Get Your COVID-19 Booster Shot
Stay up to date with your vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting you from getting sick. Based on what we know about COVID-19 vaccines, and similar to what we know from other recommended vaccines, people who are up to date with their vaccines are well protected from serious illness or other health outcomes.
Get Vaccinated
Everyone 5 years and older is recommended to receive a primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine to be considered fully vaccinated.
For children 5 years through 17 years of age, a primary series consists of 2 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. For persons 18 and older, a primary series consists of:
- A 2-dose series of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or
- A single-dose COVID-19 vaccine (Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine)
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (COVID-19 mRNA vaccines) are preferred. You may get Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in some situations.
Stay Up to Date with Your Vaccines
CDC recommends that people remain up to date with their vaccines, which includes additional doses for individuals who are immunocompromised or booster doses at regular time points. Individuals who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get an additional primary shot and a booster shot.
Who Should Get a Booster Shot
Ensure you are optimally protected against COVID-19 by getting vaccinated and staying up to date with a booster dose.
| If you received Pfizer-BioNTech |
Who should get a booster:
Who may get a booster:
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When to get a booster:
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Which booster can you get:
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| If you received Moderna |
Who should get a booster:
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When to get a booster:
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Which booster can you get:
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| If you received Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen* |
Who should get a booster:
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When to get a booster:
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Which booster can you get:
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*Although mRNA vaccines are preferred, J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine may be considered in some situations.
Data Supporting Need for a Booster Shot
Studies show after getting vaccinated against COVID-19, protection decreases over time and may also be decreased due to changes in circulating variants. The recent emergence of the Omicron variant further increases the importance of vaccination and boosters to protect against COVID-19.
Additional studies from around the world demonstrate the benefit of a booster dose over receiving only a primary series.
- In large national studies from Israel comparing those who are boosted with those who are fully vaccinated, a booster dose decreased infection by 10 times in all age groups.
- Booster doses also decreased severe disease by 18 times in individuals over 60 years old and 22 times in those who were 40 to 59 years old.
- In these studies, a booster dose decreased mortality due to COVID-19 by 90% compared to being fully vaccinated.
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness on the CDC website.