Which vaccine is best for COVID-19?

A Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna mRNA booster is preferred in most situations. (Only Pfizer boosters are authorized for children and teenagers.) Adults ages 50 and older should get a second booster four months after the first.

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 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).

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.

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.

COVID-19 Vaccine Q

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

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.

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.

Is there an authorized booster for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine?

The FDA-authorized Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and the FDA-approved Comirnaty can be used to provide the authorized booster dose(s). Similarly, the FDA-authorized Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the FDA-approved Spikevax are authorized to provide the authorized booster dose(s).

What are the common side effects of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine?

Commonly reported side effects in the clinical trial included injection site pain (sore arm), redness and swelling, fatigue, headache, muscle and/or joint pain, chills, fever, swollen lymph nodes, nausea and decreased appetite.

Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for everyone?

• COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
• Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.
• CDC recommends you get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.

What are some of the common side effects of COVID-19 vaccines?

• Injection-site pain occurred after dose 1 in 66.2% of participants and 68.6% after dose 2.
• One third of participants (33.9%) reported fatigue after dose 1 and 55.7% after dose 2.

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.

Why does my arm hurt after the first Pfizer shot?

Arm pain is a common side effect of vaccinations and is caused by your immune system responding to the vaccine you received. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) after your vaccination can help reduce the pain you experience.

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.

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.

When do you get the second COVID-19 vaccine?

If you receive a vaccine that requires two doses, you should get your second shot as close to the recommended interval as possible. However, your second dose may be given up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose, if necessary.. You should not get the second dose earlier than the recommended interval.

What is the dosing interval for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine?

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is FDA-approved for use as a two-dose series administered 21 days apart to adolescents and adults 16 years and older and is authorized for emergency use in children ages 12-15 using the same schedule.

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.

How long does COVID-19 rebound usually last?

How long will a rebound last? In the cases that have been described, rebound symptoms improved and/or positive tests became negative within 3 days for most people.

How long does COVID-19 rebound last?

So far there have been no reports of severe illness in those who have experienced covid rebound, and most people seem to recover and stop testing positive around three days later without needing additional covid-19 treatment.

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.”