About COVID-19 Vaccines

Everyone 6 months and older should get an updated COVID-19 vaccine. If you have not received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past 2 months, get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect yourself and your loved ones this fall and winter. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from illness and COVID-19-related hospitalization and death. 

Why do I need another COVID-19 vaccine? 

The virus that causes COVID-19 is always changing and protection from COVID-19 vaccines declines over time. So, getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine will restore your protection against the virus, and protect you from circulating variants of the disease.  

What is an “updated” COVID-19 vaccine?  

The updated COVID-19 vaccines for 2023-2024 are manufactured by Moderna TX Inc., Pfizer Inc., and Novavax. These vaccines have been updated to include a monovalent (single) compound which is able to recognize and defend the body against the Omicron variant (XBB.1.5.).

COVID-19 vaccines are given as a shot in the upper arm or in the thigh of a young child. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. COVID-19 vaccines prepare your body to recognize the virus that causes COVID-19 which allows your immune system to respond faster if you are exposed. This means if you get the COVID-19 vaccine, your symptoms won’t be as severe because your body already has a head start and knows how to fight off the infection. You could imagine the COVID-19 vaccine as a suit of armor: protecting our bodies from feeling the full force of disease.

Learn more about the types of COVID-19 vaccines available here.

Key Facts About COVID-19 Vaccines 

  • COVID-19 vaccines are Safe and Effective!
  • Everyone 6 months and older should get an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Children aged 6 months–4 years need multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines to be up to date, including at least 1 dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Everyone aged 5 years and older should get 1 dose of the updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.
  • People ages 12 years and older have the option of receiving either the updated (2023-2024 Formula) mRNA (Moderna, Pfizer BioNTech) or updated (2023-2024 Formula) Novavax vaccine.
  • People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses of updated COVID-19 vaccine.
  • If you have not received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past 2 months, get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect yourself and your loved ones this fall and winter.
  • It is safe to get a COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot at the same visit.
  • COVID-19 vaccines continue to undergo the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.
  • COVID-19 vaccine recommendations will be updated as needed.

Talk to your doctor today or click here to learn more about staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines.

Reasons to Get A COVID-19 Vaccine  

COVID-19 vaccines help our body build up immunity against the virus that causes COVID-19. Immunity is your body’s ability to recognize germs and prevent them from causing severe illness. If enough people are able to develop immunity against COVID-19, then the disease will become harder and harder to spread in our population. This practice is called “herd immunity,” and can help protect people who are at an increased risk of developing severe illness or being hospitalized from COVID-19. The only way to increase herd immunity in your community and protect vulnerable people, such as, pregnant women, infants and children, people 65 years or older, and people with health issues or weakened immune systems, is by staying up-to-date on recommended COVID-19 vaccinations.  

You can now use V-safe to tell CDC how you feel after getting vaccinated for COVID-19. The data collected through V-safe helps the CDC monitor potential vaccine side effects and inform the public about what to expect following vaccination.

Last Reviewed: October 18, 2023