their appointment. Insurance is not required to receive a booster vaccine.

Appointments can also be made on

Step 1: Visit vaccines.gov to find an available booster.
Step 2: Enter your ZIP code to find the nearest pharmacy. Then, select your desired vaccine.
Step 3: Select your desired pharmacy.
Step 4: Assure that the selected pharmacy has your vaccine available. Then, select “Book appointment” to enter the pharmacy’s website.
Step 5: Follow the prompts on the website and fill out your information to book your vaccination appointment.

Can I schedule a booster appointment online if I have a WHO-approved vaccine?

Those who received a non-FDA but WHO-approved vaccine are eligible to receive a booster at least two months after their second primary series dose or last booster. Please note that some major pharmacies may not allow appointments to be scheduled online at this time.

Community members can also locate pop-up vaccine sites at https://myshotcookcounty.com/.

If you need additional assistance making a COVID-19 booster appointment, contact the vaccine support team by emailing vaccine@northwestern.edu.

Can I get a booster dose if I have already been diagnosed with COVID-19?

If you recently had COVID-19, you may consider delaying your next vaccine dose (whether a primary dose or booster) by three months from when your symptoms started or, if you had no symptoms, when you first received a positive test.

Reinfection is less likely in the weeks to months after infection. However, certain factors, such as personal risk of severe disease, or risk of disease in a loved one or close contact, local COVID-19 Community Level, and the most common COVID-19 variant currently causing illness, could be reasons to get a vaccine sooner rather than later.