Last Updated September 2024
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COVID Vaccine Learn More
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The best protection against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated.
Adults ages 65 years and older should receive the 2024-2025 updated COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax) to protect against serious illness due to COVID-19.
Adults age 65 years and older who receive the 2024-2025 Novavax COVID-19 vaccine as their very first COVID 19 vaccine should receive 2 doses of the 2024-2025 COVID 19 vaccine (3 weeks apart).
FDA Approvals (as of August 2024)
In August 2024, the FDA approved the use of 3 COVID-19 vaccines for 2024-2025: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax. The CDC recommended the use of these vaccines in people ages 6 months and older.
Getting a COVID-19 vaccination will protect you and others against the virus
COVID-19 is the disease caused by a highly infectious virus called SARS-CoV-2. Sometimes cases of COVID-19 can be mild, but others can be more severe and even deadly. This is especially true for older adults or people with chronic health conditions. One in 100 older Americans have died from COVID-19 disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends receiving the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine. Getting the vaccine has many benefits:
- It will lower your risk of getting sick if you are exposed to the coronavirus.
- Even if you are up to date with the vaccine, it is still possible to get COVID-19. However, data from real-world use of COVID-19 vaccines shows that vaccination substantially lowers the risk of becoming seriously ill if you do get infected.
- It helps protect the people you are around, especially people with a higher risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19. This includes older people and people with chronic, underlying conditions.
People who are immunocompromised or take medicine that affects the immune system are at higher risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19. It is especially important for immunocompromised people to receive COVID-19 vaccines.
Adults 65 and older who have no immune problems should receive a dose of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax). However, if you receive the 2024-2025 Novavax vaccine, and you have never received a COVID-19 shot before, you should get a second dose of Novavax 3 weeks after the first.
None of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines is preferred over another.
There are different vaccine recommendations for immunocompromised older adults. A person is immunocompromised when their immune system is weak. These people may have more trouble fighting COVID-19 and are at higher risk of getting seriously sick or dying from COVID-19. You may have a weak immune system if you have cancer, diabetes, or heart condition, for example. These are just a few of the diseases that can make your immune system weak. Please check with your healthcare professional to see if you have a medical problem that makes your immune system weak.
| Previous COVID-19 vaccination history | Which 2024-2025 Vaccine is right for you | Number of 2024-2025 Vaccine Doses to Receive | Dosing schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| If you have never received a COVID-19 vaccine before | Moderna |
3 |
Doses 1 and 2: given 4 weeks apart Doses 2 and 3: given at least 4 weeks apart |
| Pfizer-BioNTech |
3 |
Doses 1 and 2: given 3 weeks apart Doses 2 and 3: given at least 4 weeks apart |
|
| Novavax |
2 |
Doses 1 and 2: given 3 weeks apart | |
| If you have previously received 1 dose of the Moderna or Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine | Same manufacturer of your previous vaccine | 2 |
Dose 1: at least 4 weeks after the last dose (Moderna) Dose 1: at least 3 weeks after the last dose (Pfizer-BioNTech) Doses 1 and 2: given at least 4 weeks apart |
| If you have previously received 2 doses of the Moderna or Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine | Same manufacturer of your previous vaccines | 1 | Dose 1: at least 4 weeks after the last dose |
| If you have previously received 3 or more doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, not including at least 1 dose of any 2024-2025 mRNA vaccine | Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, or Novavax | 1 | Dose 1: at least 8 weeks after the last dose |
| If you have previously received 2 or more doses of Novavax, including 1 dose of any 2024 -2025 COVID-19 vaccine | Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, or Novavax | 1 additional dose | You may receive 1 additional dose of any 2024-2025 COVID 19 vaccine at least 2 months following your last 2024-2025 vaccine dose. |
The Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are mRNA vaccines. That means that the mRNA in the vaccine teaches our cells how to trigger the immune response against the COVID-19 virus.
Novavax is a protein subunit vaccine. This means that it contains proteins of the virus that causes COVID-19. Your immune system learns how to respond to the protein in the vaccine so it can respond to the actual virus and protect you against COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has no preference for which vaccine you should receive.
Safety has been key in developing and approving COVID-19 vaccines. There were many steps taken to make sure the COVID-19 vaccines were safe before they were made available to the public.
- First, clinical trials were carefully designed and controlled to find out how safe and effective the vaccines are. Tens of thousands of people participated in the clinical trials.
- After the clinical trials proved the vaccines were safe and effective, then the FDA and independent expert advisory boards reviewed the safety data to make sure they were correct. If the vaccine trials met requirement for efficacy and safety, the FDA authorizes the vaccine for use in the US.
- Then, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) at the CDC reviewed all safety data before recommending any COVID-19 vaccine for use.
- Finally, the FDA and CDC monitor the safety of vaccines post-authorization and recommendation via several system including the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, Vaccine Safety Datalink, V-safe program and others.
The CDC and other partners assess the effectiveness and safety of the COVID-19 vaccines under real-world conditions after FDA approval.
The FDA fact sheets for the 2024-2025 updated vaccines will have more information about the benefits and risks of each vaccine. We recommend that you discuss the risks and benefits of getting vaccinated with your primary care clinician or vaccine provider before getting the shots.
Tell your vaccination provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:
- Have any allergies
- Have a fever
- Have a bleeding disorder or take blood-thinning drugs
- Are immunocompromised or take medicine that affects your immune system
- Have received another COVID-19 vaccine
They will discuss any other factors you need to know before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine based on your unique circumstances.
FDA-approved vaccines are currently available at no cost to you:
- If you have Medicare, you will not have to pay to get vaccinated.
- Medicaid and private health insurance plans cover all vaccine costs.
- If you are uninsured you can get free vaccines.
Vaccines are available at many locations:
- Most drug stores
- Community health centers
- State or local health departments
Find a COVID-19 vaccine location near you:
- Ask your doctor or healthcare provider
- Call 1-800-232-0233
- Text your zip code to 438829 or visit vaccines.gov