COVID-19-Vaccine-Boosters COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses

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COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses

December 12, 2022

Updates as of December 12, 2022:

  • Aligned with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand emergency use authorization (EUA) of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for children 6 months and older.

What:

The FDA has authorized the bivalent vaccine for Moderna and Pfizer for those 6 months and older.

The previous boosters were monovalent and targeted the original strain while the updated boosters are bivalent and target both the original strain and the Omicron strains that have been causing the more recent cases.

Please see below for a brief description of who is eligible. For a more detailed outline including any special situations for those who are immunocompromised, please see the COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Chart in Related Materials at the top of the page.

For more information on Booster and Additional Doses, see Related Materials at the top of the page.

Eligibility:

Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer)

6 months through 4 years:

  • Regardless of Immune Response:
    • Will receive a bivalent dose of Pfizer as the third dose of their primary series. There is no bivalent dose authorized for children who previously completed all three monovalent doses of their primary series.
    • No recommendation for any booster or additional doses at this time.

5 years

  • Regular Immunity:
    • Should receive an Updated Bivalent Booster dose of Pfizer at least two months after completing their primary series or after their last monovalent booster dose.
  • Compromised Immunity:
    • Should receive an additional monovalent dose of Pfizer at least four weeks after receiving the second dose in their primary series.
    • Should receive an Updated Bivalent Booster dose of Pfizer at least two months after completing their primary series or after their last monovalent booster dose.

6 years+

  • Regular Immunity:
    • Should receive an Updated Bivalent Booster dose (either with Pfizer or Moderna) at least two months after completing their primary series or after their last monovalent booster dose.
  • Compromised Immunity:
    • Should receive an additional monovalent dose of Pfizer at least four weeks after receiving the second dose of their primary series.

    • Should receive an Updated Bivalent Booster dose (either with Pfizer or Moderna) at least two months after completing their primary series or after their last monovalent booster dose.

Moderna 

6 months through 4 years

  • Regular Immunity:
    • May receive an Updated Bivalent Booster dose of Moderna at least two months after completing their primary series. 
  • Compromised Immunity:
    • Should receive an additional monovalent dose of Moderna at least four weeks after receiving the second dose of their primary series.

    • May receive an Updated Bivalent Booster dose of Moderna at least two months after completing their primary series. 

5 years+

  • Regular Immunity:

    • Should receive an Updated Bivalent Booster dose (either with Pfizer or Moderna) at least two months after completing their primary series or after their last monovalent booster dose.

  • Compromised Immunity:
    • Should receive an additional monovalent dose of Moderna at least four weeks after receiving the second dose of their primary series.

    • Should receive an Updated Bivalent Booster dose (either with Pfizer or Moderna) at least two months after completing their primary series or after their last monovalent booster dose.

Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (Novavax)

12 years+

  • Regardless of Immune Response:

    • Should receive an Updated Bivalent Booster dose (either with Pfizer or Moderna) at least two months after completing their primary series or after their last monovalent booster dose.

18 years+

  • Regardless of Immune Response:

    • Should receive an Updated Bivalent Booster dose (either with Pfizer or Moderna) at least two months after completing their primary series or after their last monovalent booster dose.

    • In some limited situations, may receive the Novavax booster dose at least six months after completion of their primary series. Only for people for whom an mRNA Updated Booster is not accessible or clinically appropriate, or who would otherwise not receive a booster dose. 

Johnson & Johnson (J&J)

18 years+

  • Regular Immunity:

    • Should receive an Updated Bivalent Booster dose (either with Pfizer or Moderna) at least two months after receiving their primary series dose or after their last monovalent booster dose.

    • In some limited situations, may receive the J&J booster dose at least two months after completion of their first dose. Only for people for whom an mRNA Updated Booster is not accessible or clinically appropriate, or who would otherwise not receive a booster dose. 

  • Compromised Immunity:
    • Should receive an additional monovalent dose of an Pfizer or Moderna at least four weeks after receiving their single primary series dose.

    • Should receive an Updated Bivalent Booster dose (either with Pfizer or Moderna) at least two months after receiving their primary series dose or after their last monovalent booster dose.

Where:

Booster doses are available in many places, including healthcare providers, clinics and local pharmacies. Californians can visit the My Turn webpage (MyTurn.ca.gov) or call 833-422-4255, or visit Vaccines.gov to make an appointment or find a walk-in vaccine clinic near them.

 

Originally published on March 2, 2022