Vaccination Information

COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the updated (bivalent) Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for everyone aged 6 months and older, including pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.

The bivalent vaccine formulations are made with mRNA parts of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants in addition to mRNA parts from the original strain of the coronavirus. These updated vaccines are more effective than the original formulations at protecting against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.

This means that everyone 6 years old and older who has not already gotten the updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccine should get it, regardless of the number or type of COVID-19 vaccines they have already gotten. Some groups have additional recommendations, as follows:

  • Adults 65 years old and older can get a second dose of the updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the first dose.
  • People who are immunocompromised can get additional doses at least 2 months after previous doses.
  • Children younger than 6 years old should continue to get a combination of the original (monovalent) and updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccines based on age and type of vaccine.

See the current COVID-19 vaccine recommendations from the CDC for more information. Your health care provider will be able to tell you what shots you should get and when you should get them.

Right now, the original (monovalent) Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are not recommended for people 6 years old and older, and the Novavax and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccines are recommended only for people who are unable or unwilling to get the updated (bivalent) Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

Get the Facts and get vaccinated.

Find the COVID-19 Vaccine Near You

The map below shows the locations of providers offering COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and treatment in Mecklenburg County.

Three MCPH clinic locations currently offer the Pfizer and Novavax COVID-19 vaccines.* Call 704-336-6500 to make an appointment. Walk-ins will be accepted during office hours:

 

Northwest Health Department2845 Beatties Ford Road

Mon, Tue, Thu. and Fri. 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.  | Wed. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Southeast Health Department249 Billingsley Road

Mon, Tue, Thu. and Fri. 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.  | Wed. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Valerie C. Woodard Center: 3205 Freedom Dr.

Mon, Tue, Thu. and Fri. 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.  | Wed. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

 

*MCPH stopped offering Johnson & Johnson and Moderna products last year. For a list of providers in your area offering those products, please visit Vaccines.gov.

 

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COVID-19 Vaccine Information

COVID-19 vaccinations work by triggering your body to make antibodies that fight SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19 illness). SARS-CoV-2 infection causes COVID-19 illness, which also triggers your body to make antibodies.

So why get vaccinated? Because getting vaccinated gives your body a chance to protect itself before you get sick. That means that your body is much better prepared to fight the infection when you are exposed to the virus, so you are much less likely to have severe symptoms, be hospitalized, or die from COVID-19. You are much more likely to get really sick or die from getting COVID-19 than you are from getting the vaccine.

Two recent CDC reports showed that the bivalent vaccine cuts the risk of being hospitalized with COVID-19 or needing to go to an emergency department/urgent care facility by half or more for most people. 

Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines from the trusted resources below:

 


 

Approved or Authorized COVID-19 Vaccines
Manufacturer / Brand NameType of VaccineEligible Ages
Pfizer-BioNTech / COMIRNATYmRNA vaccine type6 months and older
Moderna / SpikevaxmRNA vaccine type6 months and older
Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvantedprotein subunit vaccine type12 years and older
Janssen / Johnson & Johnson*viral vector vaccine type18 years and older