Is there a mix-and-match for the COVID-19 booster vaccine?

The FDA has authorized the use of mix-and-match booster doses for currently available COVID-19 vaccines based on the results of a NIAID-supported study. The FDA has authorized the use of mix-and-match booster doses for currently available COVID-19 vaccines based on the results of a NIAID-supported study.

Can you mix and match the vaccines for your mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) primary vaccination series?

No, vaccines used for the primary vaccination series should be same. However, if the mRNA vaccine product given for the first two doses is not available or is unknown, either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) may be administered.

Should the booster shot be the same as the first two shots?

>
The FDA has authorized three vaccine boosters — Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson — and determined that it is safe for individuals to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster or additional dose that is a different brand than the initial dose or doses.

Do COVID-19 boosters use the same ingredients as existing vaccines?

Yes. COVID-19 boosters are the same ingredients (formulation) as the current COVID-19 vaccines. However, in the case of a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster, the dose is half of the amount of the vaccine people get for their primary series.

Can I choose which COVID-19 vaccine I get?

Yes, depending on your age, you can choose which COVID-19 vaccine to get. For adults ages 18 years and older, the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) are preferred over Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine. You may get J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in some situations.

Currently, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine available to children ages 5 through 17 years old.

Learn more about your COVID-19 vaccination, including how to find a vaccination location, what to expect at your appointment, and more.

Can You Mix and Match the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines?

What is the best vaccine for COVID-19?

In most situations, mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) are preferred over the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for primary and booster vaccination due to the risk of serious adverse events.

Is it safe for women to take the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend most adult women receive a two-shot primary series of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, followed by a booster dose at least five months after the last primary dose.

Do COVID-19 booster shots cause worse side effects?

If you experienced side effects when you were vaccinated initially, you may wonder if you'll have any noticeable symptoms in response to your booster shot. While you may have some side effects, they should be no worse than what you experienced originally and may well be milder.

Are there preservatives in Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine?

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (COMIRNATY) has: No preservatives like thimerosal or mercury or any other preservatives.

What is the most important ingredient in both Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines?

The most important ingredient in both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is mRNA. The mRNA tells your cells how to make a protein from the coronavirus. Once your body knows how to make the protein, it can recognize COVID-19 and fight it. Learn more about how mRNA vaccines work.

How long after the COVID-19 booster is it effective?

The first COVID-19 booster shot is now in the rearview mirror for millions of Americans -- for the 28% who got it, at least -- but new data finds it's less effective after about 4 months. The CDC has already recommended a second booster for immunocompromised people.
<

Is it recommended to take booster shot after primary J&J COVID-19 vaccine?

If you are age 18 or older, have been given one dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and it's been at least 2 months, you should get a single booster dose. The Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine boosters are preferred in most situations.

Should you get a booster shot if you have COVID-19 symptoms?

Key takeaways: The CDC recommends booster shots — even in people who had a breakthrough case of COVID-19. If you have active symptoms of a COVID-19 infection, you shouldn't get a booster shot until your symptoms have fully resolved.

Are mRNA vaccines preferred over Johnson and Johnson vaccine for COVID-19?

The mRNA vaccines are preferred over Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (a viral vector vaccine) in most circumstances. Although mRNA vaccines are preferred, the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine may be considered in some situations.

Are egg products used in COVID-19 vaccines?

The COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized by the FDA are not manufactured using egg products or egg culture. See COVID-19 vaccines for more information.

Can you get another vaccine if you get the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine?

If you got J&J as your initial vaccine and are 18 or older, you are eligible for a booster shot two months later, regardless of which one you choose (you're eligible six months later if you had Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech as your primary series).

Are there any safety concerns concerning mRNA technology of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine?

FDA does not have specific safety concerns with a vaccine that utilizes this technology.

Who is at higher risk of getting blood clots from the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine?

They are also more likely to occur in women who are pregnant or on oral contraceptives, or in people who have hereditary disorders that predispose them to blood clotting. As mentioned above, the clotting condition associated with the J&J vaccine is called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia (TTS).

Can you get the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine if you are allergic to the ingredient in the vaccine?

If you are allergic to an ingredient in a COVID-19 vaccine
If you have had a severe allergic reaction or an immediate allergic reaction—even if it was not severe—to any ingredient in an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, you should not get either of the currently available mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna).

What are the common side effects of the Moderna COVID-19 booster vaccine?

The most commonly reported side effects by individuals who received a booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine after completion of a two-dose primary series were pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, as well as fatigue, headache, muscle or joint pain and chills.

Is it normal that I feel tired after taking the Pfizer COVID-19 booster?

The most common AEs included pain at the injection site (23.5%), fatigue (9.7%), and malaise (7.2%) (Table 2). Most of the respondents (67.8%) reported that their general feeling after the booster was similar to the feeling after the second dose; 18.7% and 11.1% reported a milder or worse response, respectively.

Is it normal that I feel worse after second COVID-19 shot?

This is normal and expected, but it doesn't happen to everyone. Even if you feel worse after the second shot, the side effects should still resolve within a few days.

What are some of the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine in women?

COVID-19 vaccines can cause swelling in your lymph nodes or arm. Women who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 can develop enlarged underarm lymph nodes on the same side where they had the shot. It's more common for this to happen after boosters and additional doses.

How does the COVID-19 vaccine affect menstruation?

Women who received COVID-19 vaccines had a less than one-day increase in the length of their menstrual cycles around the time of their doses. The findings suggest that women may have a slightly longer menstrual cycle after COVID-19 vaccination, but the change is temporary and within the range of normal variation.

What are the possible side effects of the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines?

Possible side effects: Pain, redness, or swelling at the site where the shot was administered, and/or tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, or nausea throughout the rest of the body. If these side effects occur, they should go away in a few days. A few side effects are serious, but rare.