Vaccination Information

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.