Which COVID booster is best?

The CDC now recommends the preferred use of mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) COVID-19 vaccines and boosters over the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and booster for all individuals 18 years and older.

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.

Can you mix and match COVID-19 booster shots?

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.

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

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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.

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.

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.

Is it safe to take the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine?

For many people, the benefits of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine outweigh the risks. It's effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19, and it's the only single-dose option available. However, you'll still need to get a booster shot 2 months later.

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.

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.
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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.

Are side effects of the COVID-19 booster shot worse?

November 08, 2021 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.

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).

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 the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine safe?

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Ingredients. All COVID-19 vaccine ingredients are safe. Nearly all of the ingredients in COVID-19 vaccines are ingredients found in many foods – fats, sugars, and salts. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (COMIRNATY) also contains a harmless piece of messenger RNA (mRNA).

How effective is the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine?

Effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine reached a peak of 96% at two months and remained around 90% at seven months and effectiveness of the Moderna vaccine reached a peak of 97% at two months and remained at 94% at seven months.

How long do COVID-19 vaccines last?

It is normal for virus-fighting antibodies—such as those that are stimulated by a COVID-19 vaccine—to wane over time. Monitoring antibody levels in the blood is one way to measure vaccine efficacy and research has found that protection remains high for six months after the second shot of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

When does immunity start after the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine?

Data released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) show that COVID-19 protection from the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was demonstrated in the clinical trials at about 14 days after the first shot. The FDA said some level of immunity may start sooner, but how much is not certain.

How long does it take for immunity to wane after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?

A study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that immunity against severe COVID-19 begins to wane four months after receiving a so-called "booster" third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

How long does the protection from Pfizer and Moderna's COVID-19 booster vaccine last?

The most recent research from the CDC suggests that protection from the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines starts to fade around 4 months after a booster dose.

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.

How do I know if I’ve been fully vaccinated if I was vaccinated in another country?

If you have received all recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine that has been authorized or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or is listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO), then you are considered to be fully vaccinated.

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).

What are the common side effects of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine?

Side effects that have been reported with the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine include: Injection site reactions: pain, redness of the skin, and swelling. General side effects: headache, feeling very tired, muscle aches, nausea, fever. Swollen lymph nodes.

How does the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine work?

The J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine also contains a piece of a modified virus that is not the virus that causes COVID-19. This modified virus is called the vector virus. The vector virus cannot reproduce itself, so it is harmless. This vector virus gives instructions to cells in the body to create an immune response.