The COVID-19 vaccine is medicine injected into your upper arm that teaches your immune system to produce antibodies that fight off the virus if you’re exposed to it.
The vaccines will not make you sick with COVID-19, and if you do end up getting the virus after being vaccinated, you will likely have a milder illness. Learn more about how these vaccines work.
Hundreds of millions of people have been vaccinated for COVID-19 in the U.S., and the vaccines are undergoing the “most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history,” according to the CDC.
Following rigorous standards for safety, effectiveness and quality, the FDA and CDC have authorized a primary COVID-19 vaccine series. These differ by age and vaccine type:
♦ Pfizer-BioNTech:
♦ Moderna:
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Ages 6 months through 5 years – 2 doses given 4-8 weeks apart.
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Ages 6-17 – 2 doses given 4-8 weeks apart.
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Ages 18 and up – 2 doses given 4-8 weeks apart
♦ Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Janssen:
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Ages 6 months through 17 years – The J&J vaccine is currently not authorized for this age group.
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Ages 18 and up – 1 dose
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Note: The J&J vaccine has been linked to a rare, but serious blood clot risk in a small number of people. It’s considered safe for the vast majority and is still authorized, particularly for people unable to have one of the other 2 available vaccines. But the CDC has said that in most situations, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are preferable.
♦ Novavax:
For kids and adults with weakened immune systems: If you or your child are moderately or severely immunocompromised from another health condition, an additional dose of the primary COVID-19 vaccine series may be recommended. Learn more here.
COVID-19 Booster Shots: While the primary vaccines are considered highly effective, the CDC and FDA have authorized booster shots for most people ages 18 and up, when eligible, to help deal with reduced immunity over time. A booster shot is not currently recommended for people who received the Novavax vaccine. Booster shot recommendations for children vary by age and vaccine type. Learn more about booster shots.
Vaccines remain the safest, most effective protection we have against serious diseases. Learn more about their safety and importance.
Yes. It is possible that you could be infected again. If you were treated for COVID-19 and have recovered, ask your doctor when you can get vaccinated. People who currently have COVID-19 should wait until recovery before getting the vaccine.
Children and teens ages 6 months and up can now be vaccinated for COVID-19, and the CDC and FDA strongly recommend this. The child dosage for the vaccine is smaller than the adult dosage, based on testing for safety and effectiveness. See “What is the COVID-19 vaccine and how can I be sure it is safe?” above for details.
While most children infected with the virus have had either mild or no symptoms, many have been hospitalized with more severe illness—and some have died. Infants under age 1 and children with medical conditions that have weakened their immune systems have a higher risk of more severe illness with COVID-19.
Yes. The CDC, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine all recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The CDC also recommends vaccination for individuals planning to become pregnant now or in the future.
Pregnant women are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Researchers are still studying whether infection from the virus during pregnancy affects the fetus or causes problems later in the child’s life.
The CDC notes that vaccine monitoring data so far suggests that the protective benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh any potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy.
Monitoring and research so far has shown no evidence that the vaccines cause fertility problems in women or men, or are harmful during pregnancy or when breastfeeding—to the pregnant or lactating person, developing fetus or breastfed infant.
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, talk with your healthcare provider about the COVID-19 vaccine—and know how to protect yourself if you decide against vaccination. Stay in-the-know about the vaccine by checking in regularly with the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine info page.
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