About COVID-19 Vaccines

COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are effective at protecting people—especially those who are boosted— from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and even dying. As with other diseases, you are protected best from COVID-19 when you stay up to date with the recommended vaccines.

When Are You Up to Date?

You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines when you have received all doses in the primary series and all boosters recommended for you, when eligible.

• Vaccine recommendations are different depending on your age, the vaccine you first received, and time since last dose, as shown below.
• Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine recommendations specifically for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.

Adults ages 18 years and older

Children and teens ages 12–17 years

Children ages 11 years and under

¹ Talk to your healthcare or vaccine provider about the timing for the 2nd dose in your primary series.

• People ages 6 months through 64 years, and especially males ages 12 through 39 years, may consider getting the 2nd primary dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) 8 weeks after the 1st dose. A longer time between the 1st and 2nd primary doses may increase how much protection the vaccines offer, and further minimize the rare risk of heart problems, including myocarditis and pericarditis.
• People ages 65 years and older, people more likely to get very sick from COVID-19, or anyone wanting protection due to high levels of community transmission should get:
  • the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine 3 weeks (or 21 days) after the first dose, or
  • the second dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine 4 weeks (or 28 days) after the first dose. 
  • People ages 18 years and older should get their second dose of Novavax 3-8 weeks after the first dose.
  • People ages 18 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get the second dose of Novavax 3 weeks after the first dose.

² If you have completed your primary series—but are not yet eligible for a booster—you are also considered up to date.

Mixing COVID-19 Vaccine Products

Primary series

CDC does not recommend mixing products for your primary series doses. If you received Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 for the first dose of your primary series, you should get the same product for all following primary series doses.

Boosters

People ages 18 years and older may get a different product for a booster than they got for their primary series. Children and teens ages 5 through 17 years who got a Pfizer-BioNTech primary series must get Pfizer-BioNTech for a booster.

Timing of COVID-19 Vaccination After Infection

Additionally, people who recently had COVID-19 may consider delaying their next vaccine dose (primary dose or booster) by 3 months from when their symptoms started or, if they had no symptoms, when they 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, 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.

Vaccination Outside the United States

If you received COVID-19 vaccines outside the United States, whether you are up to date depends on which COVID-19 vaccine (and how many doses) you received. Learn more about when people vaccinated outside the United States are considered fully vaccinated.

Allergic Reaction to a COVID-19 Vaccine Product

If you had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or if you have a known (diagnosed) allergy to a COVID-19 vaccine ingredient, you should not get that vaccine. If you have been instructed not to get one type of COVID-19 vaccine, you may still be able to get another type.

Scheduling Your COVID-19 Vaccines

There are several ways you can find a vaccine provider. You can get your COVID-19 vaccines at the same location, or different locations.

• If you need help scheduling your 2nd primary dose or a booster, contact the location that set up your previous appointment. It is never too late to get the added protection offered by completing your primary series or getting a COVID-19 booster.
• Some community vaccination clinics have closed. You can get your 2nd primary dose or a booster at a different location.

Learn more about getting your COVID-19 vaccine.