COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots
CDC has updated its recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines with a preference for people to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna). Read CDC’s media statement.
Choosing Your COVID-19 Booster Shot
Three COVID-19 vaccines are authorized or approved for use in the United States to prevent COVID-19. Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (COVID-19 mRNA vaccines) are preferred. You may get Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in some situations.
IF YOU RECEIVED: Pfizer-BioNTech
Who should get a booster:
Adults 18 years and older
Who may get a booster:
Teens 16-17 years old
When to get a booster:
At least 6 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series
Which booster can you get:
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are preferred in most* situations
Teens 16–17 years old may get a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster
IF YOU RECEIVED: Moderna
Who should get a booster:
Adults 18 years and older
When to get a booster:
At least 6 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series
Which booster can you get:
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are preferred in most* situations
IF YOU RECEIVED: Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen*
Who should get a booster:
Adults 18 years and older
When to get a booster:
At least 2 months after receiving your J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccination
Which booster can you get:
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are preferred in most* situations
*Although mRNA vaccines are preferred, J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine may be considered in some situations.
Scheduling Your Booster Shot
If you need help scheduling your booster shot, contact the location that set up your previous appointment. If you need to get your booster shot in a location different from where you received your previous shot, there are several ways you can find a vaccine provider. Find a COVID-19 vaccine or booster: Search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.
What to Expect during and after Your Booster Shot Appointment
Bring your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record card to your booster shot appointment so your provider can fill in the information about your booster dose. If you did not receive a card at your first appointment, contact the vaccination site where you got your first shot or your state health department to find out how you can get a card.
You may experience side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. These are normal signs that your body is building protection against COVID-19.
Use v-safe to tell CDC about any side effects. If you enter your booster shot in your v-safe account, the system will send you daily health check-ins.
If You Were Vaccinated Outside of the United States
If you completed a Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine primary series outside of the United States you should follow the guidance above for booster shots. Otherwise, if you were vaccinated abroad with other COVID-19 vaccines you can get a booster shot if you are 18 years or older and you either:
Received all the recommended doses of a World Health Organization emergency use listing (WHO-EUL) COVID-19 vaccineexternal icon, not approved or authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Or completed a mix and match series composed of any combination of FDA-approved, FDA-authorized, or WHO-EUL COVID-19 vaccines
If you meet the above requirements you can get a single booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after getting all recommended doses or completing a mix and match COVID-19 vaccine series.
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