Get A Boost Against COVID: What You Need To Know About Boosters
by the We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign
COVID vaccines and boosters have reduced the threat of COVID, allowing many people to gather, travel, and celebrate with more peace of mind. Vaccines and boosters provide the best protection against the worst outcomes of COVID, yet people still have many questions about boosters.
Second boosters provide added protection for people at higher risk. Adults age 50 or older and immunocompromised individuals can improve their protection even more with a second booster. CDC recommends second boosters, with either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, for:
- People age 50 or older who got their first booster four months or more ago
- People who got a Johnson & Johnson vaccine and their first booster with a Johnson & Johnson dose at least four months ago
- Residents of long-term care settings
- People with certain underlying medical conditions that impact their immune systems, and
- Pregnant and recently pregnant people.
Just like the vaccines, booster shots are available at no cost to anyone living in the U.S. People who got Pfizer or Moderna vaccines should get a booster five months after the initial doses. Vaccinated adults 18 or older may choose any available vaccine as a booster, regardless of the type or brand of vaccine received previously. Only the Pfizer vaccine is available as a booster for those ages 5 to 17.
