Which Covid booster should I get?

CDC recommends a 2nd booster of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the 1st booster for: Adults ages 50 years and older. People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.

Can you mix and match COVID-19 booster doses?

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.

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 there a difference between the Moderna COVID-19 booster and Moderna third shot?

In the case of Moderna, the booster dose is only half of the original dose. Unlike boosters, third/additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines are for people who received the complete starter series of vaccines but then their immune systems didn't have a good enough response.

When should you usually get a COVID-19 booster vaccine?

1st Booster: Most people, at least 5 months after the final dose in the primary series. People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, at least 3 months after the final dose in the primary series.

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 you mix and match Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine?

Through the FDA's authorization and the CDC's recommendation, heterologous boosting—aka “mixing and matching”—is allowed with a single dose of any of the authorized COVID-19 vaccine boosters. For example, those who got Johnson & Johnson's one-dose series can receive a booster shot from Moderna or Pfizer

Is it safe to take the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, or J&J COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy?

No safety concerns were found in animal studies: Studies in animals receiving a Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, or Johnson & Johnson (J&J)/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine before or during pregnancy found no safety concerns in pregnant animals or their babies.

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.

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).

Do mRNA COVID-19 vaccines cause heart inflammation?

These cases typically occur in male adolescents and young adults after the second dose, and within a week of vaccination. It is important to seek medical care if symptomatic (chest pain, shortness of breath, having a fast beating, fluttering, or pounding heart).

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.

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.

How often can you take Paxlovid?

“With Paxlovid, you take three pills, twice a day, for a total of five days," says Rachel Kenney, a pharmacist at Henry Ford Health. "It helps your body fight off the virus, preventing it from replicating before it becomes serious.”

Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for pregnancy?

Vaccination is recommended for pregnant women to prevent COVID-19, including severe illness and death. COVID-19 vaccination is safe and effective when administered during pregnancy

Can you have the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine if pregnant?

Data have clearly shown that receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy reduces the risk for infection, severe illness and death from COVID-19 among people who are pregnant.

What can you tell us about pregnancy after receiving the Pfizer COVID-19 shot?

What can you tell us about that? Results from published studies suggest there is no increased risk of first trimester pregnancy loss for patients who receive any of the three vaccines that currently have emergency use authorization: Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson-Janssen.

What medications should be avoided before the COVID-19 vaccine?

It is not recommended you take over-the-counter medicine – such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen – before vaccination for the purpose of trying to prevent vaccine-related side effects.

What if I don't get the second COVID-19 vaccine shot?

The bottom line is that if you didn't get your second shot on time, you'll want to get it as soon as possible. If you didn't get your second shot because you developed COVID-19 at some point during the vaccination process, it's still recommended that you get your second dose.

Can you contract COVID-19 through sexual intercourse?

Although there is currently no evidence that the COVID-19 virus transmits through semen or vaginal fluids, it has been detected in the semen of people recovering from COVID-19. We would thus recommend avoiding any close contact, especially very intimate contact like unprotected sex, with someone with active COVID-19 to minimize the risk of transmission

What are the risks to getting a COVID-19 booster?

Adults and children may have some side effects from a COVID-19 vaccine, including pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea. Serious side effects are rare, but may occur.

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 COVID-19 vaccines are using mRNA technology?

The vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna use mRNA to fight COVID-19.

When these vaccines were rolled out, it was the first time mRNA was used on humans in vaccine technology. While the concept is new to the public, the research has been around since the early 1990s. What are mRNA Vaccines? 2/11