Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccines
Learn about updated COVID-19 booster shot guidance for:
People who received Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for their first shot and booster
Adults ages 50 years and older
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised
Get Vaccinated and Stay Up to Date
A person is fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving all recommended doses in their primary series of COVID-19 vaccine.
Up to date means a person has received all recommended doses in their primary series of COVID-19 vaccine, and a booster dose when eligible.
COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are effective at protecting people from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and even dying. As with vaccines for other diseases, you are protected best when you stay up to date. CDC recommends that everyone ages 5 years and older get their primary series of COVID-19 vaccine, and everyone ages 12 years and older also receive a booster dose.
Approved or Authorized Vaccines
Three COVID-19 vaccines are authorized or approved for use in the United States to prevent COVID-19. Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna are COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and are preferred. You may get Johnson & Johnson’s/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in some situations
When Are You Up to Date?
You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines when you have followed the current recommendations listed below. The recommendations will be different depending on your age, your health status, and when you first got vaccinated.
If you are moderately or severely immunocompromised, please read the specific COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for you.
Pfizer-BioNTech | Pfizer-BioNTech | Moderna | Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen |
Ages Recommended 5–11 years old | Ages Recommended 12+ years old | Ages Recommended 18+ years old | Ages Recommended 18+ years old |
Primary Series 2 doses 3–8 weeks apart [1,2] | Primary Series 2 doses 4–8 weeks apart [1,2] | Primary Series 1 dose [2] | |
Fully Vaccinated 2 weeks after final dose in primary series | Fully Vaccinated 2 weeks after final dose in primary series | Fully Vaccinated 2 weeks after final dose in primary series | Fully Vaccinated 2 weeks after 1st dose |
Booster Dose Not recommended at this time | Booster Dose At least 5 months after the final dose in the primary series
| Booster Dose At least 5 months after the last dose in the primary series
| Booster Dose At least 2 months after the first dose of a J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine
|
Up to Date Immediately after getting the primary series A booster dose is not recommended for this age group at this time. | Up to Date Immediately after getting the booster dose | Up to Date Immediately after getting the booster dose | Up to Date Immediately after getting the booster dose |
1 Talk to your healthcare or vaccine provider about the timing of the second dose that is right for you.
People ages 12 through 64 years, and especially males ages 12 through 39 years, may consider getting the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) 8 weeks after the first dose. A longer time between the first and second doses may increase the effectiveness of these vaccines, and further minimize the already rare risk of heart problems, including myocarditis and pericarditis.
People ages 5 through 11 years, people ages 65 years and older, people at increased risk of getting 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.
2 If you have completed your primary series—but are not yet eligible for a booster dose—you are also considered up to date. Stay up to date by getting a booster when you are eligible.
Allergic Reaction to 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.
Mixing COVID-19 Vaccine Products
CDC does not recommend mixing products for your primary vaccine series. If you received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you should get the same product when you need a second shot. However, people ages 18 years and older may get a different product for their booster shot.
Scheduling Your COVID-19 Vaccines
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. You can get your COVID-19 vaccines at the same location, or different locations.
If you need help scheduling your second shot or your booster, contact the location that set up your previous appointment.
Some community vaccination clinics have closed. You can get your second shot or your booster at a different location.
Learn more about getting your COVID-19 vaccine.
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