COVID-19

Previous COVID-19 vaccines were called “original” because they were designed to protect against the original virus ("wild type") that causes COVID-19.

• As of April 18, 2023, the original Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are no longer available for use in the United States.
• As of May 6, 2023, J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine  is no longer available for use in the United States.

Pfizer and Moderna Monovalent Boosters

The original monovalent boosters from Pfizer and Moderna are no longer available and have been replaced by the updated (bivalent) booster.

• September 2021 - Pfizer booster doses were authorized for use for people aged 12 years and older.
• October 2021 - Moderna booster doses were authorized for use in people aged 18 years and older.
• March 2022 - Additional Pfizer and Moderna boosters were authorized for vulnerable populations, including immunocompromised people and those over the age of 65.
• May 2022 - Pfizer boosters were authorized for children ages 5-11.

Novavax Booster

You may get a monovalent Novavax booster if you are unable or unwilling to receive a Pfizer or Moderna updated (bivalent) COVID-19 booster and you meet the following requirements:

• You are 18 years of age or older
• You completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series at least 6 months ago
• You have not gotten any other booster dose

What are the Bivalent Boosters?

The 2022-2023 updated (bivalent) boosters are called “bivalent” because they protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the two Omicron variants, BA.4 and BA.5. Two COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, had developed bivalent COVID-19 vaccines.

Previous boosters are called “monovalent” because they were designed to protect against the original virus that causes COVID-19. They also provide some protection against Omicron, but not as much as the updated (bivalent) boosters.

As of September 11, 2023, the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are no longer available for use in the United States.

Bivalent boosters became available on:

• September 2, 2022
  • Pfizer and Moderna updated boosters were authorized for people aged 12 years and older who had completed their primary series (either 2 doses Pfizer/Moderna, or 1 dose J&J)
• October 12, 2022
  • Pfizer and Moderna updated boosteres were authorized for children aged 5–11 years who had completed their primary (2 dose) series
• December 9, 2022
  • Pfizer and Moderna updated booster was authorized for children aged 6 months - 4 years who completed their primary (3 dose) series
• December 9, 2022
  • Updated (bivalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine became available for children aged 6 months–4 years to complete the primary series (3rd dose)

2023–2024 Updated COVID-19 Vaccine

• As of September 12, 2023, the 2023–2024 updated Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines were recommended by CDC for use in the United States.
• As of October 3, 2023, the 2023-2024 updated Novavax vaccine was recommended by CDC for use in the United States.

The 2023–2024 updated COVID-19 vaccines more closely targets the XBB lineage of the Omicron variant and could restore protection against severe COVID-19 that may have decreased over time. We anticipate the updated vaccines will be better at fighting currently circulating variants.

There is no preferential recommendation for the use of any one COVID-19 vaccine over another when more than one licensed or authorized, recommended, and age-appropriate vaccine is available.

Additional Primary Dose vs. Booster Dose

An additional primary dose is a subsequent dose given after a primary series.

• This is recommended only for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, because they may not have received adequate protection from their initial series.

A booster dose is a supplemental vaccine dose given to people when the immune response to a primary vaccine series is likely to have waned over time.

• This is recommended for everyone if it has been at least 2 months since their last dose.