[Vaccine] Information

For the vast majority of people, the benefits of preventing a COVID-19 infection outweigh any risks of the vaccine. The vaccine helps protect you from getting COVID-19 and is considered a safe way to build protection against the disease. COVID-19 can have serious, life-threatening complications, and there is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you or your loved ones. If you still get infected, the vaccine may prevent serious illness and death. By getting vaccinated, you are helping to protect yourself, your family and friends.

Currently, all COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the U.S. have proved to be highly effective against preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. Data show that the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) also provide protection against variants of the virus, including the Omicron strains. While there is lower vaccine effectiveness against infection and symptomatic disease caused by the Omicron variants, the breakthrough infections occurring in those with up-to-date vaccination are associated with fewer hospitalizations and deaths.

The vaccines currently available in the U.S. include Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, and Novavax. All U.S. COVID-19 vaccines have passed the same rigorous review process, and all are highly effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. Generally, mRNA vaccines are recommended as a first option due to their excellent safety profiles and effectiveness. The Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine should be reserved for individuals who are unable to take an mRNA vaccine due to medical contraindications or local supply constraints. If you have concerns about your medical condition(s) and receiving the vaccine, consult with your physician.

The timing between your initial and second vaccine dose depends on which vaccine you received. If you received either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, you should have received your second dose near the recommended 3-week or 1-month interval when possible. If for some reason you did not get the second dose at 3-4 weeks after the first, then it is recommended that you get the second dose at the earliest opportunity to do so. You should not receive the second dose earlier than the recommended interval. The second dose of an mRNA vaccine may be given at no less than 3 weeks (for Pfizer-BioNTech) or 4 weeks (Moderna). An 8-week interval may be optimal for some people ages 12 years and older, especially for males ages 12 to 39 years. The Novavax vaccine is a newer two-dose vaccine given 3-8 weeks apart. This information does not apply to the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine. See below for additional information on booster dose(s).

Vaccine recommendations are based on your age, the vaccine you first received, and the time since last dose. Individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible for the Moderna updated bivalent (Omicron) booster dose if it has been at least 2 months since they have completed primary vaccinations, or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible for Pfizer-BioNTech updated bivalent (Omicron) booster dose if it has been at least 2 months since they have completed primary vaccination, or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. CDC allows for a booster dose that is not the same type as the initial vaccination(s). Novavax was only approved as a primary vaccine, not as a booster, at least so far.

The same technology was used for the bivalent (Omicron) booster as the primary vaccine series, which has shown a good safety profile. The updated bivalent (Omicron) booster is similar to the influenza vaccine covering multiple strains of the virus.

For anyone who has been infected with COVID-19, their next dose may be delayed up to 3 months from when symptoms started or, if they did not have symptoms, when they received a positive test. This possible delay can happen with a primary dose or a booster dose. Consult your physician if you have any questions about the timing of your primary or booster dose.